Kendrick Lamar

To Pimp a Butterfly

First released2015

To Pimp a Butterfly was recorded across multiple studios including the legendary Record Plant in Los Angeles, along with sessions at other LA-based facilities, between 2014 and 2015. The album featured a diverse production team including Thundercat, Flying Lotus, Mark Spitznagel, Boi-1da, DJ Dahi, and others, reflecting Kendrick's collaborative approach and desire to move away from the trap-influenced sound of his previous work. The production emphasized live instrumentation, particularly jazz, funk, and soul elements, with Thundercat playing a significant role in shaping the album's musical direction and contributing bass work throughout. The recording process involved extensive experimentation with analog and digital techniques, and the project represented a deliberate artistic pivot toward more organic, band-oriented sounds rather than purely electronic production. The album was released on March 15, 2015, during a period when West Coast hip-hop was experiencing a creative renaissance, and it marked Kendrick's second major-label album following good kid, m.A.A.d city.