Kendrick Lamar

To Pimp a Butterfly

First released2015

To Pimp a Butterfly was recorded across multiple sessions between 2014 and early 2015 at various studios including the legendary Record Plant in Los Angeles, with additional recording at other locations. The album was primarily produced by a collective of producers including Thundercat, Flying Lotus, Boi-1da, Rahki, and others, reflecting Kendrick's collaborative approach for this project. A major technical and creative choice was the album's live instrumentation aesthetic, departing from the trap-influenced production of good kid, m.A.A.d city in favor of jazz, funk, and soul elements recorded with live musicians rather than samples. The production was largely overseen by executive producer and collaborator Mark "Top Dawg" Williams and engineer working closely with Kendrick's artistic vision. Released in March 2015, the album represented a significant artistic shift in hip-hop production during the mid-2010s, showcasing intricate live arrangements and complex layering that pushed against contemporary rap production trends.