10 Legendary Concept Records Of The 2010's

So...where the hell do you go after you've released one of the greatest concept albums in hip hop history? That's where Kendrick Lamar was at after the success of Good Kid Maad City, telling the story of his hard life growing up in Compton and trying to find his way in the world outside of his dangerous roots. Success can change a person though, and To Pimp A Butterfly is where the man previously known as K Dot started to expand his vision.

Instead of the narrative focus of Good Kid, this entire record feels like subtle vignettes going on before our ears, as Kendrick brings together some of the biggest names in rap and jazz to paint the picture of a society that's trying to bankrupt him at every turn. For all of the pride that he feels for making it out of Compton, that can't stop the survivor's guilt from coming back in, being desensitized when he comes back home and trying his best to keep his optimism up on songs like Alright.

While Good Kid may have given you a taste of what Kendrick was like as a young gangsta, this is where you become acutely aware of who Kendrick is as a man, going as far back as the days of Tupac Shakur to try and make sense of where he fits in this world. This isn't about trying to capitalize on the success though. You can have all the money in the world, but this is Kendrick's attempt to make peace with his roots and learn how to love himself.