To Pimp a Butterfly

To Pimp a Butterfly is the third studio album by Kendrick Lamar. It was released on March 15, 2015, through Top Dawg Entertainment, Aftermath Entertainment and Interscope Records. The music of To Pimp a Butterfly incorporates a variety of styles from traditional African-American music, including jazz, funk, soul, spoken word, and avant-garde. Lyrically, it features political commentary and personal themes concerning African-American culture, racial inequality, depression, and institutional discrimination. This thematic direction was inspired by Lamar's tour of historic sites during his visit to South Africa. , such as Nelson Mandela's jail cell on Robben Island. To Pimp a Butterfly sold 324,000 copies in the US in its first week of release, earning a chart debut at number one on the US Billboard 200. It was eventually certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The album received widespread acclaim from critics, who praised its musical scope and the social relevance of Lamar's lyrics. It earned Lamar seven nominations at the 2016 Grammy Awards, including a win for Rap Album and an Album of the Year nomination. TPAB is The most critically acclaimed album of 2015 as well as one of the most critically acclaimed of its entire decade.