Kendrick Lamar: New album To Pimp A Butterfly dropped early on unsuspecting public

Everyone's freaking out over the lack of bangers

(Kendrick Lamar/TDE)

Well, sh*t. Kendrick Lamar has released his new album To Pimp A Butterfly on Spotify and iTunes a week early, and it couldn't be more different from Good Kid Maad City.

Presumably fearing a full leak after the track King Kunta surfaced yesterday, K-Dot put up all 16 tracks this morning, which amount to a spiralling, deeply introspective album that is sure to polarise opinion.

There are no bangers. Not a single exposed hi-hat. If you like bangers take a deep breath. Instead, To Pimp A Butterfly follows in the same vein as i and The Blacker The Berry – searing social commentary interwoven with neo-G Funk, jazz licks and wounded sax.

There isn't such an immediately obvious narrative to it as with GKMC, though a mantra starting 'I remember you was conflicted, misusing your influence…' and adding a new line with each passing song serves as the backbone to the album.

In a flurry of tweets, Kendrick wrote this morning: "Yesterday. March 14th. Was a Special Day. 20 yrs. Later. Keep calm. All is well. TO PIMP A BUTTERFLY.

First listen review to follow shortly.