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One of the surprising things about Kendrick Lamar’s recent album, To Pimp A Butterfly, was the way it turned its back on the sounds of the present. While his first release, Good Kid M.A.A.D. City, had songs like “Money Trees” and “Swimming Pools” which fit in with current production trends in hip-hop, the newest one relied heavily on thick, jazz-inflected instrumentation that was common in early ‘00s neo-soul.
Fans looking for those hits will be pleased to find that Kendrick hopped on Jidenna’s “Classic Man,” a DJ Mustard-interpolating R&B track full of vigorous swagger. The MC adds a verse up front and another one towards the end of the tune. Listen below, and read about why To Pimp A Butterfly is critic-proof.
