How to Analyse Kendrick Lamar Tracks

Analyse each track of ‘How to Pimp a Butterfly’. You can use the questions as a
way to help you talk about the different elements in the song, but feel free to
include other things you notice about the track.

Title of the track:

Narrative: Explain the narrative in the track.

What is story in the track?
Are there multiple ‘characters’ singing/rapping?
What connections/tensions are there between the ‘characters’?

Language: How does Kendrick Lamar use language to convey his meaning?
Which literary terms are used and what is their effect in the song? (think of:
metaphor, hyperbole, repetition, oxymoron, pronouns, alliteration, assonance)
How does the track use of imagery?
How does the track use symbols?

Themes: Which themes are addressed in the song?

What is Kendrick Lamar's ‘message’ concerning the theme(s)?

References: What kind of references can you find to:

- historical events
- historical people
- current events (at the time of release - 2015)
- popular culture
- Kendrick Lamar's own life experiences
- other artists and songs

Form:
What is the musical style (or styles) in the track?
What is the style of the rap in the track?
Is there singing in the song? (is there a contrast between what is sung and the
rap)
Which instruments are used?
What kind of beat is used? (slow, fast, shifts in tempo)

Tone (writer) & Mood (audience):

What is Kendrick Lamar’s tone in this song?
Explain the mood and atmosphere in the song?
Do tone and mood stay the same throughout the song or do they change?