Kendrick Lamar became the latest big name to theoretically ‘shut down the internet’ this morning, dropping his anticipated sophomore album To Pimp A Butterfly one week prior to its scheduled release.
We’ve already had a couple of listens (review to follow), and like many, have been massively-pleased since it landed onto iTunes in the early hours. However, whilst it was seemingly unsuspecting, if we look closer at Kendrick’s recent tweets, it seemed it had been planned all along.
Before To Pimp A Butterfly dropped; Lamar gave hints of the impending release, citing the 20th anniversary of Tupac’s iconic studio record Me Against the World:
Yesterday. March 14th. Was a Special Day.
— Kendrick Lamar (@kendricklamar) March 16, 2015
20 yrs. Later.
— Kendrick Lamar (@kendricklamar) March 16, 2015
You can stream the full project below (and download it via the link), however here’s what some of the rest of the music world thought of Kendrick’s latest effort:
"Kendrick Lamar's new album reminds us that we're all subconscious art collectors": http://t.co/lF7vvekpbE
— solange knowles (@solangeknowles) March 16, 2015
Just getting into it but WOW. That boy @kendricklamar!!!!
— Justin Timberlake (@jtimberlake) March 16, 2015
KENDRICK PUT HIS ALBUM OUT EARLY.
NO ONE TOUCH ME.
@kendricklamar
— Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) March 16, 2015
I feel to jus play the new @kendricklamar album twice on my show this week
— TODDLA T (@TODDLAT) March 16, 2015
Wow. The new Kendrick Lamar album is exceptional. A tough listen in parts for some I'm sure but exceptional all the same.
— ghostpoet (@ghostpoet) March 16, 2015
listening to the new @kendricklamar album and it's amazing just as expected. go get it
— Imagine Dragons (@Imaginedragons) March 16, 2015
Thank you @kendricklamar . #ToPimpAButterfly
— SZA (@sza) March 16, 2015
