Apr 5, 2017

- Listen from the first track of Me Against The World to final track of To p---- a Butterfly, the albums transition smoothly.

- Me Against The World released on March 14, 1995.To p---- a Butterfly released on March 15, 2015. Exactly 20 years later (and another day).

- Pac is the caterpillar that never became the butterfly and he was aware that he would never make it to a butterfly (hence the track If I Die 2nite). Pac is the caterpillar desperately trying to break out of the cocoon (Me Against The World title track) and Kendrick asks him for his perspective in Mortal Man, but Pac is not alive anymore to give his answers and it is up to Kendrick to take it to the next level.

- TPAB was originally to be called To p---- a Caterpillar [To P a C = Tupac] confirming the connections in my previous statement.

- Shed So Many Tears = U; both mourn about not being there for their loved ones and are going through suicidal thoughts.

- To p---- a Butterfly album art gives a new meaning to Me Against The World too (basically carrying Pac's legacy for his community). That is why King Kendrick is carrying a baby in his arms! That baby symbolizes the f---ing legacy! It's Kendrick's job to make sure it grows.

- Dear Mama = Track 9; Momma = Track 9

- Temptations = These Walls; both after a girl who already has a man. King Kendrick also recites I remember you was conflicted in the beginning of These Walls and in the end of his album it is revealed he's talking to Pac. But in the track Can U Get Away, 2Pac uses his influence for good cause the girl's man ain't treating her right.

- Death Around The Corner = i (kendrick's spoken interlude); In the beginning of Death Around The Corner, before the song technically begins, the little kid mentions about daddy and gun by the window (reference to Malcolm X's iconic photo s---t for Ebony Magazine = https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/9e/Malcolmxm1carbine3gr.gif ) and Kendrick talks about n----s tired of playing victims dawg. We could save that save that s---, this for the kids bro. Death Around The Corner also talks about a caterpillars continued risk of death. Kendrick says yan-yan, how many we done lost? No for real, answer the question how many n----s we done lost bro? (so this not only refers to the deaths around the time of Black Lives Matter Movement but also connects to 2Pac's and Malcolm X's death). Malcolm X was a victim of [killed by] Nation of Islam (BLACK KILLING BLACK, which kendrick wants to stop in the spoken interlude) and he inspired both 2Pac and Kendrick.

- Mortal Man is self explanatory (Kendrick does mention Malcolm X a couple of times though [Detroit Red] ). Kendrick Lamar once said in an interview that Malcolm X's autobiography changed his life.

- If I Die 2nite and Wesley's Theory are both first songs on the album and they both feature or have a sample of Dr. Dre's voice. Wesley's Theory also mentions about sniping yo a--- before 35, a double meaning, the intro before if I Die 2nite mentions 2Pac's shooting. Wesley's Theory plays the roles of both intro and If I Die 2nite.

- In the music video of Dear Mama, Afeni Shakur is in jail because she was a high ranking member of the Black Panther Party, formed after the death of Malcolm X, she was pregnant with Pac. In the Blacker the Berry Kendrick Lamar also talks about preaching with the panthers. (sort of related; Black the Berry the sweet the juice is a reference to 2Pac's single Keep Ya Head Up; Blacker the Berry the deeper the roots). 2Pac is black and his roots with the Black Panther party and connection to Malcolm X run deep. Kendrick is admiring the sweet juice, if ya know what I mean.


- Hood Politics = f--- The World

- Young Niggaz = Insitutionalized; They are both preaching to the youth to leave the gangster hood mentality behind; example: 2Pac saying You could be a f---in' accountant, not a dope dealer, you pimpin' out here You could be a lawyer (really doe) n----s gotta get they priorities straight. example: Kendrick; s--- don't change until you get up and wash yo' a---, n----- s--- don't change until you get up and wash yo' a---, boy s--- don't change until you get up and wash yo' a---, n-----. 2Pac: I'm tellin' you.... to be young, have your brains and have every limb and all that Yo, y'all n----s don't know how good you really do got it Muh'f---ers need to just calm down And peep what the f--- they wanna do for the rest of the life 'Fore you end your life before you begin your life You dumb n-----.

*** Bonus Connection***

This interview was recorded in 1994, Me Against The World was released in 1995. So this means that the album must have been in recording phase around this time. At 6:53 onwards they discuss about being pimped and 2Pac talks about many other stuff that you can connect to Kendrick's TPAB state of mind. This interview also summarizes Me Against The World.

***Confirmation***
In the intro of DUCKWORTH. the final track of Kendrick's new album d---. he says It was always me versus the world

 

Apr 5, 2017

oh s--- you might be on to something

 

Apr 5, 2017

I want to add so much more but you people don't like reading LOL

 

Apr 5, 2017

I'll read it

 

Apr 5, 2017

Great analysis dawg, keep up

 

Apr 5, 2017

 

Apr 5, 2017

 

Apr 5, 2017

too bad it wasnt on me against the world's level

 

Apr 5, 2017

And how are you judging this

 

Apr 5, 2017

Equally good albums!

 

Apr 5, 2017

 

Apr 5, 2017

alright! I want you to give me your perspective

 

Apr 5, 2017

objectively

 

Apr 5, 2017

Oh come on son

TPAB changed the game lets not act otherwise

 

Apr 5, 2017

how ? it didnt changed the game or kendrick never had an impact as big as pac's

 

Apr 5, 2017

the crossover success and critical acclaim is astounding

idk about u but I deff see his approach to the record and sound affecting records coming out now tbh
plus thats not fair because a generation of youth havent grew up on TPAB yet as they have Me Against The World...we'll have to see down the line

either way impact isnt the be all end all of judging a record anyway

this coming from a big Pac fan but you disrespecting Kdot man

 

Apr 5, 2017

Need to listen Me Against the World. Hopefully it's better than TPAB

 

Apr 5, 2017

 

Apr 5, 2017

Great analysis