TPaB - Wesley's Theory

To Pimp a Butterfly
'The Caterpillar'
Wesley's Theory
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Slide 1: Slide
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This lesson contains 25 slides, with interactive quizzes and text slides.

time-iconLesson duration is: 50 min

Items in this lesson

To Pimp a Butterfly
'The Caterpillar'
Wesley's Theory

Slide 1 - Slide

'The Caterpillar'
Central narrative in the album:
  • Kendrick takes an entomological and optimistic approach using caterpillars, cocoons and butterflies to describe not only his own metamorphosis, but the potential for change contained within everybody. Everyone starts out as a caterpillar and is faced with a choice: To become a butterfly or to pimp a butterfly.

Wesley’s choice, For Free, King Kunta – part of the 'caterpillar' phase within the narrative


Slide 2 - Slide

Wesley's Theory
Listen & read

How many different 'persona's' do you hear/see in the track? 

Slide 3 - Slide

Wesley's Theory
How many different 'persona's' do you hear/see in the track? 
  1. Sample
  2. Intro
  3. Chorus
  4. Verses
  5. Refrain
  6. Break

Slide 4 - Slide

Sample:
Every n**** is a star, ayy, every n**** is a star
Every n**** is a star, ayy, every n**** is a star
Every n**** is a star, ayy
Who will deny that you and I and every n**** is a star?

Slide 5 - Slide

What is the significance of: "every n**** is a star"?

Slide 6 - Open question

Intro:
Hit me!
When the four corners of this cocoon collide
You’ll slip through the cracks hopin’ that you’ll survive
Gather your wit, take a deep look inside
Are you really who they idolize?
To pimp a butterfly

How does this contrast with the sample that opens the track? 

Slide 7 - Slide

How does the intro contrast with the sample that opens the track?

Slide 8 - Open question

Chorus:
At first, I did love you
But now I just wanna fuck
Late nights thinkin’ of you
Until I get my nut
Tossed and turned, lesson learned
You was my first girlfriend
Bridges burned, all across the board
Destroyed, but for what?

Go further than the explicitness. What type of relationship is being described? 

Slide 9 - Slide

What type of relationship is being described in the chorus?

Slide 10 - Open question

Verse 1:
I’ma buy a brand new Caddy on fours
Trunk the hood up, two times, deuce-four
Platinum on everythin’, platinum on weddin’ ring
Married to the game and a bad bitch chose
When I get signed, homie, I’ma buy a strap
Straight from the CIA, set it on my lap
Take a few M-16s to the hood
Pass ’em all out on the block, what’s good?
I’ma put the Compton swap meet by the White House

What imagery is Kendrick Lamar engaging with here?  

Slide 11 - Slide

What imagery is Kendrick Lamar engaging with in verse 1?

Slide 12 - Open question

Refrain: 
We should’ve never gave
We should’ve never gave n****s money
Go back home, money, go back home
We should’ve never gave
We should’ve never gave n****s money
Go back home, money, go back home
(Everybody get out)

A different persona, but who? 

Slide 13 - Slide

Refrain: 
We should’ve never gave
We should’ve never gave n****s money
Go back home, money, go back home
We should’ve never gave
We should’ve never gave n****s money
Go back home, money, go back home
(Everybody get out)

A different persona, but who? - the predominantly white audience with ‘power’

Slide 14 - Slide

Call-response structure
(Pronouns are mutable - I, you/u, they, etc. hardly ever denote KL)

Verse and refrain display the call and response structure: 
  • KL the successful rapper doing the stereotypical things 
  • The audience regretting making them a 'star'

Slide 15 - Slide

What extra layer does the refrain add to relationship in the chorus?

Slide 16 - Open question

Break:
Yo, what’s up? It’s Dre
Remember the first time you came out to the house?
You said you wanted a spot like mine
But remember, anybody can get it
The hard part is keepin’ it, motherfucker

Role of the break in track's narrative? 

Slide 17 - Slide

Verse 2: 
Another change in perspective and persona.
But to what/who?

Slide 18 - Slide

From what perspective is verse 2?
A
Kendrick himself
B
The fans
C
The government
D
The 'exploiter' / those in power

Slide 19 - Quiz

Verse 2: 
What you want you? A house or a car?
Forty acres and a mule, a piano, a guitar?                                 (reference to ...)
Anythin’, see, my name is Uncle Sam, I’m your dog              (metonymy/personification)
Motherfucker, you can live at the mall
I know your kind (That’s why I’m kind)
Don’t have receipts (Oh, man, that’s fine)
Pay me later, wear those gators


Slide 20 - Slide

Verse 2:
I can see the baller in you, I can see the dollar in you   (exploitation)
Little white lies, but it’s no white-collar in you
But it’s whatever though because I’m still followin’ you
Because you make me live forever, baby
Count it all together, baby
Then hit the register and make me feel better, baby      (taxes)  

  • Exploitation by the government/those in power

Slide 21 - Slide

Double consciousness:
Your horoscope is a gemini, two sides
So you better cop everything two times
Two coupes, two chains, two C-notes
Too much ain’t enough, both we know

  • What is double consciousness? 

Slide 22 - Slide

Double consciousness:
Your horoscope is a gemini, two sides
So you better cop everything two times
Two coupes, two chains, two C-notes
Too much ain’t enough, both we know

  • KL has two identities: his 'black' heritage and how that is perceived by the 'white' community in power -> taxes are a means of control

Slide 23 - Slide

Who is the Wesley in 'Wesley's Theory'?
A
A friend of Kendrick's called Wesley
B
A failed rapper
C
Wesley Snipes
D
Nobody

Slide 24 - Quiz

Wesley's Theory
Tax man comin'

Who's the caterpillar and who's the butterfly?
Who's exploiting whom? 
What is Kendrick Lamar's position in society? 

Slide 25 - Slide