TPaB - Wesley's Theory

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 5,6

To Pimp a Butterfly

'The Caterpillar'

Wesley's Theory

'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

Wesley's Theory

Listen & read

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

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

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?

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

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? 

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

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? 

What type of relationship is being described in the chorus?

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?  

What imagery is Kendrick Lamar engaging with in verse 1?

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? 

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’

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'

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

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? 

Verse 2: 

Another change in perspective and persona.

But to what/who?

From what perspective is verse 2?

1. Kendrick himself
2. The fans
3. The government
4. The 'exploiter' / those in power

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

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

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? 

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

Who is the Wesley in 'Wesley's Theory'?

1. A friend of Kendrick's called Wesley
2. A failed rapper
3. Wesley Snipes
4. Nobody

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?