propelled the high energy of the show to its epic finale. It’s both endearing and jarring to listen to an artist as celebrated as Lamar unveil his insecurities.
He spoke of the toll on his psyche over the last six months, as his life’s done a complete 180. While he’s been told continuously of his own greatness, Lamar said he’s tried to convince himself that he is who the world says he is. He spoke about the weight he feels on his shoulders to be the new head of his household — not just his home, but how he represents his entire family through all of history.
“This sh*t is personal, man,” Lamar said. “This sh*t is personal.”
Kedrick Lamar performs at the South Side Ballroom in Dallas as part of his 1st Annual Kunta's Groove Sessions tour. Photography by Mikel Galicia.
Kedrick Lamar performs at the South Side Ballroom in Dallas as part of his 1st Annual Kunta’s Groove Sessions tour. Photography by Mikel Galicia.
And with that, Lamar’s initial hesitation to step to the microphone at the beginning of the show made sense. To Pimp A Butterfly is immensely personal and important to Lamar—it’s much more than a follow-up to his debut album Good Kid, M.A.A.D City, it’s his soul and mental health on record. The only way for him to properly perform the album’s tracks would be with absolute transparency, and so it’s no wonder Lamar limited this tour to an eight-city run in smallish venues. Because if he’s going to bare himself like this, it should only be for fans who are willing to snatch tickets to a show that sold out in 30 seconds. This may have been the only opportunity for his fans to hear tracks from the landmark 2015 album performed live, too.
“This might be the first and last time I perform To Pimp A Butterfly,” Lamar told the audience.
