Upon first glance, a look at the cover art of Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp a Butterfly shows nothing but chaos: scores of people – shirtless, with fistfuls of money, and bottles of what could only be assumed to be alcohol. However, this appears to simply be the first layer of the observed chaos. Looking towards the bottom of the photo, one sees a middle-aged white male, with X’s draws over their eyes, lying at the foot of the crowd. Judging by the backdrop of what appears to be either the White House, or some government building, one could then suppose that the man lying down is some sort of government official, perhaps a judge. The way that the judge is portrayed in the image, illustrates the death of justice from the perspective of the African Americans. The angry emotion created by the men in the image invokes a bold, political statement aimed at the government and social norm. To “normal culture” these young men and boys may be portrayed in a negative light. However, to them they are acting in a normal way in an unjust society: they are rebelling against the injustice which has been done to them. This “unofficial” depiction of judgement is perhaps a way of saying that true justice does not always wear robes or a suit, or sit behind a desk with a gavel in hand. Rather, “justice” – whether defined by its deepest meaning, or by the crowd that acts in its name – is enacted by those who have the power to. By nature this analysis is contradictory, as the main purpose of the image that we are judging is to encourage society not to judge. In American culture, the White House (seen in the background) is intended to be a center where freedom and justice are the primary motivators. Therefore, we can only assume that the men in the image feel that their government has deprived them of these very two principles. It appears that album’s cover is meant to express the injustices and disadvantages bestowed on African-American society, and serves as a means to demand liberation and express their social standings. Through this analysis, the reader is encouraged to gain a deeper understanding of the complexity and depth of the overall social issue.

Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp A Butterfly has multiple different visual effects that contribute to the deeper meaning of the cover. One of the most strategic effects is the exclusion of color and the sole use of greyscale colors.  Frequently, when we look at a picture, the first thing we notice are the different elements of color and the effects they have on the art itself. There can be bright colors that pop to the viewer, or there can be cooler colors which soothe. Sometimes we associate color with different emotions such as anger, sadness, happiness, anxiety, fear, or love. In this case, the greyscale scheme allows us to use our insight and perception to look at the image and understand what is going on without the support of different colors. This forces the audience to see the deeper meaning depicted by the photograph, rather than the shallow simplistic explanation that can be found through the use of colors. 

Displayed at the front of the photo, is a judge laying on the ground, lifeless, with bolded X’s covering his eyes. Right behind the judge are a group of free-spirited African-Americans who are completely shirtless, holding bottles and large wads of cash. Modern day social norms would suggest that these men are delinquents, but to them they are responding appropriately in a prejudiced society. The happy faces and animated atmosphere creates a fearless statement towards our government and society that they will no longer succumb to the judgement and opinions of the public. In their eyes, God is the only person who can truly judge them so the death of the judge is an illustration of the death of judgement from the viewpoint of the African Americans.

One of the main symbols we can analyze in this picture is the White House in the background. The White House is a symbol of  a larger idea; leadership, a community, a national emblem of freedom and equality. In this picture, it holds and even deeper meaning. The monument depicts the adversities and injustices that these young people are trying to overcome. It is a step towards the liberation and respect which they have been seeking for, for so long. The young men are almost antagonistic towards the White House and its meaning, but they are desperately trying to show us the difficulties and hardships in which they are beginning to overcome. 

The break down and analysis of To Pimp A Butterfly reveals a deeper meaning and insight towards the message that Kendrick Lamar was trying to convey through this album cover. The use of monochromatic colors forces the viewer to look past the shallow and more obvious meanings that colors can show us. Kendrick’s depiction of the dead judge laying on the ground and the group of young African American men who seem to be genuinely delighted was a symbol of the death of caving in to judgement and being subject to the criticism of society. The depiction of the White House in the background creates a bold statement aimed at the government and society that these African Americans have been deprived of what or society happens to “stand for”; equality and justice for everyone. Sometimes we really have to analyze a piece of art or photograph to find the deeper and more profound meaning that the creator is trying to portray.