Welcome to Dissect, Long Form Musical Analysis broken into short digestible episodes.

I'm your host Cole Kishna. Today we continue our serialized examination of Tepipa Butterfly by Kendrick Lamar.

We're currently at the end of the album's third act, which we've titled

Emerging Wings. Over the last four tracks we followed Kendrick as he battled

various metaphoric cocoons of his institutionalized

upbringing, his new found status as Rap Star, in the prison of his own mind.

On all right, through solidarity and God, Kendrick went to battle on the vices and inner conflicts that led him to depression and suicidal thoughts.

On for sale, we were privy to Kendrick's subconscious as he battled the seduction of Lucy, the devil incarnate.

On Mama, Kendrick worked towards resolution by returning home to Compton, where his choice between

picking, quote, destiny or rest in Peace laid out the fundamental question

that album poses.

How will Kendrick use or pimp his success?

For good or for evil?

Will he run from Destiny, given to Lucy's temptations and live a selfish life filled with

riches, drugs, and sex? Or does he choose destiny, pip his situation for the betterment of mankind and become a selfless advocate for the

comptance of the world.

It's a question Kendrick wasn't yet ready to answer.

On our last episode, Kendrick reverted to an adolescent mentality on Hood Politics, triggered by

insecurities about his authenticity and survival's guilt. Hood Politics concluded with the

recitation of the narrative poem poem with six additional lines revealed.

I remember you was conflicted, misusing your influence.

Sometimes I did the same.

...