CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, NORTHRIDGE

Music as an Act of Resistance: Decolonization and Pacifism in Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp A Butterfly

A graduate project submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements

for the degree of Master of Arts in English

By

Jason Roche

May 2020 The graduate project of Jason Roche is approved:

______Lauren L Byler Date

______Dorothy M Barresi Date

______Charles W. Hatfield, Chair Date

California State University, Northridge

ii Table of Contents

Signature Page ii

Abstract iv

iii Abstract

Music as an Act of Resistance: Decolonization and Pacifism in Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp A Butterfly

By

Jason Roche

Master of Arts in English

In recent years, hip-hop has propelled its way into the mainstream. The genre has produced some of the most commercially successful albums of the 21st century namely from artists such as Kanye West, Jay-Z, Eminem, Rihanna, and OutKast. Despite this rise in recognition, many continue to criticize the genre for encouraging violence, claiming hip-hop does more harm than good. But what many fail to realize is the important revolutionary power of these artists on the national political consciousness. Like many other genres that have preceded it (such as folk, blues, punk, and rock), hip-hop has emerged as a leading musical genre of resistance and rebellion. These artists use their musical platform and lyrical prowess to express frustrations with American society and advocate for change. This project intends to examine a number of songs from Kendrick

Lamar’s To Pimp A Butterfly and how these songs simultaneously exhibit signs, desires and/or influence of Frantz Fanon’s theory of Decolonization but challenge the idea that it has to be an act of violence. Looking at the specific characteristics of the violence depicted in Lamar’s music (i.e. who are the victims? Who are the aggressors? Why is it happening in the first place? What’s the general reaction to the violence? etc.) this work will explore the different ways in which violence has been a prominent theme in hip-hop

iv and, while it is present in Lamar’s music, his work actually advocates for music to take the place of violence in Fanon’s definition of Decolonization.

v