The purpose of this study is to examine what kind of attention and use of Kendrick Lamar’s album To Pimp a Butterfly can be noted in the american society. The question of identity is at the center of this essay and the study shows how and by whom the album has been used as a tool for expression of identity in educational and political spaces. The essay uses a theoretical framework mainly built from theories of identity and the legitimation of identity. This theoretical framework is used as a tool to gain an understanding of the meaning of how the album has been practically used in society. The album gained attention in the educational space when a high school teacher in New Jersey has brought the album into the classroom. In the political space the album gained attention in the White House and one of its songs experienced practical use during Black Lives Matter protests. These are examples of what can be expected in this study.