Wesley's Theory

This racially ignited track opens Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp a Butterfly album. The title references the African American Wesley Snipes, who served a three-year jail sentence for willful failure to file federal income tax returns from 2010 to 2013. Lamar is critical of the way America targets successful African-American entertainers like him who slip up financially.

The song features an intro and bridge by '70s funk music pioneer George Clinton. He introduces the track's extended metaphor about the pimping of successful black artists by the entertainment industry. The album title comes from Clinton's intro: When the four corners of this cocoon collide You'll slip through the cracks hoping that you'll survive Gather your wind, take a deep look inside Are you really who they idolize? To pimp a butterfly

Clinton was suggested as a collaborator by Flying Lotus, who co-produced the track. Lotus recalled: "When I played him that beat he asked me who I imagined on it. I laughed and said 'George Clinton.' I never thought it would actually happen. That's already a dream come true."