The internet exploded when Kendrick Lamar's new album To Pimp a Butterfly arrived a week early on iTunes Monday (March 16). The collective enthusiasm helped the Compton rapper set a new Spotify record.

In a tweet posted from Spotify's official account Tuesday (March 17), the music service announced that K.Dot's sophomore effort was listened to more than 9.6 million times on Monday, setting a new world record for first-day streams. Michael Buble's Christmas album previously held the position since 2011.

In a new interview with The New York Times, Lamar provided context about the LP's black and white cover art. The photo, which was shot by Denis Rouvre, features Lamar and friends shirtless posing on The White House lawn. He says it represents "taking the same things that people call bad and bringing them with me to the next level, whether it’s around the world or to the Grammys or the White House. You can’t change where I come from or who I care about.”

 

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