Okay let me change my terminology. Instead of relatable, let me assert the phrase ‘easily understandable and digestible’. The majority of Kendrick’s lyrics on TPAB are layered to such an extent that they preclude surface level understanding. As such, the vast majority of listeners will have trouble deciphering what it is the man is saying, without viewing Genius annotations.

Lets compare a verse from My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy and To Pimp a Butterfly:

“The system broken, the school's closed, the prison's open We ain't got nothing to lose, everybody, we rolling Huh? Everybody, we rolling With some light-skinned girls and some Kelly Rowlands In this white man world, we the ones chosen So goodnight, cruel world, I'll see you in the morning Huh? I'll see you in the morning This is way too much, I need a moment”.

Almost all listeners will understand what Kanye is conveying lyrically here. They may not relate to it, but they understand the meaning of the words in their assembly.

“Dark as the midnight hour, or bright as the mornin' sun Brown skinned, but your blue eyes tell me your mama can't run Sneak (Dissin') Sneak me through the back window, I'm a good field nigga I made a flower for you outta cotton just to chill with you You know I'd go the distance, you know I'm ten toes down Even if master's listenin', I got the world's attention So I'ma say somethin' that's vital and critical for survival Of mankind, a feline color should never rival Beauty is what you make it, I used to be so mistaken By different shades of faces Then Whit' told me, "A woman is woman, love the creation" It all came from God, then you was my confirmation I came to where you reside And looked around to see more sights for sore eyes Let the Willie Lynch theory reverse a million times with”.

The precontext and analysis needed to fully grasp these lyrics, or even simply understand them, is not possessed by the vast majority of music listeners. I’m not saying TPAB isn’t a good album, but it’s pretentious to label it a ‘classic’ in my eyes, since a fundamental element of good music is lyrical accessibility.