Kendrick Lamar - Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers

The Lounge General Discussion
1

New single “The Heart Part 5” is finally here!

22 Likes
2

Damn that was great, this new album is going to be special.

2 Likes
3

This is INSANE. I just can’t believe what I just watched.

2 Likes
4

Thanks for posting this. The visuals were interesting but it was the performance that really held my interest. He continues to progress as an artist.

4 Likes
5

Great track and a cool video.

2 Likes
6

Album cover artwork

image
image1600×1600 139 KB

7 Likes
7

Love that

2 Likes
8

Can’t wait for the the full album. Kendrick is a true inspiration to me. Such an amazing artist. Timeless stuff.

6 Likes
9

New album is finally out!

Track list:

Volume 1:

  1. United In Grief
  2. N95
  3. Worldwide Steppers
  4. Die Hard (Feat. Blxst, Amanda Reifer)
  5. Father Time (Feat. Sampha)
  6. Rich (Interlude)
  7. Rich Spirit
  8. We Cry Together (Feat. Taylour Paige)
  9. Purple Hearts (Feat. Summer Walker, Ghostface Killah)

Volume 2:

  1. Count Me Out
  2. Crown
  3. Silent Hill (Feat. Kodak Black)
  4. Savior (Interlude)
  5. Savior (Feat. Baby Keem, Sam Dew)
  6. Auntie Diaries
  7. Mr. Morale (Feat. Tanna Leone)
  8. Mother I Sober (Feat. Beth Gibbons)
  9. Mirror

Ghostface Killah!

6 Likes
10

Can’t wait to listen to you Mr. Lamar, but Drambo stole your thunder for me today.

11

I was expecting a lot more from the release.

What I love about previous Kendrick albums is that they work as a while project. There is a sound across the entire albums, cohesion between songs.

This album is like a collage of music made during the years, in a bad way. Beautiful lyrics, but a lot of beats sound like youtube beatmakers videos full of clickbaits.

I’d like to know how many producers worked in this album.

Songs like “United in grief” and “Auntie diaries” are gorgeous tho.

1 Like
12

I listened to the album for the first time last night. After hearing The Heart Part 5 dozens of times this past week I think it’s my favorite song he’s released yet, so my expectations were through the roof for this project. His album run from GKMC to DAMN. has been one classic after another so I thought this would be another guaranteed classic. But I’m not sure what to make of this album yet to be honest. I need to give it some more time and approach it for what it is rather than in context with his last three classics. One thing I know for sure: I’ll take The Heart Part 5 over all of this new album.

2 Likes
13

Interesting though that The Heart Part 5 is not on the album.

14

The Heart Part 5 sounds like it was written at another time and in another headspace than this album. On that song he sounds like he’s ready to take back his crown as the greatest living rapper. On the album it sounds like he’s wrestling with the high stakes and self-imposed imposter syndrome and is trying to reconcile this self-doubt, or perhaps contemplating walking away from rap altogether. At least that’s my interpretation so far.

2 Likes
15

How did I miss this thread??

I’m still digesting this album…it’s a lot.

But Kendrick is still the king. He seems a lot more grounded, comfortable than he ever has. The range of topics - family trauma, marital relations, LGBTQ, community responsibility, faith and and and is, as always, astounding. And his thoughts are typically astute, thoughtful, self-reflective and empathetic.

Some of these beats go hard af. “Father Time”(if there’s any fellow artist guiding this album it’s Sampha), “Purple Hearts (bruh. Ghostface.) and “Silent Hill” are initial stand outs.

He’s tread sometimes between half rap/half narrative - particularly “u” - and goes even further on “We Cry Together” I’m fascinated with this track.

The maturity of DAMN and the scope of TPAB. I’m here for it.

6 Likes
16

Me too!

PS is it me or does she remind me of emotional Ghostface, voice wise?

1 Like
17

Maybe! One of those nuances I’ll need to listen for on the 27th round.

1 Like
18

This is one of the main reasons why he is one of the (if not the) greatest voices we have. He knows damn well how easily he can body anybody else yet spends his skills reflecting on his flaws and fears for the sake of the audience. A mirror on himself to reflect us. That’s supreme confidence. And so necessary.

5 Likes
19

I agree, I consider Kendrick Lamar this generation’s greatest musical artist. I think this album was brave and cathartic for him to make. And it’s clicking with me more on the second listen, but the first listen was very jarring. I loved Overly Dedicated through DAMN. immediately on first listen.

3 Likes
20

I’m not sure if it’s pure confidence but it is pure vision and discipline, or that’s how his commitment to vulnerability (openness?) always comes across to me. So much respect for him as an artist

4 Likes