Concept Albums Explained (short summaries/analysis that's easy to digest)

[A Pimp Named Slickback]

American Gangster was a concept album inspired by the movie of the same name. One of Jay's best albums bar-none. Probably his most underrated album ever

 

[A Pimp Named Slickback]

Ice Cube's Death Certificate

The "death" and the "life" of Black America. The ills and the cures

One of the greatest albums of all time

 

[A Pimp Named Slickback]

Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers is a double disc concept album. It's in theatrical play form, hence the "steps" and tap dancing, and Acts (session 10: breakthrough)

It's about Mr. Morale. Morale is who Kendrick feels like he is. The savior. The superhero of the world, saving the world and his environment through his music "One man standing on 2 words: heal everybody"

1st disc is about his shortcomings and the pitfalls of the "steppers". The venting in his therapy sessions



2nd disc is his processing in his therapy sessions. His healing. We as humans never fully heal. There will always be things we deal with in life. Life doesn't stop until it does



Kendrick puts himself first on the last track. And the last track reflects to the first one. It was designed this way (United in Grief/Mirror, Worldwide Steppers/Mr. Morale, etc)

He's been depressed for 1855 days ("tell them you're d-------. This is what that lady probably said in the intro). He might still be depressed. Which is why Keem was major for Kendrick. He needed a vehicle to drive away from the heavy music he's made as a result of his troubles that he touched on in this album

Even in this new track The Hillbillies, he said he eats Caviar when he's depressed.


Regardless, no matter how he heals, his gift is to touch lives and restore hope. He does it even in this album while healing his "savior complex". Mother I Sober is about him having that burden of saving the world as a kid. The heaviest song of his career

At the end of this song, he has one of the most moving statements ever to me. Those last few bars. Then says "As I set free all your abusers, this is transformation"



Even when he processes his grief and trauma in song with this being the main goal, he still helps his listeners do the same. Mr. Morale is Kendrick. Kendrick is a Big Stepper (Im a killer hes a killer shes a killer)

Regardless, Kendrick will keep stepping. He doesn't choose the King's throne. He doesn't choose to be Jesus. He chooses himself

Also, Eckhart Tolle's intro on the Savior interlude suggests that Kendrick has a savior complex because of the "bad things that happened" to him

"Mr. Morale" is a savior complex developed from his trauma
Big Steppers are his followers he helps with his music. His homies. Black America. Oklama. His people. People.


This is why he is both. And neither at the same time

Kendrick is going down as a top 5 rapper of all time when it's all said and done. His albums could be in English class curriculums. And still have more substance than the bullshyt they make kids study in school

 

[A Pimp Named Slickback]

One more thing about this album

Two of The Big Steppers on the CD are Keem and Kodak. Kodak being placed on this album was intentional

"Instead of judging how we move, know how we cope"

This album will age beautifully. Just like TPAB. Kendrick is an artist's artist

But he can't please everybody

 

[BuckFilly]

the minstrel show
urban hang suite
7 day theory
good kid mad city
Janelle Monae early joints
ti vs tip