Kendrick Lamar - Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers (Discussion Thread)

[John Mexico]

Jay Electronica?

Well Jay Electronica kind of q... lol

His age was a factor as well in how his style was birthed, and I would really love to see what his plans were. If he was gonna be in Watch the Quran mode from let's say... 2010 to early 2011 when he was slated to "drop" I don't know what visibility he'd really be allowed to have off the internet. He's like the biggest enigma in hip hop history almost I couldn't imagine how it would play out

 

[Abstract83]

He’s sung on literally EVERY album he’s ever released i’m not sure why some people are acting like this is a great departure for him. He literally sang the hook on his first big single (Swimming Pools) he sang hooks for J.Cole. He sung throughout TPAB. He sung on Loyalty off Damn which was a top 20 billboard hit.

You have a point on all of that. I just wasn't feeling it on this album (pause) thats all.

 

[dora_da_destroyer]

5 years for what's disappointing me. wanted an album, not a school play

 

[John Mexico]

5 years for what's disappointing me. wanted an album, not a school play

Did you also not like To Pimp a Butterfly? Because that's largely just performance art in audio format outside of straight shooters like You Aint Gotta Lie, Momma, Mortal Man etc. This album ain't really that much weirder

For the record, don't nobody gotta like nothing. I love it but maybe that's the late 80s Gemini in me.

 

[Braman]

I give the album a ‘B’ for now. The depth of the topics will give it legs and room to grow, but I gotta vent a lil bit: this is one pandering ass album.To women with the ‘men need to be re-wired’ narrative, to being extra pro-therapy, to the lgbtq community. I’m not rubber stamping albums as great simply bc he tackled progressive topics. It’s still music at the end of the day.

Musically some of these songs feel both forced and underproduced/too minimalist. Aunty diaries sounds like it was made to be performed holding hands with elton John at the Grammy’s. Mother I Sober sounds like it was made for a serious scene on the season finale of Euphoria.

What makes it frustrating is damn near every song that’s produced in a more traditional manner is a home run. Silent hill, Purple Hearts, mr. Morale, etc. Phonte said it best ‘dope beats dope rhymes this rap shyt really ain’t that hard’.

 

[Brad Piff]

The more I listen to the album the more I think this is probably what it would have sounded like if andre 3000 ever released a primarily rap solo project. Would have loved to hear an Andre verse on Worldwide Steppers, Father Time, Crown, Mr. Morale or Savior.

 

[ineedsleep212]

I don't get what's so artsy on this album to people. It's literally interludes and some tapping and probably less artsy than TPAB. Little shyt to tie the album together. The songs themselves don't have jarring production or super left field stuff.

I swear to God some of the reactions to this album sound like they haven't heard the album. On the one hand, it's trying to be too catchy and like the current sound of hip hop but also too heady and too out there.

 

[Formerly known as...]

Those are old, some were posted on the Coli last year. Doubt they’re on the album but that one track with the argument sounds like an Alchemist beat and we know he’s on the album.

Couple of these actually made the album

 

[semicko82]

The more I listen it's kinda puts me in the frame of Michael Jackson's History album

I big artist doing experimental music and getting shyt off his chest

 

[breakfuss]

I give the album a ‘B’ for now. The depth of the topics will give it legs and room to grow, but I gotta vent a lil bit: this is one pandering ass album.To women with the ‘men need to be re-wired’ narrative, to being extra pro-therapy, to the lgbtq community. I’m not rubber stamping albums as great simply bc he tackled progressive topics. It’s still music at the end of the day.

Musically some of these songs feel both forced and underproduced/too minimalist. Aunty diaries sounds like it was made to be performed holding hands with elton John at the Grammy’s. Mother I Sober sounds like it was made for a serious scene on the season finale of Euphoria.

What makes it frustrating is damn near every song that’s produced in a more traditional manner is a home run. Silent hill, Purple Hearts, mr. Morale, etc. Phonte said it best ‘dope beats dope rhymes this rap shyt really ain’t that hard’.

Bruh you quoting Phonte but he also speaks on the superficiality of music consumption:

Like one night we was out in my whip
With some broads just chillin' playin' demos and shyt
Asked 'em how I sounded rockin' the mic
One chic told me all she listened to was beats, thank god for ninth
Trying to get pressed on vinyl cause motherfukkers buy your CD
But turn around don't even know your song titles
Like track 2 is hot, and track 6 is long
Ain't even listening, I'm hoping I get through to y'all

 

[Izanami]

Did you also not like To Pimp a Butterfly? Because that's largely just performance art in audio format outside of straight shooters like You Aint Gotta Lie, Momma, Mortal Man etc. This album ain't really that much weirder

For the record, don't nobody gotta like nothing. I love it but maybe that's the late 80s Gemini in me.

This is like diet TPAB. Has its creative attempts but the production is lackluster. Average for someone of Kendrick’s caliber. TPAB had amazing production and standout hooks. Potent verses on tracks like momma, institutionalized, blacker the Berry, uu, hood politics etc.

Can’t believe we waited 5 years for this.

And wtf is Kodak on here especially after his disrespectful at Nip, not to mention pleading guilty in rape? Being featured on a Kendrick album is such a rarity it’s so odd for him to do that. I wonder what he trying to say by doing so.

 

[Versa]

A Pulitzer Prize for one of his worst albums. Lol. That nikka is a rapper bruh. The fukk does “a writer first and foremost” mean? nikka he writing RAPS.

nikkas don't realize they're shytting on the genre they claim to love when they say stuff like that.

"He's not just a rapper...HE'S AN ARTIST! A TRUE WRITER."

Like....okay? Rappers not artists now? They don't write? Lol.

nikkas letting them cacs make them ashamed of our own genre

 

[ineedsleep212]

This is like diet TPAB. Has its creative attempts but the production is lackluster. Average for someone of Kendrick’s caliber. TPAB had amazing production and standout hooks. Potent verses on tracks like momma, institutionalized, blacker the Berry, uu, hood politics etc.

Can’t believe we waited 5 years for this.

And wtf is Kodak on here especially after his disrespectful at Nip, not to mention pleading guilty in rape? Being featured on a Kendrick album is such a rarity it’s so odd for him to do that. I wonder what he trying to say by doing so.

The whole album is Kendrick dealing with his sex addiction and getting to the root of it aka dealing with the trauma he experienced in his life and mentions recognizing rappers who have been sexually abused. He also mentions cancel culture on N95 and in the hook, telling himself as well as the listener to confront themselves and stop being fixated on all the distractions in the world. The album is like his form of therapy and his journey overcoming that addiction and becoming a better person (Auntie Diaries being a clear example of him learning and changing).

He's saying we should offer that opportunity to change to Kodak and not throw him away.

Like it when they pro-Black, but I’m more Kodak Black -Kendrick on Savior

Literally identifying with Kodak and saying he isn't a savior. He's as flawed as Kodak and made a significant change in his life. Kodak hasn't exactly shown he's trying to do that hence why people feel a way about him being on it but thars obviously Kendrick’s intention. He's also clearly a fan.

 

[Ziggiy]

nikkas don't realize they're shytting on the genre they claim to love when they say stuff like that.

"He's not just a rapper...HE'S AN ARTIST! A TRUE WRITER."

Like....okay? Rappers not artists now? They don't write? Lol.

nikkas letting them cacs make them ashamed of our own genre

When people are saying he’s a “true writer” I thought they were distinguishing him from Drake and others who utilize ghostwriters

 

[Busby]

I don't get what's so artsy on this album to people. It's literally interludes and some tapping and probably less artsy than TPAB. Little shyt to tie the album together. The songs themselves don't have jarring production or super left field stuff.

I swear to God some of the reactions to this album sound like they haven't heard the album. On the one hand, it's trying to be too catchy and like the current sound of hip hop but also too heady and too out there.

Oooor MAYBE…..people LIKE the album and they don’t think like you :ohh: