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

[mobbinfms]

I mean…that’s essentially what he’s doing

But the context and power behind said words is what sparks emotion among people, because of the plight of the two groups.

It then branches into all other stuff and there is an ever growing large demographic in the so called black community that is tryna bridge the gap between said groups and unify them.

Kendrick knows this and is pretty much complicit from my understanding, as he forgoes his own religious beliefs for his cousin’s love & approval. To whom you agree with is up to you but uhhhh… for me ehh

I hear you. I think much of this is coming from your perspective which fuels how you interpret the song. I don’t think there is anything explicit in the song drawing an equivalency to plight, as there is with drawing an equivalency to how those words are used.

 

[winb83]

Sure there’s parallels between the logic they use just like there’s parallels between a government official and a drug kingpin on the streets

But we can’t be out here talking bout needing to address the mental health of black community and seeking therapy, and then in the same breath say people are living their truth when they gotta go to the chop shop to mutilate/castrate themselves

If you gonna live your truth then live your truth. The truth is that Kendrick’s auntie isn’t a man now nor will she ever be

But I digress from this topic lol I ain’t finna get into all that

It's not parallels it's literally the same exact logic applied to a different target. When you call it parallels and say you can compare the government to drug dealers it's an attempt to diminish that it's the same exact core logic at the heart or both.

 

[winb83]

I hear you. I think much of this is coming from your perspective which fuels how you interpret the song. I don’t think there is anything explicit in the song drawing an equivalency to plight, as there is with drawing an equivalency to how those words are used.

What he's essentially saying is you can see how using a word can be wrong when you're the target but when someone else is the target you're indifferent to it or participate in it. I quit using the word "f*ggot" when I realized that racist and bigots use the same core logic applied to a different target and how can I condemn the logic one way then be indifferent or participate in it another?

You'll often see people scramble for higher ground when this is pointed out talking about the plight of one group vs another or suggesting race isn't a choice and sexuality and all that is. That's all really just an attempt to say my suffering is more important than the suffering of others. The reality is if that logic is condemned and seen for what it truly is by everyone nobody suffers.

The real truth is the majority don't have any issue with the logic a racist uses they have an issue either when they're the target of the logic or the stigma of the word racist. You often see racist declare they aren't racist then pick up that same logic and use it again even after saying so. You'll also see people who condemn racism pick up that same logic and apply it to others.

 

[L $ C]

my first post surprisingly- honestly I cant say a lot bad

after a few weeks I dont think its as good as his other albums but its still great..which says well A lot...

 

[Po pimp]

I dislike the false equivalency of the black plight in comparison to transgenderism and the LGBT community

It’s not the same struggle and it isn’t even comparable. The more the so called black man and woman try to align themselves and draw parallels between the two the more we undermine the great diaspora

“Living his truth, even if it meant seeing a surgeon”

This has to be intentionally oxymoronic on Kendrick’s part.

To be fair, he was saying that part from his cousin’s perspective

 

[Shadow King]

nikkas still running with "safe" and "fake deep" shyt? Lol

 

[Piff Perkins]

Sure there’s parallels between the logic they use just like there’s parallels between a government official and a drug kingpin on the streets

But we can’t be out here talking bout needing to address the mental health of black community and seeking therapy, and then in the same breath say people are living their truth when they gotta go to the chop shop to mutilate/castrate themselves

If you gonna live your truth then live your truth. The truth is that Kendrick’s auntie isn’t a man now nor will she ever be

But I digress from this topic lol I ain’t finna get into all that

The point wasn’t a game of Olympics of oppression where we determine which word is worse. The entire song is about perspective, and the perspective of a trans or gay person is that the word is hurtful and/or offensive. The perspective of a black person is that the n-word is hurtful and/or offensive. That is the most simple way to understand it, and Kendrick (kind of) gets away with the song by rapping from a younger kid perspective. A kid, hanging with his aunt, confused why she is being treated differently while simultaneously not understanding the word him and his friends say is offensive to people like her. Until she puts it in a perspective he can understand.

So the ending is like saying if you can understand why one word is offensive you should be able to understand why another is too. Not “this is worse” or “these people suffered more.” Black people suffered more than Italians in America. But that sure as hell doesn’t mean I’m gonna go call an Italian a wop, or even say it casually when Italians aren’t around.

 

[jensyao]

 

[winb83]

The point wasn’t a game of Olympics of oppression where we determine which word is worse. The entire song is about perspective, and the perspective of a trans or gay person is that the word is hurtful and/or offensive. The perspective of a black person is that the n-word is hurtful and/or offensive. That is the most simple way to understand it, and Kendrick (kind of) gets away with the song by rapping from a younger kid perspective. A kid, hanging with his aunt, confused why she is being treated differently while simultaneously not understanding the word him and his friends say is offensive to people like her. Until she puts it in a perspective he can understand.

So the ending is like saying if you can understand why one word is offensive you should be able to understand why another is too. Not “this is worse” or “these people suffered more.” Black people suffered more than Italians in America. But that sure as hell doesn’t mean I’m gonna go call an Italian a wop, or even say it casually when Italians aren’t around.

Human beings are selfish in nature. Deep down they care about their own problems more than those others face. There's a cognitive dissonance in coming to face that though. I admire the people with the courage to say fukk them and their issues I just care about mine because that takes a level of courage to face the stigma of. Most people will face the cognitive dissonance and instead find a justification for elevating their problems over others. Others will use the problems different people face as a prop to elevate the issues they face themselves when really they couldn't care less.

Like you said its not about whose suffering is greater or equating the suffering of one to another. It's about seeing suffering on both sides and finding a way to relate to each other on some level because of it.

 

[904]

Count Me Out is incredible

 

[breakfuss]

 

[Piff Perkins]

Human beings are selfish in nature. Deep down they care about their own problems more than those others face. There's a cognitive dissonance in coming to face that though. I admire the people with the courage to say fukk them and their issues I just care about mine because that takes a level of courage to face the stigma of. Most people will face the cognitive dissonance and instead find a justification for elevating their problems over others. Others will use the problems different people face as a prop to elevate the issues they face themselves when really they couldn't care less.

Like you said its not about whose suffering is greater or equating the suffering of one to another. It's about seeing suffering on both sides and finding a way to relate to each other on some level because of it.

Exactly. I used to say “retarded” in passing sometimes during convos with friends. Until I went over to my neighbors house to inquire about an ambulance coming to their house the night before. He told me his son who has Down’s syndrome tried to kill himself because kids at school were calling him a retard. Do I think saying “that’s retarded” is as bad as the n-word, on whatever scale we’re using to weigh bad words? No. But I’m not using that word anymore in real life because it’s hurtful. I’ve said it online since then, and need to get better at it.

 

[W.I.Z.E.]

Exactly. I used to say “retarded” in passing sometimes during convos with friends. Until I went over to my neighbors house to inquire about an ambulance coming to their house the night before. He told me his son who has Down’s syndrome tried to kill himself because kids at school were calling him a retard. Do I think saying “that’s retarded” is as bad as the n-word, on whatever scale we’re using to weigh bad words? No. But I’m not using that word anymore in real life because it’s hurtful. I’ve said it online since then, and need to get better at it.

Great summary and overall, you've been on point breaking down the album.

I agree with this but will call out another nuance that is not to sound defensive but add another layer of complexity.

Often, people use these words against each other and not the subject in question. Two very smart ppl may be together, one does something w/o thinking and the other says, that's re$&&. Or two straight guys are talking, one wears pink and other calls him f@g.

This is not to justify the usage of the word dependent on audience or context but there is a differences in intent and arguably impact.

 

[Cᵣₐₛₕ&ₜₕₑCₒᵤₚ]

Yep album is great. Will be playing regularly for the rest of the year.​

 

[NoHalfWay]

What he's essentially saying is you can see how using a word can be wrong when you're the target but when someone else is the target you're indifferent to it or participate in it. I quit using the word "f*ggot" when I realized that racist and bigots use the same core logic applied to a different target and how can I condemn the logic one way then be indifferent or participate in it another?

You'll often see people scramble for higher ground when this is pointed out talking about the plight of one group vs another or suggesting race isn't a choice and sexuality and all that is. That's all really just an attempt to say my suffering is more important than the suffering of others. The reality is if that logic is condemned and seen for what it truly is by everyone nobody suffers.

The real truth is the majority don't have any issue with the logic a racist uses they have an issue either when they're the target of the logic or the stigma of the word racist. You often see racist declare they aren't racist then pick up that same logic and use it again even after saying so. You'll also see people who condemn racism pick up that same logic and apply it to others.

@Piff Perkins

That shyt sounds like some idealistic bs to me tho. Nobody is trying to stand on higher ground morally, it’s just the truth of the matter. Depending on what you stand on, that shyt is a secondary issue that’s partially a result of a mental health crisis surging in the so called black community

Of course that shyt is offensive to some of the LGBT community. Yeah treat everybody how they wanna be treated kumbaya yeah yeah all that shyt. Ima have to have K Dot abolish all the “nikkas, bytches, hoes, crackers, retards, etc” and the like out of all his future music if before we go down that slippery slope

Every community has its biases as there is no true equality in the world, the so called black community is the only demographic on earth that’s this disenfranchised and discombobulated yet still finds a way to fight all these battles for movements detrimental to its advancement.

My problem is the real conversation about the root problem for the LGBT, ESPECIALLY transgenders hardly ever gets addressed and lol, ironically, gets tap danced around by worldwide liberal steppers at large.

I can’t get jiggy with the acceptance of nikkas living their truth by outright denying & defying the biological bodies they were born with. Then K Dot discards his spiritual beliefs once again cuz of some vague interpretation of loving thy neighbor, showcasing his flimsy faith in his beliefs in favor of carnalities of the world. No man is perfect but bruh might as well be agnostic at this point

All this shyt is tryna open ppl to new perspectives but not tryna step on any toes, underhanded respectability politics about sparking more circular dialogue that never gets nowhere.

But that’s how I interpret it. It’s Kendrick’s art and vision so he necessarily can’t be wrong for his opinion and viewpoints