Exactly.
Even tho the album is only a couple weeks old, where would you rank it in his discography....
Right now i’m putting it above Section 80 but below GKMC, DAMN, and TPAB.
There’s some GENIUS level writing on this album and i’m someone who values lyrics, theme, and concepts over everything else. This is, in my opinion the best WRITTEN album of the year to date. Its leaps and BOUNDS better writing than Pusha T, Benny, Conway, and slightly above Black Star’s No Fear Of Time album.
I also slightly value “headphone” music over “Riding in the whip” music and this is DEFINITELY headphone music.
The only thing that works against the album for me is that its the ULTIMATE “mood” album. Its so heavy in concept and downright depressing and triggering that it, on a pure emotional level doesn’t lend itself to repeat listenings. And i’m not saying it has no replay value because there are many layers to this album that could take YEARS to really break down and decipher, but its a very DARK listening experience. Its an album that doesn’t really lean into the themes of redemption and reconciliation until the very very end.
Damn had very dark moments but was also brilliantly paired with palette cleansers like Loyalty, Love, and had bangers like Humble & DNA. The album also ends on a BIG redemptive and positive note with Duckworth, one of the best storytelling songs of genre.
TPAB was dark but also had palette cleansers like King Kunta, Alright, I, and Complexion. The album again also ends on a more positive and hopeful note.
GKMC was dark, but also had palette cleansers like Poetic Justice & Backseat Freestyle. Again, the album ends on hopeful, even triumphant note with Compton.
Mr Morale And The Big Steppers is devoid of that sense of hope as its a full on critique and indictment of The negative aspects of the CULTURE we’ve allowed ourselves to embrace. Its almost like a Boondocks episode stripped of the humor that helps the medicine go down. In a season 1 episode where Huey Freeman questions Grandad about the health deficiencies of Soul Food; Grandad tells Huey that this food is our culture. Huey angrily exclaims “Well the CULTURE IS DESTRUCTIVE!” And thats this album in a nutshell. A no holds barred, uncomfortable, unabashed, uncensored and unrepentant dissection of the negativity and evils permeating black culture as introduced through white supremacy, slavery, racism, and systemic trauma. Its an album that rips away the bandaids of ego, pride, strength, and self-reliance to expose the flaws that corrupt the souls of our communities like a sickness. Its an album that lays bare the truth that sexual molestation of children is an endemic in the black community and that black boys are the victims of sexual abuse at MUCH higher rates than we are comfortable talking about. Its an album that refuses to gloss over the ugly aspects of healing; the confrontation with shame. The shattering of dignity. Having to build yourself up again. Having to be selfish in order to take that time to rebuild.
Its NOT an album that says we’re going to be “Alright”. Its NOT an album that says that says God can deliver or save us. Its NOT an album that confronts death. Its an album that confronts SURVIVAL, and all the trauma that comes with that survival for black men especially. Its an album that extols the virtues of professional therapy without once saying that therapy is the cure. The only concrete solution that I feel Kendrick is ultimately conveying is that a complete abandonment and restructuring of what we call the “Black American Culture” should be the highest priority.
So even though the album is almost flawless in most of the categories that make up my listening habits, the overall lack of HOPE that makes up this album’s identity means that i’d have to be in the “right” mindset to listen to it. Its also an album that really demands you listen all the way through, which again, is something I love, but its too heavy conceptually to do so too often.
I’m going with a 4.5/5. Its currently the album of the year but in Kendrick’s overall discography i’ll say..
1). Good Kid m.A.A.d City- 5/5
2). To Pimp A Butterfly- 5/5
3). Damn- 4.75/5
4). Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers- 4.5/5
5). Untitled Unmastered- 4.5/5
6). Section 80- 4/5
