Kendrick Lamar - Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers (May 13th, 2022) Album • Page 32

I grieve different

 

going in

United in Grief is a hell of an opener, wow

 

Any concern I had that this was going to be a let down disappeared as soon as the fast drums came in, like oh of course this isn’t going to miss

 

THE SWITCH-UP!!!!

 

I know he said no singles but Die Hard is right there.

this is really good so far. get really dense TPAB vibes in spots

 

what the hell is We Cry Together dear lord

I get it but at the same time don't need to listen to it very often again

Rich Spirit and Purple Hearts are MUCH more like it

end of Disc 1, I REALLY like this. fuck Kodak Black though.

 

take off the foofoo.

 

the Count It Out chorus synth drop fuuuuuuuuck yeah

 

So I just got to Auntie Diaries and saw my friend comment on this.

clumsy acceptance is still acceptance. I have no doubt it was deliberate on Kendrick's part because he gets his pronouns straight by the last verse. wonderful song.

 

So many people gonna be dressed as Mr Morale for Halloween

 

jaw on the floor listening to Mother I Sober

he's done it again folks

 

I enjoy this take, didn’t want to speak out of place but I also thought the pronoun issue was supposed to be intentional, the buildup at the end as the beat starts to get more chaotic and he reaches his final lines of supporting his family, big moment

 

I have to do a lot of cleaning and I hate cleaning but I love this album so I will listen to it while cleaning and I won’t hate cleaning (the math checks out)

 

yup, absolutely. furthermore, the f-slur use is the point. elementary/middle school kids who didn't know any better. he's taking himself to task for that too.

 

Finally listening to the second half and savior interlude is a dud

 

Some people would have liked his depiction/storytelling to have been done without using misgendering and the slurs.

It's interesting to compare the reception of depiction/storytelling of hatred or evil in music, especially hip-hop, when compared to other media such as cinema or literature.

People don't sing along to live versions of films or books, or by themselves in the car. Most people are probably more likely to "correctly" interpret the intention of such depictions/storytelling in movies and books than in music. So it makes sense that the reception is not the same.

 

Yeah just got to auntie diaries and wow

 

Mother I Sober is a goddamn triumph of a song

the most moved I have ever been by his work

 

Finally listen fully. This mostly works for me. Obviously need more listens but this is good.

 

On my first listen. I’m not here to write an essay or go into detail at all really, but I am enjoying the first half of this so far, including We Cry Together which is very obviously supposed to make you uncomfortable. Taylour Paige’s parts are great. I think I like Purple Hearts most so far.

 

Bitch I’m attractive

 

Whole album is incredible and dense. Need many moons to digest

 

there’s only one moon smh

 

Second half of the album is really strong.

I think I like this about as much as DAMN. and this was only my first listen. I obviously could do without the Kodak features but I’m not gonna boycott the album because of it—so much of being a fan of rap is ignoring tasteless guest features or the occasional outrageous or offensive lyric. This is a great Kendrick album, a great rap album, no denying that, and something I really love about Kendrick’s music is how much deliberation is made with every little musical/lyrical/vocal choice. I may not always be personally drawn to his choice, whatever it is, but I can appreciate the level of intent in his songwriting. And this album seems like a true self-reckoning in a way, with his art, with himself, which I can really get behind.

I do wish the album had more hooks but the great production and lyrical depth and nuance make up for it.