Kendrick Lamar - Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers (May 13th, 2022) Album • Page 24

no way I get through this uninterrupted at work so saving it for whenever I get the chance to listen to a 73-minute album. probably tomorrow then. I'm excited.

 

Not at all the reaction I expected in here, I had a REALLY strong first impression of this. Easily his some of his most personal work to date, and he's not afraid to to do so in a way that doesn't always paint himself in the best light. I think he still continues making albums that don't sound like any of his other work; I guess it sounds the closest to DAMN, but there is still some incredibly weird and experimental production on here that is completely different from anything he's rapped over before

The back half especially has some of his most powerful work. Mother I Sober is absolutely harrowing, and I'm not sure some of you realize how important the song Auntie Diaries will be for hip-hop culture; while some of the messaging may be a little blunt or hamfisted, an artist of this caliber and popularity in the genre coming out with such an explicitly pro-trans song is huge

I'll have better-formed thoughts the more I listen to this but my first thought after finishing was "he did it again"

 

Also I love the random Ghostface feature lol, that made me happy. Would have liked at least a couple of TDE features on his final TDE album though

 

Really enjoying this. Experimental for sure but almost all of it lands for me. Wish we could’ve got an Andre 3000 interlude instead of Kodack.

I also like We Cry Together! Clearly in the minority. Looking forward to Twitter trying to over analyse some of that one.

 

I thought DAMM was underrated at the time, but somehow this is so good it actually makes me want more from DAMN.

 

man I kinda think this isn't good. apart from Kodak and some of the clumsy messaging there's stuff on here that is straight up bad musically like Silent Hill

Father Time and Mother Sober definitely are great but otherwise, idk about this

 

Taylour Paige's performance on 'We Cry Together' is incredible but yeeeeesh, will probably skip over it on future listens. Liking the album so far (with the same caveats people here have already brought up).

 

Not stoked reading these reactions

 

You should be, the album is fantastic so far. I enjoy it more than damn.

 

Tbf I have very little doubt I’ll enjoy this more than Damn

 

A lot to unpack.
Musically it's very interesting and diverse.

Curiously not sure any of it is single material, but Kendrick has a way of making singles unexpectedly.

Feel like listening to this was a bit spoiled vs listening to TPAB or DAMN for the first time due to the immediate controversies. kind of makes me sad, not having that same blank slate.

 

Die Hard and Count Me Out are the highlights so far. Some of these tracks are annoying haha

 

As with all Kendrick records, there's some really brilliant stuff on here and a whole bunch of stuff I might never go back to. Gut reaction is that I like it much more than Damn. Probably his 2nd best record. "Mother I Sober" is really something

 

Haven't listened yet so I'll report back later but seeing Kodak as a feature is a fucking bummer, man. Guess it all goes back to putting people on pedestals or whatever. Just leaves a sour taste in my mouth.

 

Die Hard is an easy single choice

 

A little spotty to me so far but Rich Spirit and Count Me Out were excellent. Nothing has been bad so far, though. I actually liked We Cry Together although it definitely made me uncomfortable and I’m not entirely sure it worked.

 

damn is very good what the hell are y’all on about

 

starting this now

 

Album is insanely good.

 

ghostface floated

 

He really burrowed into himself here. Third time through and — like TPAB — when you understand the swings within songs they make a lot more structural sense.

 

Yeah my second listen and I’m enjoying this more than i did on my first. No where near sure where I’d rank it.

 

I don't know how I feel about the Kodak feature in the grand scheme of the album outside of the obvious "stop putting rapists on songs". I don't know if more even needs to be said, but something is going on with his presence throughout the album and the message on "Mother I Sober".

 

I’m guessing that’s what he’s going for but it also seems a bit weird considering a few of the songs touch upon sexual assault.
Even looking past that, Kodack just isn’t good lol. Would have preferred Keem again on the interlude (or pretty much anyone else).