PLEASE READ BEFORE COMMENTING: Re: “Bro we shouldn’t not analyze art and you’re saying Kendrick didn’t know what he was doing - he totally knew what he was doing, this album isn’t nothing or confusing! Also you’re analyzing the album!” The point of this piece was to say maybe we should look at why the album exists before we dive into the details it provides. Kendrick knew what he was doing, and I’m not discouraging analyzation. If you came away from this with the notion that I’m saying “this album is nothing so stop looking into it”, then you’ve interpreted my view incorrectly. The intro where I say “it’s confusing” and whatnot was to mirror the myriad of chatter that was happening around this record when it was released. I don’t think it’s super confusing, but many people are confused by it. Re: “This Title Upsets Me” Welcome to TH-cam, clickable titles are part of your orientation lol Re: “Only TWO beloved albums???” The whole discog is goated! Just because I zoom in on two for the sake of chronology doesn’t mean the others aren’t good!
@@DoomShrm a shorter version of “stop analyzing the album in detail and look at why it exists first” - it’s a clickable thing that intrigues the viewer - pretty typical youtube stuff lol. if you watched the whole video I’m not sure there’s a reason to be upset over the title. I can’t really control if you see the title of the video and then just…don’t watch it…but then do what the title says anyway? Kind of a weird situation
I think you have a point with how fast people act to rate this album. It is incredibly deep and has many concepts; he didn't want people to make a quick consensus of it, but rather stay with it for years. I think that is actually what makes the album great.
Ngl, as a huge fan of kendrick I was really looking forward to dissect the album right away, but as soon as I pressed play I realized I gotta give it it's time and do it organically. I'm so sick of how people were either calling it the best or the worst thing ever 2 hours after it dropped
“the way out is in” - Thich Nhat Hanh in all seriousness i mean yeah the title should be “stop analyzing it in such great detail” but that doesn’t make a good title now does it haha
From the moment it dropped and I listened to it fully. I've told everyone who's asked. "it ripped my heart out and spit it back into my chest. Kendrick puts himself on a pedestal like every other rapper but not to show his good side. To paint himself in an honest light and reveal the cracks in the idol. Giving us a deeper view inside what people are worhsiping. For some that's divine, others think it's weird and might not like it at all or just initially. It seems like it means a lot to Kendrick and it means a lot to me to be able to hear it. Listen to it alone first and with a tissue box."
I 1000% agree with this. This album didn’t quite stick with me at first because it was not what I expected. Because of the Heart Part 5 and all that, I basically expected TPAB 2 or something else super politically charged. But instead this album was so deeply personal and painful. I’ve always looked up to Kendrick so much, and tbh it was difficult to listen to him talking about struggling with cheating and that stuff. But it only grows my respect for him because he shows that he is just a human. When he says he is all of us, it’s not that he is some all knowing deity; he is just a regular man with real experiences and trauma like the rest of us. Only difference being he is a f’ing genius
@@joebidenjr5902 go listen to the new drake, this ain't no radio album, I prolly done played 3 songs from scorpion more then this album and I think scorpion ass, but this album ain't a constant relisten type thin
I honestly think the album is simply just a double for therapy/social issues. He is using himself as an example by pointing out personal/social issues and leading people in a more healthy direction. The tap dancing, for example, is just how both himself and others dance around their personal problems in fear, and how himself/others with a voice have been tap dancing around a lot of social issues in fear. He's still providing a suggestion for a "fix" but is doing it indirectly, and that "fix" is to work on yourself and put the phones down.
I would go even a step further to say this album concludes without kendrick ever really finding or suggesting a fix, more so just trusting the process of healing and therapy
I have never cried to an album before but the other day I cried to Mr morale because I finally understand why I like Kendrick’s music. I see myself in him. I never thought I could cause I’m a white guy from a middle class family but now I’m seeing how I have the Mr. Morale mentality. I’ve been told I need to see a therapist before but I never knew why because I couldn’t put my emotions into words to anyone before but I think I just need to play this entire album in front of my therapist now just to tell her how much I can relate to it even as a white middle class guy because I see how I may come off as kendrick in We Cry Together to a girlfriend. I see how my dad lit this competitive nature under my ass as a kid and I’m seeing how it’s showing up in my adult life now like kendrick is on Father Time. I think I’m in my Count Me Out phase in my journey through therapy and my emotions because I felt counted out. I didn’t know how to get better. But this album showed me how to get through emotionally hard times caused your past trauma you may not even know about
I just wish there were more rappers who were really dissected like this. Its almost mainstream to break down kendrick but its almost as if people think hes the ONLY one.
I agree. I heard TPAB at the beginning of last year for the first time and it took me about 3 months to get through the whole album and about a year to actually digest it (along w "untitled unmastered."). Both, of course, are insanely good. These were released when I was in early middle school. I remember thinking that even if I had known about them then, I probably wouldn't have liked them and understood them as much as I do now. With "Mr. Morale" I feel like I may have a similar process. Rn, I'm about halfway through the first disk. I like it and can obviously see that is skillfully and consciously made, but it will probably hit me in a few years until I'm closer to Kendrick's current age and life experiences (parenthood, career growth, etc). It's important to remember that there are aspects from the listener's side that factor into how much they can enjoy an album.
Ofc very well said - there’s a consumption period and a digestion period when you get an album like this. There’s so much to bite into and I think people might be overeating before they digest so to speak - thanks for watchin!
Fucking same. It took me ten listens for TPAB to flourish into the masterpiece that it is. That tenth listen was such a fantastic experience, and TPAB has been a fantastic experience ever since
this album is pretty straightforward to me. After listening to it a couple of times, I see it as kendrick looking into himself, indentifying problems, and working on them. Not anything more than that. Not that that's a bad thing, but the "deepness" of the album is incredibly overstated. If kendrick fans listened to every album the way they listened to this album, they would realize everything is "deep" if you really try to make it deep. Still one of the best albums of the year, but I will never understand the pedestal kendrick fans put him on
yep, this is kind of exactly what i’m getting at here - using context kinda just ask yourself why he’s releasing an album like this at this time, instead of dissecting lower level details
This was beautiful. And you're right. Kendrick touches on human imperfection. He even said it yesterday at the Glastonbury event about the beautiful of imperfection and growth ❤️
Well done Serg, as always!!!! I’m a massive kendrick fan, and when my friends asked me what I thought of this project I literally said that almost word for word “I think it’s amazing, I just need more time with it”
This album isnt Kenny having no idea what to say next, or how to say it. Once you take it all in, it’s pretty cohesive. The world would be a much better place if everyone did what Kenny did on this album. Focus inward, Take a moral and spiritual inventory, work Thru your bullshit and process your trauma.
that’s not really what i meant - i meant after the critical acclaim and a “savior” dubbing from the previous two records, he didn’t know what to say or how to say it, so he decided to look inward in making mr morale. mr morale itself isn’t him not having anything to say or saying it ineffectively.
What top-commenter "Alexander Junge" said, is exactly right. Never in my life have I enjoyed an album for so long as this one, as someone who tennds to play albums on repeat. I listened to this album to sleep, concentrate, distract myself and to think about it's lyrics. In my free-time when I had nothing to do, I would occasionally think about the lyrics and repeat them out loud to try and wrap my head around their meanings. While I really loved only one song at first ("Father Time"), I then went on to recognize the beauty of "United In Grief". Now, a few weeks later, I've come to love both "Count Me Out" and "Crown". This album really sticks with me and my perception of it evolves over time. Who knows, maybe one day I'll enjoy the incredibly exhausting "We Cry Together". It's an incredible piece of art and I hold it dearly.
It's my favorite Kendrick album, because it's so different in every song. It feels like we're exploring a mind. His other albums are masterworks, but they are trying to grasp gigantic aspects of society. Mr morale, is just a picture of him, not society
kendrick is the number one rapper, with this record its not even a question, no other rapper has given us actual - founded in the work statements, coherent development and consistent thematic expression. kendrick is the goat
you literally said what i just realized after watching a bunch of peoples review on the album over the last few days “”this is a record where each listener takes away what they see as most meaningful”” people, including myself, will forever and always will do that with music tho cause it gives us a weird sense of value, like the thought of the artist being able to relate with a struggle. then some people take there own relation to the song and kinda butcher the original contexts, and then u have those people that get entertained with the thought of the album haves secret messages in it that confirms what the album is actually about lol and then get so lost in the sauce they end up over complicating it to suet their own convenience as the listener, he’s said in a interview about Mr.Mor, that he’s just sharing HIS experiences and perceptions, things he’s been through and felt, over analyzing it would just turn it spoil, read lyrics, use context clues if a bar don’t make sense to u, it’s a masterpiece, if i was in cinema i was love to make a movie about his life
I think that this album is a masterpiece honestly the more you sit with it and digest it the more it grows on you. I think as a society we are conditioned for such surface level lyrics and content for instant gratification that when something so deep and transcendent hits us we have no idea what to do with it. The album is a 9.2/10 for me
@@SnowBaller985 no it doesn't signify a light, but do you know what does signify a light, the word light not a decimal. Stop with the pretentious-abstract reasoning.
WOW bruh, the way this video is AMAZINGG!!!! love the way you talked about this. also i actually shocked when i got out of full screen mode and saw that u have 9k subs. anyways beautiful video, so excited to be a new fan of yours
Bro finally someone with something good to say about this album, I love the album but all the critique videos for the good or the bad just tick me off, all the over analysing and assumptions
I think ppl need to relax. It’s like the whole world had him on a pedestal. Like he was above saying the wrong thing, or above Vice. There are so many other artists out there who not only say VERY PROBLEMATIC shit on their albums, but also do some nasty shit irl. And no one freaks out like they do when Kenny says something questionable or makes an album they weren’t expecting.
It's like the quote from Tenet, "Don't try to understand it. Feel it." This is way too dense and layered of an album to come to any sort of firm conclusion of the overall message.
This album has already Revolutionised rap with Travis Scott shifting from his commercial sound of Astroworld into Utopia just like DAMN into Mr Morlale, Tyler The Creator Deciding to leave all his fictional personas behind to focus on himself in his music, Lil Yatchy Finding a new Style and completely breaking through the vision once perceived of him in 2023
I don't think the album is messy, confusing, or all over the place at all. It listens very clear and cohesive for me. And I think Kendrick absolutely knew what he was doing / creating when he went in this direction. It seems kind of arrogant to assume he didn't just because it's taking time for some listeners to digest.
don’t think I really assumed he inadvertently put out a mess - just really pointing out the choice to make a diverse double album that isn’t an easy listen and focuses on him - we should listen to that choice first before digesting smaller details
I understand jumping on reviewing the technicality but sometimes music reviewers separate themselves so much from the content in order to criticize when Kendrick’s message is spiritual and should be truly taken in even by the critics. Some of the critics are displaying some of what Kendrick is critiquing on the album even if it’s a positive review so it’s interesting to see. This is legit commentary
thanks man - music reviewers gotta do their job and I totally respect it. but like you said, this album I think has such an important thing to say that it needs to be sat with for a bit
In my eyes the album is something sacred. Not literally though. What I mean is that it kinda feels like a ''comfort place'' in a way. Its not about the average stuff that gets talked or what people think music should be like. Its about being real with yourself and really paying attention to the deep seated unconscious garbage that all of us try to ignore most of the time. That is why there is so much emphasis on trauma in the album. This may be interesting to note: Last week I went to a therapist for the first time in a year. I didn't really expect anything big to happen, but once we got the conversation going, tears just started pouring in no time and I basically had a breakdown, caused by bottled up emotion that I had tried to ignore. Growing up can be hard. On my way home, I couldn't stop thinking about that Kendrick line ''I went and got me a therapist, wow''
lol no hate for the youngins they’re just tryna make a living - kendrick has the gift of being able to take his time and make incredible art that supports him
1. Damn was not NEARLY as beloved as Tpab. Tpab literally has it's own fanbase. I would argue that GKMC is more iconic and is more beloved even if DAMN is a higher SELLING record. Those are two different things. 2. If he didn't know how to say anything why would he release the album. It is very clear that he made a lot of artistic choices during the making of the album to make a statement about. Such as Auntie diaries where he ties his commentary about the LGTBQ community with his uncle/aunt being who she is. 3. Why doesn't this logic apply to his other albums. This whole "broken human being" thing was used with songs like "U" in TPAB and for most of the album in fact. It was a character study about how he is merely a human being and makes mistakes. It is an album about learning to love yourself as a human being despite mistakes you make. hence the songs "Mortal Man" and "I". 4. Not analyzing a piece of art defeats the purpose of art. It's like covering a statue at a museum. Why make all of these artistic decisions just for it not to be admired for or acknowledged.
Really the point of this video was to say “maybe we should take in the existence of the album for what it is before we dive into details.” It wasn’t to discourage analyzation. It’s just a title. It wasn’t to say he had no idea what he was doing. Clearly he knew what he was doing.
Used to think hip hop was just "hey look at me Im cool" but now i see thaf some people do have mpre deeper meanings in their lyrics Awesome vid as always Serge
@@yogreenboi That's a good thing. Kendrick is not the only good rapper you can also check out: Nas, Earl Sweatshirt, Kanye West (very diverse discography), MF Doom, Mos Def, Biggie, Mobb Deep, Lupe Fiasco, Joey Badass, Kid Cudi, Freddie Gibbs, Ghostface Killah, Tyler, The Creator (last three albums), Busta Rhymes (his 90s music), Pharoahe Monch, Denzel Curry, Lil Waynes (his 2000s mixtapes), The Roots, Black Thought, Billy Woods, Pusha T, Public Enemy, Jay Electronica, A Tribe Called Quest and many more. You have to know that Hip Hop has many subgenres. Kendrick makes Conscious Hip-Hop. My favorite Hip Hop Subgenres are east coast hip hop and hardcore hip hop. But also abstract hip hop, jazz rap, experimental hip hop gangsta rap, cloud rap and also pop rap and trap have quality hip hop artists. There're so many subgenres and artists to discover, it's crazy.
I agree 100% for me I see it as the world as it is I take from this a human being who experiences all these emotions that we all feel in life death love grieving peace violence all of it.
the title of this video piques the viewer's interest to click, while the speaker (albeit briefly) proceeds to explain that maybe the actual title/thesis of the video is, "it's okay to analyze the album in detail, but not before you've processed the bigger picture, and what the album's existence means in the context of the artist's discography", but didn't actually title the video that because it is too long
@@sergescardigno only including 2 albums as you list his beloved albums, kinda sounds like you dont really love his other albums. Which is cool, i just thought id weigh in on the convo
@@billymays8274 it’s kind of like “after these two beloved albums, this is what he chose to do next”, not “after these two albums which are his only good ones, this is what he did next”, as some people have concluded - I am also literally telling you here and now that the other albums are also goated lol
@@sergescardigno also really good take on the kendrick album, i think a lot of people reviewed it too soon and the perception of kendrick that many people had, needed to be altered before it was really appreciated. Just give it time, im sure people will start to realize you are right
i mean... a yea? but also no? i do agree i think people should stop in the sense that they add onto the confusion and chaos of everybody else out there trying to just listen and enjoy and/or trying to figure out wtf is even going on lol... i think in reality there will always be an artist's intention and message when making music, especially of this category/genre, its almost meant for you not only to enjoy the production on a surface level but to think and ponder and actually ANALYZE what you are being told, sung, preached etc. there is always going to be layers to a cake, and depending on the baker, well you get varying qualities/quantities of those layers as well as the varying quality and quantity of the ingredients themselves in said cake. life is far more complex than most people like to imagine or even to admit, and i believe strongly that there is always going to be so much to unpack and analyze in music coming from the kendricks, them eminems, the coles, the kanyes etc. but thats just my opinion tho so carry on lol.
The meaning in summary is Hypocrisy/Pain. Hypocrisy on him, on us, on us to him, on him to us, on society in general. And on Governments Pain. We are all victims and perpetrators of inflicting pain
my goodness you are the 9000th person to comment this ahahah: whole discog is goated, just because i zoom in on two for chronology doesn’t mean the others aren’t good!
I came into this video ready to disagree with the idea that we should stop analyzing MMATBS but honestly you’ve laid out some really good points and sentiments that would help a vast majority of listeners better digest the album. Nice video 👍🏾
This definitely isn't a GKMC album that has a very clear path throughout the album. Even DAMN was pretty basic too. But TPAB and this latest album have such deep philosophical questions that it's more of a "here's my take on it, how do you think about these issues." Type of album. I probably butchered that explanation. When I say DAMN was basic, I don't mean the album, I mean more about how the themes are presented. GKMC was the story of growing up in Compton. Pretty basic too. But then you have Kendrick bringing up things in TPAB that just make you sit back and think. How much a dollar Cost? "Let the Willie Lynch theory reverse a million times" in complexion. Really powerful soul searching questions and themes that make him stand out over the rap game. That's how I feel about Mr.M and the B.S I'm prepared for anybody and everybody to tell me im full of s***. Come at me 😆
haha yeah I mean I agree for the most part, although I wouldn't necessarily label his previous efforts as "basic", because with enough listens you will find yourself asking some deeper questions. this one was just more on those nose in that it's focused on a human being and their state of being as a result of what was spoken about on previous projects
I don’t see how damn was basic he had songs like feel and fear that touched on the very same topics like mr .morale the song Dna when u get passed the fire ass beat and flow and really listen he’s talking about how people as a society is fucked up and blood is connected to duck worth with the luring so i was taking a walk the other day and blind lady talk just like how in to pimp a butterfly when he would say so I remembered you was conflicted Misusing your influence, sometimes I did the same at the end of songs leading up to mortal man . lust he talks about his sex addiction just like in worldwide steppers . Damn was a continuation of the other projects but he also talked more about handling the new heights of fame and being on top in the song god .
People want to rate and do reactions out the gate for views and likes. Off top...the first part of listening is hearing what he says...let it marinate.
exactly - reactions and stuff can be cool in the moment, but this is the kind of album where if you keep listening, you just know your thoughts are gonna evolve so much over time from that initial reaction
the project that comes to mind as maybe the best example is Father John Misty's "Chloe and The Next 20th Century". dude's in an eerily similar place as kendrick - released a very verbose album commenting on the world, then a more palatable one, and then his latest. the latest is a collection of love songs and the closer does a similar thing to kendrick's closer. he basically takes the "i'm at a loss" approach and says (paraphrasing here), "it's all so much i don't have anything left to say, so here are some love songs".
Or maybe we should just realize that hes not a savior at all and that hes trying to say that hes just a human being and coming from the perspective of a human being which is why he mentions people like Eckhert tolle. When were looking to go within ourselves. Really truly take that dive. No rap artist is gonna do that for you in the way, Tolle, Ram Dass, swami vivekananda, Mooji Baba, teachings of Jesus, the Buddha, Papaji, neem karoli Baba the saint, Saint John of the cross, and people like this are going to do. When you're really ready to search you'll stop looking outward for a savior and start looking within. Reading and listening to the knowledge of the great gurus before us. Kendrick has a great message. But as his album implies he is still SERIOUSLY figuring himself out.. because he's human. As all the other people I listed are, and they will tell you the same however they have dedicated their entire lives to inner searching and telling you what they came up with.. Kendrick is just now in the last few years it seems doing his searching. And it's profound. But he hasn't even hit many of the milestones of a seeker. Like his dark night of the soul, which will be his next step. Where his searching plateaus off and he feels he's lost it.. THAT is when you know it's time to keep pushing through. And if you do. You can come out like many of the great teachers I named. The point is Kendrick is telling us he's a man figuring it out and NOT to see him as a savior. That's just HIS story, what he's gone through. You're much better being guided by someone else. It's deep in the sense of music and HIS inner self.. but not nearly as deep as reading these other people where you can go deeper in YOURSELF. And I think K Dot wants that for others too
I think this album do got meaning, but only for him. This shit is really personal. It's like I'm watching something I shouldn't. This album was for himself and his issues. It's like seeing superman's weakness when I hear my favorite no miss music artist talk about his issues. It humanized him for me and made me have a much better view on him. He is not yours or my savior.
PLEASE READ BEFORE COMMENTING:
Re: “Bro we shouldn’t not analyze art and you’re saying Kendrick didn’t know what he was doing - he totally knew what he was doing, this album isn’t nothing or confusing! Also you’re analyzing the album!”
The point of this piece was to say maybe we should look at why the album exists before we dive into the details it provides. Kendrick knew what he was doing, and I’m not discouraging analyzation. If you came away from this with the notion that I’m saying “this album is nothing so stop looking into it”, then you’ve interpreted my view incorrectly. The intro where I say “it’s confusing” and whatnot was to mirror the myriad of chatter that was happening around this record when it was released. I don’t think it’s super confusing, but many people are confused by it.
Re: “This Title Upsets Me”
Welcome to TH-cam, clickable titles are part of your orientation lol
Re: “Only TWO beloved albums???”
The whole discog is goated! Just because I zoom in on two for the sake of chronology doesn’t mean the others aren’t good!
Thank you for this, I now understand much better the reasoning and logic behind your message.
@@m2v.xp.ci82 :)
If ur not discouraging analyzation explain the title
@@DoomShrm a shorter version of “stop analyzing the album in detail and look at why it exists first” - it’s a clickable thing that intrigues the viewer - pretty typical youtube stuff lol. if you watched the whole video I’m not sure there’s a reason to be upset over the title. I can’t really control if you see the title of the video and then just…don’t watch it…but then do what the title says anyway? Kind of a weird situation
dont do clickbaity titles then
I think you have a point with how fast people act to rate this album. It is incredibly deep and has many concepts; he didn't want people to make a quick consensus of it, but rather stay with it for years. I think that is actually what makes the album great.
beautifully said!
Agreed. It gets better with every listen
It’s not that deep bro.
@@corbelan4 i disagree
Ngl, as a huge fan of kendrick I was really looking forward to dissect the album right away, but as soon as I pressed play I realized I gotta give it it's time and do it organically. I'm so sick of how people were either calling it the best or the worst thing ever 2 hours after it dropped
“Stop analyzing Mr Moral and the big steppers”
Proceeds to analyze Mr Moral and the big steppers.
“the way out is in” - Thich Nhat Hanh
in all seriousness i mean yeah the title should be “stop analyzing it in such great detail” but that doesn’t make a good title now does it haha
@@sergescardigno Touché lol
It’s about sodomy , it’s clear as fucking day just read the lyrics. Fuck anyone’s opinion. Just listen to what he’s saying.
@@sergescardigno Sergio Scardigno stop quoting people so you can push this false narrative just so you can come off as intelligent and lamblike.
@@nvycious.364 bro you got an orangutan as your pfp talking about "lamblike" stfu
From the moment it dropped and I listened to it fully. I've told everyone who's asked.
"it ripped my heart out and spit it back into my chest. Kendrick puts himself on a pedestal like every other rapper but not to show his good side. To paint himself in an honest light and reveal the cracks in the idol. Giving us a deeper view inside what people are worhsiping. For some that's divine, others think it's weird and might not like it at all or just initially. It seems like it means a lot to Kendrick and it means a lot to me to be able to hear it. Listen to it alone first and with a tissue box."
love this
I 1000% agree with this. This album didn’t quite stick with me at first because it was not what I expected. Because of the Heart Part 5 and all that, I basically expected TPAB 2 or something else super politically charged. But instead this album was so deeply personal and painful. I’ve always looked up to Kendrick so much, and tbh it was difficult to listen to him talking about struggling with cheating and that stuff. But it only grows my respect for him because he shows that he is just a human. When he says he is all of us, it’s not that he is some all knowing deity; he is just a regular man with real experiences and trauma like the rest of us. Only difference being he is a f’ing genius
Kendrick fans are so over the top 💀
I listened to this album a couple of times and got bored.
@@joebidenjr5902 go listen to the new drake, this ain't no radio album, I prolly done played 3 songs from scorpion more then this album and I think scorpion ass, but this album ain't a constant relisten type thin
kendrick stans never fail to amaze.
I honestly think the album is simply just a double for therapy/social issues. He is using himself as an example by pointing out personal/social issues and leading people in a more healthy direction. The tap dancing, for example, is just how both himself and others dance around their personal problems in fear, and how himself/others with a voice have been tap dancing around a lot of social issues in fear. He's still providing a suggestion for a "fix" but is doing it indirectly, and that "fix" is to work on yourself and put the phones down.
I would go even a step further to say this album concludes without kendrick ever really finding or suggesting a fix, more so just trusting the process of healing and therapy
I agree with this 100%
I have never cried to an album before but the other day I cried to Mr morale because I finally understand why I like Kendrick’s music. I see myself in him. I never thought I could cause I’m a white guy from a middle class family but now I’m seeing how I have the Mr. Morale mentality. I’ve been told I need to see a therapist before but I never knew why because I couldn’t put my emotions into words to anyone before but I think I just need to play this entire album in front of my therapist now just to tell her how much I can relate to it even as a white middle class guy because I see how I may come off as kendrick in We Cry Together to a girlfriend. I see how my dad lit this competitive nature under my ass as a kid and I’m seeing how it’s showing up in my adult life now like kendrick is on Father Time. I think I’m in my Count Me Out phase in my journey through therapy and my emotions because I felt counted out. I didn’t know how to get better. But this album showed me how to get through emotionally hard times caused your past trauma you may not even know about
This was such a necessary album for him to drop, especially with the weight he has on his shoulders. This really lifted a lot of expectations from him
Never thought I'd hear you say "don't read into it" but I agree for sure, what a banger of an album either way
it’s more like “sit with it for a few times before you get obsessed with the details” kind of thing - but yeah homie absolutely
I just wish there were more rappers who were really dissected like this. Its almost mainstream to break down kendrick but its almost as if people think hes the ONLY one.
I agree. I heard TPAB at the beginning of last year for the first time and it took me about 3 months to get through the whole album and about a year to actually digest it (along w "untitled unmastered."). Both, of course, are insanely good. These were released when I was in early middle school. I remember thinking that even if I had known about them then, I probably wouldn't have liked them and understood them as much as I do now. With "Mr. Morale" I feel like I may have a similar process. Rn, I'm about halfway through the first disk. I like it and can obviously see that is skillfully and consciously made, but it will probably hit me in a few years until I'm closer to Kendrick's current age and life experiences (parenthood, career growth, etc).
It's important to remember that there are aspects from the listener's side that factor into how much they can enjoy an album.
Ofc very well said - there’s a consumption period and a digestion period when you get an album like this. There’s so much to bite into and I think people might be overeating before they digest so to speak - thanks for watchin!
Fucking same. It took me ten listens for TPAB to flourish into the masterpiece that it is. That tenth listen was such a fantastic experience, and TPAB has been a fantastic experience ever since
please watch mu review
how does somebody take three months to get through an album?
"early middle school"
WTF
this album is pretty straightforward to me. After listening to it a couple of times, I see it as kendrick looking into himself, indentifying problems, and working on them. Not anything more than that. Not that that's a bad thing, but the "deepness" of the album is incredibly overstated. If kendrick fans listened to every album the way they listened to this album, they would realize everything is "deep" if you really try to make it deep. Still one of the best albums of the year, but I will never understand the pedestal kendrick fans put him on
yep, this is kind of exactly what i’m getting at here - using context kinda just ask yourself why he’s releasing an album like this at this time, instead of dissecting lower level details
This was beautiful.
And you're right. Kendrick touches on human imperfection. He even said it yesterday at the Glastonbury event about the beautiful of imperfection and growth ❤️
ty, that must've been lovely to hear :'-)
Well done Serg, as always!!!! I’m a massive kendrick fan, and when my friends asked me what I thought of this project I literally said that almost word for word “I think it’s amazing, I just need more time with it”
tysm! yes yes it is important to take time with this one!
This album isnt Kenny having no idea what to say next, or how to say it. Once you take it all in, it’s pretty cohesive. The world would be a much better place if everyone did what Kenny did on this album. Focus inward, Take a moral and spiritual inventory, work Thru your bullshit and process your trauma.
that’s not really what i meant - i meant after the critical acclaim and a “savior” dubbing from the previous two records, he didn’t know what to say or how to say it, so he decided to look inward in making mr morale. mr morale itself isn’t him not having anything to say or saying it ineffectively.
Kendrick albums are like Zelda video game. Takes work when you get started but after your in there, it’s a fun rewarding masterpiece.
big fan of that analogy
Dude, I love this. BE with this thing for a while before DOING something about it.
exactly man that’s what art is all about
What top-commenter "Alexander Junge" said, is exactly right. Never in my life have I enjoyed an album for so long as this one, as someone who tennds to play albums on repeat. I listened to this album to sleep, concentrate, distract myself and to think about it's lyrics. In my free-time when I had nothing to do, I would occasionally think about the lyrics and repeat them out loud to try and wrap my head around their meanings. While I really loved only one song at first ("Father Time"), I then went on to recognize the beauty of "United In Grief". Now, a few weeks later, I've come to love both "Count Me Out" and "Crown". This album really sticks with me and my perception of it evolves over time. Who knows, maybe one day I'll enjoy the incredibly exhausting "We Cry Together". It's an incredible piece of art and I hold it dearly.
It's my favorite Kendrick album, because it's so different in every song. It feels like we're exploring a mind. His other albums are masterworks, but they are trying to grasp gigantic aspects of society. Mr morale, is just a picture of him, not society
kendrick is the number one rapper, with this record its not even a question, no other rapper has given us actual - founded in the work statements, coherent development and consistent thematic expression. kendrick is the goat
i meannnn tyler does that too
you literally said what i just realized after watching a bunch of peoples review on the album over the last few days “”this is a record where each listener takes away what they see as most meaningful”” people, including myself, will forever and always will do that with music tho cause it gives us a weird sense of value, like the thought of the artist being able to relate with a struggle. then some people take there own relation to the song and kinda butcher the original contexts, and then u have those people that get entertained with the thought of the album haves secret messages in it that confirms what the album is actually about lol and then get so lost in the sauce they end up over complicating it to suet their own convenience as the listener, he’s said in a interview about Mr.Mor, that he’s just sharing HIS experiences and perceptions, things he’s been through and felt, over analyzing it would just turn it spoil, read lyrics, use context clues if a bar don’t make sense to u, it’s a masterpiece, if i was in cinema i was love to make a movie about his life
I think that this album is a masterpiece honestly the more you sit with it and digest it the more it grows on you. I think as a society we are conditioned for such surface level lyrics and content for instant gratification that when something so deep and transcendent hits us we have no idea what to do with it. The album is a 9.2/10 for me
yeah, short form content is definitely ruining our attention spans and raising the bar for what peaks our interest off the bat lol
What is with the .2 what the fuck is that
@@nvycious.364 probably a signifier for like a light 9 or smth. some rating sites have decimal points or go 1-100
@@SnowBaller985 no it doesn't signify a light, but do you know what does signify a light, the word light not a decimal. Stop with the pretentious-abstract reasoning.
@@nvycious.364 weird thing to get pressed by
This album gets better the longer I listen to it. Wow.
it is definitely that kind of project
"Shit don't change until you get up an wash yo ass nigga"
this video deserves a million views at the very least. thank you for your insight.
ty for the kind words!
WOW bruh, the way this video is AMAZINGG!!!! love the way you talked about this.
also i actually shocked when i got out of full screen mode and saw that u have 9k subs. anyways beautiful video, so excited to be a new fan of yours
wow thank YOU for the kind words! appreciate the love ❤️
This was Kendricks album saying F cancel culture, his apology for not being around the past 2 and a half years and a Fairwell to the game for now.
there's so many bigger things he touched on than that lmao
Yeah of course but I wasn't about to list everything I understood it to be about. LOL!!
waiting for this to blow up 📈
🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
People are analysing n trying to make their opinion as facts of the album, while K dot is somewhere enjoyin his life
haha likely
I didn't see this album coming and I thank God for making it happen. So I can listen to this beautiful album
Bro finally someone with something good to say about this album, I love the album but all the critique videos for the good or the bad just tick me off, all the over analysing and assumptions
i hear ya, i’m not sayin i’m better than those guys but all the analyzing is a bit overwhelming early on
🔥vid, keep these coming!
thanks homie!
great ass video, didnt expect this quality from this small of a channel, im subbed my man
thanks homie, that means a lot :)
WHY DOES MAKE ME WANNA SHED TEARS FAM!?
He does have something to say. It's a therapy session. He says so in the album.
I think ppl need to relax. It’s like the whole world had him on a pedestal. Like he was above saying the wrong thing, or above Vice. There are so many other artists out there who not only say VERY PROBLEMATIC shit on their albums, but also do some nasty shit irl. And no one freaks out like they do when Kenny says something questionable or makes an album they weren’t expecting.
he’s a human being!
It's like the quote from Tenet, "Don't try to understand it. Feel it." This is way too dense and layered of an album to come to any sort of firm conclusion of the overall message.
nathan zed actually used this in a recent video essay and i thought it was a beautiful sentiment!
This review is 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
I respect your mature patience
haha thank you!!
This album has already Revolutionised rap with Travis Scott shifting from his commercial sound of Astroworld into Utopia just like DAMN into Mr Morlale, Tyler The Creator Deciding to leave all his fictional personas behind to focus on himself in his music, Lil Yatchy Finding a new Style and completely breaking through the vision once perceived of him in 2023
It's relatable, not something to analyze. Relatable in healing and growing
just gotta feel it
I don't think the album is messy, confusing, or all over the place at all. It listens very clear and cohesive for me. And I think Kendrick absolutely knew what he was doing / creating when he went in this direction. It seems kind of arrogant to assume he didn't just because it's taking time for some listeners to digest.
don’t think I really assumed he inadvertently put out a mess - just really pointing out the choice to make a diverse double album that isn’t an easy listen and focuses on him - we should listen to that choice first before digesting smaller details
🎯🎯🎯💯✨
Rap has one of those sounds that's very street to me and raw and honest...it's hood but I like that
Great final reflection! It's a very clever point of view
thank you juan!
I understand jumping on reviewing the technicality but sometimes music reviewers separate themselves so much from the content in order to criticize when Kendrick’s message is spiritual and should be truly taken in even by the critics. Some of the critics are displaying some of what Kendrick is critiquing on the album even if it’s a positive review so it’s interesting to see. This is legit commentary
thanks man - music reviewers gotta do their job and I totally respect it. but like you said, this album I think has such an important thing to say that it needs to be sat with for a bit
In my eyes the album is something sacred. Not literally though. What I mean is that it kinda feels like a ''comfort place'' in a way. Its not about the average stuff that gets talked or what people think music should be like. Its about being real with yourself and really paying attention to the deep seated unconscious garbage that all of us try to ignore most of the time. That is why there is so much emphasis on trauma in the album.
This may be interesting to note:
Last week I went to a therapist for the first time in a year. I didn't really expect anything big to happen, but once we got the conversation going, tears just started pouring in no time and I basically had a breakdown, caused by bottled up emotion that I had tried to ignore. Growing up can be hard. On my way home, I couldn't stop thinking about that Kendrick line ''I went and got me a therapist, wow''
I think Kendrick would be genuinely touched to hear this
I hate people today an age lol they make it so it's fast food music. This shit is timeless art for the 24-30+ yr olds str8 up
lol no hate for the youngins they’re just tryna make a living - kendrick has the gift of being able to take his time and make incredible art that supports him
@@sergescardigno no hate at all, I just know Majority of youngins. Are programmed to think fast, and click to what's the next thing.
watched 5 seconds and knew one word "pretentious". "It's nothing and everything all at once"-Sergio Scardigno wow that is pretentious
My favorite moment in the album...Dua Lipa feature...she sings like an eagle
that was also probably my favorite
Well said, great insight! This was a good video to make.
tysm!
1. Damn was not NEARLY as beloved as Tpab. Tpab literally has it's own fanbase. I would argue that GKMC is more iconic and is more beloved even if DAMN is a higher SELLING record. Those are two different things.
2. If he didn't know how to say anything why would he release the album. It is very clear that he made a lot of artistic choices during the making of the album to make a statement about. Such as Auntie diaries where he ties his commentary about the LGTBQ community with his uncle/aunt being who she is.
3. Why doesn't this logic apply to his other albums. This whole "broken human being" thing was used with songs like "U" in TPAB and for most of the album in fact. It was a character study about how he is merely a human being and makes mistakes. It is an album about learning to love yourself as a human being despite mistakes you make. hence the songs "Mortal Man" and "I".
4. Not analyzing a piece of art defeats the purpose of art. It's like covering a statue at a museum. Why make all of these artistic decisions just for it not to be admired for or acknowledged.
Really the point of this video was to say “maybe we should take in the existence of the album for what it is before we dive into details.” It wasn’t to discourage analyzation. It’s just a title. It wasn’t to say he had no idea what he was doing. Clearly he knew what he was doing.
Used to think hip hop was just "hey look at me Im cool" but now i see thaf some people do have mpre deeper meanings in their lyrics
Awesome vid as always Serge
haha yeah man it’s much deeper than that, it’s still art at the end of the day ya know - thanks for watchin homie i appreciate u
Hip Hop isn't really like that since the 90s. Where have you been lmao
@@PatoNani18 not everyone one pays attention to every genre of music i just meant this video got me a bit more interested in hip hop
@@yogreenboi That's a good thing. Kendrick is not the only good rapper you can also check out: Nas, Earl Sweatshirt, Kanye West (very diverse discography), MF Doom, Mos Def, Biggie, Mobb Deep, Lupe Fiasco, Joey Badass, Kid Cudi, Freddie Gibbs, Ghostface Killah, Tyler, The Creator (last three albums), Busta Rhymes (his 90s music), Pharoahe Monch, Denzel Curry, Lil Waynes (his 2000s mixtapes), The Roots, Black Thought, Billy Woods, Pusha T, Public Enemy, Jay Electronica, A Tribe Called Quest and many more.
You have to know that Hip Hop has many subgenres. Kendrick makes Conscious Hip-Hop. My favorite Hip Hop Subgenres are east coast hip hop and hardcore hip hop. But also abstract hip hop, jazz rap, experimental hip hop gangsta rap, cloud rap and also pop rap and trap have quality hip hop artists. There're so many subgenres and artists to discover, it's crazy.
@@PatoNani18 woahhhh thanks mann ill be sure to check these artists out :)
I agree 100% for me I see it as the world as it is I take from this a human being who experiences all these emotions that we all feel in life death love grieving peace violence all of it.
Beautifully put
ty sir
The title of this video appears to tell the viewer to stop analysing MMATBS; yet the speaker (albeit briefly) proceeds to analyse MMATBS....
the title of this video piques the viewer's interest to click, while the speaker (albeit briefly) proceeds to explain that maybe the actual title/thesis of the video is, "it's okay to analyze the album in detail, but not before you've processed the bigger picture, and what the album's existence means in the context of the artist's discography", but didn't actually title the video that because it is too long
@@sergescardigno That is a long title! I get your point, although the title's still misleading.
3 dearly beloved Records
Actually
Gkmc
Tpab
Damn
whole discog is goated, just because I zoom in on two doesn’t mean the rest aren’t good
@@sergescardigno ik, I'm just citing those 3 bc of the streak they hold
@@sergescardigno only including 2 albums as you list his beloved albums, kinda sounds like you dont really love his other albums. Which is cool, i just thought id weigh in on the convo
@@billymays8274 it’s kind of like “after these two beloved albums, this is what he chose to do next”, not “after these two albums which are his only good ones, this is what he did next”, as some people have concluded - I am also literally telling you here and now that the other albums are also goated lol
@@sergescardigno also really good take on the kendrick album, i think a lot of people reviewed it too soon and the perception of kendrick that many people had, needed to be altered before it was really appreciated. Just give it time, im sure people will start to realize you are right
i mean... a yea? but also no? i do agree i think people should stop in the sense that they add onto the confusion and chaos of everybody else out there trying to just listen and enjoy and/or trying to figure out wtf is even going on lol... i think in reality there will always be an artist's intention and message when making music, especially of this category/genre, its almost meant for you not only to enjoy the production on a surface level but to think and ponder and actually ANALYZE what you are being told, sung, preached etc. there is always going to be layers to a cake, and depending on the baker, well you get varying qualities/quantities of those layers as well as the varying quality and quantity of the ingredients themselves in said cake. life is far more complex than most people like to imagine or even to admit, and i believe strongly that there is always going to be so much to unpack and analyze in music coming from the kendricks, them eminems, the coles, the kanyes etc. but thats just my opinion tho so carry on lol.
The meaning in summary is Hypocrisy/Pain. Hypocrisy on him, on us, on us to him, on him to us, on society in general. And on Governments
Pain. We are all victims and perpetrators of inflicting pain
those themes are definitely involved
2 years later and we did get those albums from q and Vince
Mr. Tech Drawer and the big E
hold this E
Love love love this take 👌🏽
tytyty!
3:40 Damn...considering what Lil Yachty just put out, you were right on the money
You're a wise man. I just subscribed
Some things do in fact, speak for themselves.
I love this album
BROO THANK YOU WOWW SOMEBODY SAID IT WOW THANKS FOREVER BRO WTFFF!!!!
2 dearly beloved albums???? every single album was dearly beloved
my goodness you are the 9000th person to comment this ahahah: whole discog is goated, just because i zoom in on two for chronology doesn’t mean the others aren’t good!
@@sergescardigno alr i just saw that part and commented
Respect 🍻
Best review👍❤️
ty ❤️
I came into this video ready to disagree with the idea that we should stop analyzing MMATBS but honestly you’ve laid out some really good points and sentiments that would help a vast majority of listeners better digest the album. Nice video 👍🏾
thanks man, means a lot :)
This definitely isn't a GKMC album that has a very clear path throughout the album. Even DAMN was pretty basic too.
But TPAB and this latest album have such deep philosophical questions that it's more of a "here's my take on it, how do you think about these issues." Type of album.
I probably butchered that explanation.
When I say DAMN was basic, I don't mean the album, I mean more about how the themes are presented. GKMC was the story of growing up in Compton. Pretty basic too.
But then you have Kendrick bringing up things in TPAB that just make you sit back and think.
How much a dollar Cost?
"Let the Willie Lynch theory reverse a million times" in complexion.
Really powerful soul searching questions and themes that make him stand out over the rap game. That's how I feel about Mr.M and the B.S
I'm prepared for anybody and everybody to tell me im full of s***. Come at me 😆
haha yeah I mean I agree for the most part, although I wouldn't necessarily label his previous efforts as "basic", because with enough listens you will find yourself asking some deeper questions. this one was just more on those nose in that it's focused on a human being and their state of being as a result of what was spoken about on previous projects
I don’t see how damn was basic he had songs like feel and fear that touched on the very same topics like mr .morale the song Dna when u get passed the fire ass beat and flow and really listen he’s talking about how people as a society is fucked up and blood is connected to duck worth with the luring so i was taking a walk the other day and blind lady talk just like how in to pimp a butterfly when he would say so I remembered you was conflicted
Misusing your influence, sometimes I did the same at the end of songs leading up to mortal man . lust he talks about his sex addiction just like in worldwide steppers . Damn was a continuation of the other projects but he also talked more about handling the new heights of fame and being on top in the song god .
Great vid : )
100% agree with you.
damn this helped me sooo much thank you
ofc! ty for watching!
This is Kendricks Yeezus
this is kendrick's mr. morale and the big steppers (jk I just think comparing this album like that is hard lol)
thank you!!!!
Totally agreed Fam
thanks fam
Well said.
Is all I can say
♥️
HE SAID TEE PAB LOL
currently using all the time i save by not saying “to pimp a butterfly” to invest in stonks
Nailed it
thanks homie
This dude called it, just look at Yachty
People want to rate and do reactions out the gate for views and likes. Off top...the first part of listening is hearing what he says...let it marinate.
exactly - reactions and stuff can be cool in the moment, but this is the kind of album where if you keep listening, you just know your thoughts are gonna evolve so much over time from that initial reaction
A few years in your own head does a lot
You mentioned some projects that are similar to this at the end, what are some reccs?
the project that comes to mind as maybe the best example is Father John Misty's "Chloe and The Next 20th Century". dude's in an eerily similar place as kendrick - released a very verbose album commenting on the world, then a more palatable one, and then his latest. the latest is a collection of love songs and the closer does a similar thing to kendrick's closer. he basically takes the "i'm at a loss" approach and says (paraphrasing here), "it's all so much i don't have anything left to say, so here are some love songs".
@@sergescardigno thank you so much, going to put in on right now!
@@satanictoxico7235 ofc!!
Well said
thank ya
I hope you fiiiiiiinndddddd some peaceeee of minddddd in this lifetiiiiiiiIIIiiiiiiIIIIIiiiiime
tell them
Does anyone have an example of an artist diverting the expectations like what he said in the video?
Or maybe we should just realize that hes not a savior at all and that hes trying to say that hes just a human being and coming from the perspective of a human being which is why he mentions people like Eckhert tolle. When were looking to go within ourselves. Really truly take that dive. No rap artist is gonna do that for you in the way, Tolle, Ram Dass, swami vivekananda, Mooji Baba, teachings of Jesus, the Buddha, Papaji, neem karoli Baba the saint, Saint John of the cross, and people like this are going to do. When you're really ready to search you'll stop looking outward for a savior and start looking within. Reading and listening to the knowledge of the great gurus before us. Kendrick has a great message. But as his album implies he is still SERIOUSLY figuring himself out.. because he's human. As all the other people I listed are, and they will tell you the same however they have dedicated their entire lives to inner searching and telling you what they came up with.. Kendrick is just now in the last few years it seems doing his searching. And it's profound. But he hasn't even hit many of the milestones of a seeker. Like his dark night of the soul, which will be his next step. Where his searching plateaus off and he feels he's lost it.. THAT is when you know it's time to keep pushing through. And if you do. You can come out like many of the great teachers I named. The point is Kendrick is telling us he's a man figuring it out and NOT to see him as a savior. That's just HIS story, what he's gone through. You're much better being guided by someone else. It's deep in the sense of music and HIS inner self.. but not nearly as deep as reading these other people where you can go deeper in YOURSELF. And I think K Dot wants that for others too
Excellent
ty!
Cap, this album is amazing.
never said it wasn't
I think this album do got meaning, but only for him. This shit is really personal. It's like I'm watching something I shouldn't. This album was for himself and his issues. It's like seeing superman's weakness when I hear my favorite no miss music artist talk about his issues. It humanized him for me and made me have a much better view on him. He is not yours or my savior.
well-said! i don’t think this album’s meaningless just to be clear, i think you nailed it tho
@@sergescardigno thanks brother
I feel sorry for you
If you hate it, just say you hate.. He can't please everyone💀
He didn't hate it. He just said to stop overanalyzing every single.
We should all agree on one thing. It's a masterpiece
I think we all know what he's talking about, but we can't address it.
Crazy how he's complaining about people assuming what the album is about but is basically doing just that;
don't think this video was a complaint and don't really think I assumed anything, just an opinion piece
a but off topic: shawncee lost a fan doing that shit he did to this album
Shit is Brilliant !
2 dearly beloved records 0:17 ? GKMC you mean not DAMN🤢
my guy the whole discog is goated, i was stating those two to zoom in on the timeframe lol
It's dangerous to say stop analyzing polarizing art.
it’s just a title, i think the message of the video actually promotes the opposite if you watch until the end
Two dearly love records where tf good kid maad city
whole discog is goated, just because i don’t name every record doesn’t mean they’re not good lol
Good video.
ty!
nice vid
ty!