Kendrick Lamar's Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers Explained
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 20 ก.ค. 2022
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Breaking down the hidden meanings and messages of the first half of Kendrick Lamar’s newest and final studio album with TDE, Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers. Part two out next Thursday.
Chapters:
Concept and Themes: 00:40
United in Grief: 06:00
N95: 07:30
Worldwide Steppers: 08:53
Die Hard: 11:12
Father Time: 11:48
Rich (Interlude): 14:50
Rich Spirit: 16:55
We Cry Together 17:47
Purple Hearts 20:55
Released as a double album, Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers is Kendrick Lamar’s fifth and final studio album with Top Dawg Entertainment. TDE founder and CEO Anthony Tiffith teased fans during a May 2020 Instagram Live, saying “Stay patient” and “King Kendrick will return soon.”
On August 20, 2021, Kendrick teased his return with a new website-oklama.com-explaining that the upcoming project would be his last release with TDE:
As I produce my final TDE album, I feel joy to have been a part of such a cultural imprint after 17 years. The Struggles. The Success. And most importantly, the Brotherhood. May the Most High continue to use Top Dawg as a vessel for candid creators. As I continue to pursue my life’s calling.
About a week later, on August 27, 2021, his cousin Baby Keem released “family ties,” featuring a guest verse by Kendrick with multiple allusions to the highly-anticipated record.
On April 18, 2022, Kendrick shared a statement revealing the project’s release date and title through his website and social media. A week before the release date, an image of Kendrick holding two CDs was shared via oklama.com, driving speculation that Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers would be a double album, which turned out to be accurate.
On May 8, 2022, Kendrick surprise-dropped “The Heart Part 5” with an accompanying music video that saw his face morphing into stars like Kanye West and Will Smith. Three days later, Kendrick took to social media to reveal the album’s cover art, shot by Renell Medrano. He didn’t unveil the album’s tracklist until its release, leaving fans hyped up until the final moments before the drop.
Most transition music by blacmass
The entire album is structured around a narrative of Kendrick’s therapy. The album opens with a musical motif that will repeat later:
“I hope you find some peace of mind…”
Later in the first track, Kendrick says, “I hope the psychologist listenin'.” In “Father Time,” Kendrick’s partner Whitney says, “You really need some therapy” and suggests he reach out to Eckhart Tolle, who then appears several times throughout the album and seems to serve the role of Kendrick’s therapist. As the album progresses, Kendrick processes his lust addiction, daddy issues, challenges of celebrity, and more. Although sometimes it seems Kendrick is just “tap-dancing around the conversation,” he eventually seems to confront his issues though therapy sessions and experiences breakthrough that culminates in a therapeutic release toward the end of the album. The second-to-last song then resumes the melody and choral style of the “piece of mind” line that opened the album, but this time the lyrics conclude with “I bare my soul and now we’re free.” - บันเทิง
Part Two: th-cam.com/video/LJtr2xGxloo/w-d-xo.html
TIMESTAMPS:
Concept and Themes: 00:40
United in Grief: 06:00
N95: 07:30
Worldwide Steppers: 08:53
Die Hard: 11:12
Father Time: 11:48
Rich (Interlude): 14:50
Rich Spirit: 16:55
We Cry Together 17:47
Purple Hearts 20:55
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Needed this
Thank you for taking that bullet for us, it was a dope breakdown, looking forward for the pt 2
What happened to part 2 bro damnnn😭😭
Loved this! Can't wait for part 2!
If you are able to, please attend his tour. It is a masterpiece- literally an play, concert and opera performance all in one.
Went last night and couldn’t agree more not going to lie if you get into the concert with your soul you will shed some tears
December 12th brisbane Australia baby less goo
Edit: greatest night of my life
I also can vouch, I attend the Dallas show last month and by far it was one of the best performances I’ve seen in my life. Kendrick truly is a work of art.
i went to his last concert in la. it was an amazing night
By far one of the best tours ever. Seen him in Portland Oregon, couldn't help but shed a few tears
This is Kendrick’s most complex album and when you realize the message behind each song it’s like self reflection and realizing he is almost speaking directly to you this album is insane
Omg never heard nobody do that before 😂
@@cbreezyno one does it as good as Kendrick
Still can't beat DAMN.
This album is so deep … understanding it itself is a journey
It’s so mid
@@Runningitthroughyou ok
@@Runningitthroughyoulike your vocabulary
This album is probably one of the most important things I’ve experienced in my life. 2 years ago I was a Kanye and Drake fan, I liked some stuff from Damn but I just found Kendrick’s music and lyricism overall to be really weird. And when Mr. Morale dropped, I felt the same way. It was weird. I didn’t like it. It challenged my ignorant view on life and politics and made me really think. And it doesnt help that I only halfway focused on the lyrics. I kinda misinterpreted his story. I was like “man this is woke garbage and the music sucks.” My family has always been far right so I just kinda followed suit. So I basically trashed on the album, didn’t really give the album a chance, and moved back to Drake, Kanye, Gunna, etc… but I came back to a song or 2 every now and then like N95 and Die Hard. But a few months ago, I decided to give the album a real chance. The more I learned about Kendrick, the more I realized that I really respected the guy. So I sat down with headphones and listened to the whole thing and heavily focused on all of the lyrics. This album is heavenly, the stories are deep, comes off extremely authentic, and has changed my view of the world. I feel like I’m more moderate now socially now and I’m not just a blind, ignorant, extremist now. I have always treated people with respect no matter their sexuality or race or whatever but I feel like my views on things have always been kinda messed up, and this album has really changed that.
Who’s here after drake dropped family matters and Kendrick dropped meet the grahams
Seeing the performances live were insane. Thoughtful and full of emotion. The storytelling was superb. Amazing experience, and would recommend to others.
I feel like this album was made for being performed live
Did he preform other songs as well that weren’t on the album?
@@larrybennet875 agreed! Everything was done purposefully!!
@@leonm7326 not that I know of. He performed a lot of older songs too but they tied into the story and performance so well.
JUST SAW HIM LIVE YESTERDAY AND IT WAS PERFECT. KENNY THE GOAT
I’m so glad you guys gave this album time to breathe instead of rushing to dissect this like these reviewers did. These guys are the reason why Andre 3k will never drop music.
Do you know how many times I’ve cried listening to this album?? A lot. It’s so moving. And like some of you have said, listening to this feels like he’s talking to you specifically. It hits home. One of his best albums!!
This videos just about as beautiful as the album itself, props for such a breakdown, I’m seriously speechless
Means so much man fr. Really appreciate you
Can't believe this was called "trash" ..... naaah, dissing aside, this is a serious work of art on complexities. Big respect to everyone!
I went to see his concert for this tour in NYC and it was hands down the best concert experience I ever had. The energy that was in that stadium was transcendent. Kendrick is 1of1 . And I’m glad I got to experience his message with this album. Truly beautiful
I feel like Kendrick is gonna make a movie out of this album- and it’s going to change the world
i really hope he does
i hope he does
bruh he's not your savior
I think he should announce to the world what he meant by he’s an Israelite on yah and fear in DAMN. He understood what black people is and how his and our lineage is traced through the Bible and who Deuteronomy 28 is applied to. I leave this in every comment section so more black and Latino people can wake up. The white man knows his biblical lineage only black people do not know and DAMN was the album where he’s realized that and dropped elements in subsequent albums ever since
@@romariofrancis9787 what?
This album is amazing. Father Time is one of Kendrick’s best songs ever, that song just hits different for me.
True
This album continues to show that Kendrick is the greatest rapper of all time
Still the goat but not this album it just wasn’t it
I mess with this album still to this day. I really enjoy it even if it isn’t heavy beats like DAMN
@@Runningitthroughyou this album is imo his second best. He hasn't dropped something as good as tpab but this is still amazing. But the run of albums he had just simply makes this guy the goat
Nas is the GOAT.
@@Follow.the.Leadernas catalog is horrible in comparison way more filler Kendric has four masterpieces it’s a completely different league nas is nowhere near this he has so many bad albums
this video is absolutely phenomenal…..amazing cinematography
This is such a well made and edited video, how tf does it not have a mil views bruh that’s crazy
This was without a doubt The best analyzation of any piece of art I think I’ve ever seen. I can’t even count how many times I’ve listened to this album and you have shed light, Recontextualizing many parts of the album for me in the best way. Thank you and you deserve way more recognition man.
That means a lot man, this comment really made my day. Appreciate the support and thanks for watching
It's his best album that's why you can't stop listening and therefore it may be the best rap album to come out since....idk like 2010?
This album changed my life
Sameee
Good kid 👦 maad city 🌃 changed my life
We cry together alludes to Poetic Justice and Baby Boy. Poetic Justice was a starring role for Tupac and Baby Boy was written to star Tupac before his passing. That kinda brings things ''full circle'' as well. Poetic Justice was a hit on GKMC and that song was like a prologue to ''We Cry Together'', thematic...
in we cray together; I love the way he chose to speak about internalized misogyny. he's so observant, so smart!
This is crazy how u can break an album down like this 🔥🔥
Seriously. Excellent listening skills. Somewhere along the line I lost the ability to listen critically to music
watching shit like this and not appreciating what Kendrick does and knowing how impactful his music should be means you must be missing something inside you
Thank you so much for this breakdown. It makes the listening experience that much more enjoyable.
Kendricks Album hits differently when you're on your own journey to healing...
Glad you enjoyed man
I can’t believe I looked at the album entirely wrong. Thanks for opening my eyes.
I am about to see Kendrick preform and this video makes me appreciate the greatness of his work that much more! Thanks!
I see him tmr
Catching him in Toronto next week! Floor tickets I can’t wait
Kodaks rich spirit is the most street spoken words .. powerful.
I seen him when he was in Detroit 8/14/22 that was experience of a lifetime. Can’t wait till he comes back he said would be back. I’m holding him to that and I will be there too. Kendrick is something special and this cd took me being a fan to a different level.
I cant believe you broke down complex ideas like this...amazing job please keep it up
very eye opening, I never finished listening to the album despite feeling very connected to it, I never really understood why though, which is probably why I couldn't finish it, couldn't hear it for what it deeply was. Gonna finish this and then watch the next video haha, I don't usually comment these types of things, but truly, thank you for this video and the fact that it has helped understand the album more, it's opened a lot of ideas for my ongoing journey of self improvement
I related the last verse on Mother I Sober more to Kodak Black, hence featuring him in the first place! it’s crazy when Wayne appeared, I forgot he also had a rough past and childhood
Great analysis, gave me a better appreciation for this album
Can't wait for part 2!!
listening to this album was a different feeling. but seeing it live, allowed me to understand kendrick fully. it was phenomenal.
Great video, I learned so much watching this!
I love the way that your commentary on the songs from this album synchs up with themes from his past work, mirrored so to speak by the videos playing in the background of your commentary.
For example, in the chapter on We Cry Together, your claim that "larger social problems within our culture are the product of toxic relationships between individuals" occurs while footage from the video to the song Poetic Justice is playing, which obviously references the movie starring Janet Jackson and Tupac Shakur. This is in continuation with the idea of being a mouthpiece or prophet, in other words, a "medium" for God that 2Pac expresses in the interview at the end of TPAB: "It's cause spirits. We ain't really rapping, we just letting our dead homies tell stories for us." This thread runs clear through DAMN into the beginning of United In Grief when Kendrick admits to asking God to speak through him, and again on Rich Spirit: "Spirit medium, I don't rap brother."
Admittedly, Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers is an album about coming to terms with how that vocation can take on shades of Messiah Complex in a way which harms Kendrick, while also acting as a roadblock to his healing and wellbeing in a kind of doubly self-imposed suffering, which is where Eckhart Tolle's concept of the pain body from The Power of Now comes in. However, given the references to Tolle's The New Earth, which is about how individual spirituality has the potential to usher in collective, social transformation, I don't think that Kendrick is giving up, in this album, on the idea that his music can lead to social change and a better world.
He's simply gotten to a place - thanks to therapy, disconnecting from social media, various spiritual practices such as fasting (which could also be seen as abstaining from sex or other vices/addictions, as you've pointed out) or past life regressions, and a renewed commitment to spirit and "God" from a non-religious perspective, as we can see in his critique of intolerance in the song Auntie Diaries and in Mother I Sober, when he speaks about a kind of animist nature worship in which he finds God in the flowers and trees - where he no longer bears the responsibility of making the world a better place as a burden, because he's decided to focus his energies on himself and his family - things that he can actually affect.
As he puts in on the song Savior: "Kendrick made you think about it, but he is not your savior" and again "Tupac's dead, gotta think for yourself". That means that just blindly following "King Kendrick" or any other leader will lead to compliance with the status quo rather than the real work that it takes to change yourself; rewrite your social conditioning, stop blaming others for the problems in your life and the world, and take responsibility for the ways in which YOU can be the best version of yourself. It's hard, but no one else CAN do it but ourselves. And so, it may seem harsh, but it's anything but the tough love mentality that he speaks of his father instilling in him on Father Time. It's a vision of healing that involves, first of all, not repressing our emotions and our vulnerable side, because these are the part that are going to need attention in therapy, the process of personal transformation, because they are the part that need to be healed. At the same time, it's also a vision that, while placing responsibility in the hands of the individual, has deep faith in the importance of the ties that bind us in family and community. I believe that Kendrick still thinks his music can make the world a better place. But it's not by saving us himself, it's by sacrificing his ego by presenting his process of therapy and healing in a way in which others can observe and learn by applying it to their own lives, which simultaneously allows him to grow into a bigger person and a more authentic leader.
From the climax of Mother I Sober:
So I set free myself from all the guilt that I thought I made
So I set free my mother all the hurt that she titled shame
So I set free my cousin, chaotic for my mother's pain
I hope Hykeem made you proud, 'cause you ain't die in vain
So I set free the power of Whitney, may she heal us all
So I set free our children, may good karma keep them with God
So I set free the hearts filled with hatred, keep our bodies sacred
As I set free all you abusers, this is transformation
I know that this video is just about the first half of the album, so my comment kind of goes beyond the scope of that, I just wanted to make a nod to the brilliant intertextuality of Kendrick's work, one example among countless is the Poetic Justice reference in We Cry Together, but got caught up in saying this thing I have to say about the album as a whole. I appreciate how your attention to detail is in alignment with the attention to detail that goes into everything Kendrick touches.
This breakdown was great! Hearing all the other music you sprinkled in here was amazing too
Appreciate that man put a lot of thought into the music choices!
The effort is appreciated 🔥🔥.
Please could you tag the music too, maybe in the transcript?
Cause that free uzi remix at the end is stuck in my head and I cant find it anywhere 😂💀
My G!, Aint noooo body gonna tell me you werent in the writers room when this album was being out together! 💯💯👏🏾👏🏾. As always this is dope!
saw him last night 🤩 his whole production was art
you're doin a good job on these, I just wanna say Kendrick was never really preachy that's what made him different is he was just giving you his own observations of himself. this album isnt much different I think the duality is just to represent the way people viewed him & how it made him start to view himself but he never came off that way
Yeah looking back preachy wasn’t the right word I think it’s more just about before and after him letting go of his ego and seeing his grief as different than the grief of others. Once he breaks down that barrier he’s able to use his process of healing as an example for others like on mother I sober
@@pearlfountain yeah it still makes sense in the context you use it. definitely not knockin it at all tho I love these videos, it makes me feel good that theres still other people who care enough to go this deep into the art.
Only review I actually watched till the end. Mad props for the time taken to actually dissect the album and break it down for us, and also your edits really dope
dude i loved those nujabes music playing in the background, loved your dissection on the album great work bro, thanks
Thanks for all your time effort and tact !!great job!!
One of the best analytical videos I’ve seen on a Kendrick vid keep it up man!
Great video on a great album, one thing I might critique: the snippets of other songs being used to segway from song to song are a little louder than the other parts and I frequently had to turn it down whenever it would transition. At a couple points the background music was a bit loud as well. Just audio balancing I don’t know much about it myself but good balance really does make all the difference
appreciate the advice man, always been pretty bad at audio mixing but gonna work harder to get it down in the future. Glad you enjoyed the video
This is a brilliant analysis! Thank you!
Thank you for watching
Just so yall know i cry every time I hear count me out
Man you're on a major come up soon. Love your vids man.
Thank you 🙏🏻 for this second part … it was worth the wait…bless you…I learned today… I gained some enlightenment today… life…
Love what you're doing man
great job boss! I love this. Can’t wait for PT 2
Coming to you tonight!
@@pearlfountain You legend! This video made me want to upload again. Thanks for the inspo!
Thank you for this piece it's beautiful
Been waiting on this and it was worth the wait amazing video. Just my only critque is to work on leveling the sound as your voice is louder at some parts and the music as well (which is probably intentional)
Appreciate it sm, thanks for watching. Yeah I realized I gotta fix the leveling too late, had to change so much about the audio afterwards cause of copyright and it all got mixed up but thanks for letting me know!
Thank you for this analysis
This is my favourite Kendrick album
My god......how incitefull. You are such a smart creator. My respect to you, man
I NEEDED THIS! 🙏🏽🙏🏽
Video on point my guy love it
Incredibly well done explanation
excited for this
This is really good. Thank you.
Man... You very good. I love your work
Currently doing my dissertation for my Masters degree, and will be referencing this video in it.
That’s amazing bro, send me the finished product when you’re done and best of luck. You can reach me @omarabdelhmd on Instagram
Will do man. As long as it's not shared with anyone.
This is a dope piece man🔥🔥
KENDRICK'S a GOAT fr...
The album makes more sense everyday..💙
Your videos are amazing
Kendrick is amazing
🔥🔥someone had to do it first!! can't wait for part 2
Amazing Video!
let’s go fire vid brotha 🔥
Mixing yeat and Kendrick is CRAZY! great video nun the less
this was brilliant
Needed this analysis !
Bro I’ve been like everyday checking on the channel since he said on the N95 video that he would do the whole album. Then saw this on my recommended but saw a different channel name and believed it was not him. That reminded me of checking for the channel and to my surprise no more “Thought” anymore. Anyways, I needed this video.
Haha sorry if the name change was confusing. Hope y’all enjoyed !
@@EvaneroBananero Ya dude I really did miss many points and didnt understood the album clearly
Thank you Omar
Brillant breakdown
Amazing vid
Love the vid bro 🔥🔥watched it like 3 times where’s part 2 at
It's been done but im hiking in New Mexico rn and my wifi is trash. I get back home tomorrow so I got y'all
Amazing video.
Good breakdown
Perfect video
WELL DONE!!!
This is a great Breakdown 🙏🏽.
Kindly asking if you can breakdown Lupe Fiasco Drill Music in Zion too.
Great conclusion! @17:50
Insanely detailed & thorough breakdown. Great Video Pearl. What’s the Yeat song at 8:52
Glad you enjoyed, thanks so much for watching. It's unreleased Yeat X Uzi called "Onion"
Bruh... how do you even know all this? The analysis is crazy good.
Thank you 🙏🏽
“Kendrick was trying to convey the messages of thousands of years worth of divine intelligence by recording his vocal vibrations so we can absorb the information sonically”
Thank you very much 🔥🔥🔥
Beautiful genius 👏 ❤️
If they make an actual play out of this album that ish will sell out so fast
I came to the internet looking for the evil meaning behind this but was hit with this tasteful piece here 🤔👏🏾
the realizarions😍
Well done! Kendrick with the masterpiece of an album and your breakdown video as well! 👏
Awesome that it’s becoming normal for stuff like Eckhart Tolle’s work coming to something this mainstream so more people can heal their pain bodies and stop spreading the trauma cycle to others around them especially their kids!!! Time to heal and live to the frequency of Love on planet Earth!
The problem is pop culture makes it seem cool to us as a society to be bad, negative, evil and hate! We’re afraid to be good and loving in fear of being “soft” etc.
It is time for humanity to awaken to the truth of Love! Peace and blessings! -J 👣
All the nujabes/ champloo songs. Nice haha
Will be giving this album another chance. Didn't relate to it the first two listens.
wondering if there's any reason for the nujabes album playing in the background. Love your work bro! please keep it going :)
just a big fan of him! thanks for watching bro more is on the way
sheeeeeeeesh is all I have to say, sheeesh
The first step to healing is getting off social media.
This album is what motivated to leave my girlfriend from the city I lived in to be with the mother of my child and my son .I could easily stayed in a toxic city i.e Memphis but staying in a bad city with a gf who seem like she didn't want to leave help me make the ultimate to do the right there
Video is amazing 😻 but just a suggestion: next time when you add music from the album. Try muting or lowering the background music 😅
Damn this is good
I think it’s important to understand the ideologies of Edgar Tolle as shown in “The Power of Now”. It gives more context on Kendrick’s perspective, especially concerning EGO.