The wait is finally over. Kendrick Lamars Mr. Morale & the big steppers is here.
On Friday (May 13), more than five years after the release of its Grammy Award-winning DAMN IT. LP Kendrick Lamar released his new album titled Mr. Morale & the big steppers. To the delight of fans around the world, the Top Dawg Entertainment star has released his fifth musical anthology, spread across two CDs and featuring 18 songs with nine tracks on each disc. The entire collection features guest appearances from Blxst, Ghostface Killah, Kodak Black, Baby Keem and more.
Fans have been waiting with bated breath for this double album for a while, as the reclusive Compton, Calif. MC, has resigned his following DAMN IT.‘s successful release. Speculation began circulating late last year that 2020 would be the year that Kung Ku Kenny would return with a new album and tour. In January there were rumors that the new Kendrick Lamar LP was ready and would contain more rock influences. However, over the months there has been no solid sign of a rollout. People began searching for answers so fiercely that there was even a rumor that Kendrick had left his label, which the “Be Humble” Rhymer denied.
In October 2020, Kendrick admitted his lengthy recording process for his album. “I spend all year thinking about how to create a new sound, I can’t keep doing the same thing,” he said I would Magazine. “I need something to excite me. I see that sometimes you get frustrated because you want new shit.”
Last August, Kendrick Lamar broke his silence again on the album, revealing it would be his last LP with Top Dawg Ent before heading up his own company called pgLang. It would be another seven months before he would officially announce itMr. Morale & the big steppers on April 18th. K-Dot made the announcement on a website with a throwback Windows vibe.
On May 8, he dropped the video and song for “The Heart, Part 5.” In the clip for the track, Kendrick stands in front of a red background and delivers his powerful rhymes. As he raps, his face morphs into polarizing celebrities like OJ Simpson, Kanye West, Jussie Smollett, and Will Smith. Towards the end of the video, Kendrick morphed into deepfakes of Kobe Bryant and Nipsey Hussle while the brilliant MC pays homage to the fallen icons.
Listen to Kendrick Lamar’s new albumMr. Morale & the big steppersunder.
Kendrick LamarsMr. Morale & the big steppers tracklist
1. “United in Sorrow”
2. “N95”
3. “World Steppers”
4. “Die Hard” with Blxst & Amanda Reifer
5. “Father Time” with Sampha
6. “Empire” (interlude)
7. “Rich Spirit”
8. “We Cry Together” with Taylor Paige
9. “Purple Hearts” with Summer Walker and Ghostface Killah
disc 2
1. “Count Me Out”
2. “Crown”
3. “Silent Hill” with Kodak Black
4. “Savior” (interlude)
5. “Savior” with Baby Keem and Sam Dew
6. “Aunt Diaries”
7. “Mr. Morality” with Tanna Leone
8. “Mother I Sober” with Beth Gibbons
9. “Mirror”
kendrick lamar mr morale the big steppers artwork
See 20 Signs You’re a Kendrick Lamar Fan