Kendrick Lamar has earned his fourth No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 chart with Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers. According to Billboard, Kendrick’s fifth studio album pulled in roughly 295,000 total album-equivalent units in its first week, the largest week of the year for any album.
It tops Future’s I Never Liked You, which earned around 222,000 total album-equivalent units two weeks ago. But is anyone really surprised? The anticipation for a follow-up to 2017’s Pulitzer Prize-winning album DAMN. has been at a fever pitch for the past five years.
And judging by its reception, it was well worth the wait. The album has been heralded as some of Kendrick’s most introspective work and praised by fans and critics alike.
Boasting 18 tracks split into two nine-track segments, the Compton native’s latest effort features contributions from Summer Walker, Kodak Black, Ghostface Killah, Baby Keem and Blxst, among others.
Kendrick Lamar 'Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers' Examines The Ugly Side Of A Modern Rap Superstar
The long-awaited album also smashed the Apple Music record for first-day streams. As the company explained in a tweet, “Shout out @kendricklamar. K-Dot’s Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers had the most first-day streams for an album released so far in 2022.”
The dense project clocks in at around 75 minutes and requires multiple listens to truly grasp its layered concepts. From “United in Grief” to “We Cry Together” and “Auntie Diaries” to “Mother I Sober,” it’s an exercise in intense listening and undoubtedly commands everyone’s undivided attention. Pull out some headphones and check it out above.
I ain’t suprised
Section.80 and GKMC are Kendricks best albums.
Where’s the fucking merch?
i think he wants it like that
Kendrick Lamar he s the best rapper to me
damn was bigger … i still think mr moral is better way deeper .. i never seen pure evil on a track .. if that pure evil on mother i sober .. i still never seen energy like that .. dont do that
my favoirte rapper.. i cant pick favoirtes .. hes the best
i dont think he’ll get album of the year … kodak black made this album
You sound Young & unseasoned.
kendrick lamar . 1
kevin gates .2
still working on my top 5
dont be a old school fan grow up
said that wrong its all hiphop
i didnt like new school when good kid mad city came out … aha … there all classic now .. what happened to me
there isnt one whack track in all of professiannl rap
I see what he was trying to do, but sometimes when you’re trying SO HARD to be DEEEP, you miss the mark. He was trying so tough to be “introspective,” that he forgot the main purpose of music….To be entertaining, which it was not…… I gave it one listen, nothing worth repeating again…..
I disagree, but I see what you mean. That’s how I feel about 4YEO. Cole’s message was great, but the music was sleep inducing.
Couldn’t even beat out donda let alone certified lover boy. K dots falling off hard
I see a lot of people looking at his sales and saying he underperformed. I gotta disagree. The album went number with no true singles. It clearly wasn’t meant to be a chart topper. It seems like Kendrick’s goal with this album was to express all the feelings and introspection that showed up on this record. I still found the music to sound great, but I can’t call a number one release an underperformance, particularly when only a handful of people in the game had higher first week numbers.
Drake and even kanye both sold more than kenny despite not having the benefit of a long gap. Kenny’s singles also flopped where as drake and even future both got no.1 hits
A number 3 song is a flop now? Also since when do sales equate to quality?
It’s Number 1 today tho, 4 songs on the charts, what a difference a few day makes. Why hate on it. Not a deep thinker?
Wanna know why a non dick rider can call it an under performance? Because it sold less than every prediction made. It’s really that simple. Not really a matter of opinion. It’s a matter of fact that it underperformed expectations.
Why do must we call Fans or supporters Dick riders? Music is Art we all enjoy different things.
Most of the Kendrick haters, are upset because their brains don’t operate on the level that it takes to enjoy real Hip Hop. Probably never heard a Krs-One album or every been a Wu fan. Most of these Pansies are functioning with 3 brain cells at best. They enjoy Trick bag lyrics that basically spew the same degenerate crap. “Look at my car” Look at my watch” “Money” “Bitches” blah blah blah. If you like mumble rappers just say that lol, conscious rap aint for everybody.
Hey Tony, I doubt they even know who KRS-One is let alone heard an album. These people are brainwashed. Like u said trick bag music. Kendrick makes people think. People would rather leave the blinders on.
Yea man facts, ever heard K-ones unreleased music? Fire ?