The long wait for Kendrick Lamar‘s new album will soon be over. On Monday (April 18), the elusive Compton rapper returned to social media to officially announce his fifth studio album, Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers, dropping May 13.
In response to a February 13 tweet claiming the Pulitzer Prize-winning MC is “officially retired,” Kendrick tweeted out a link to his website, oklama.com, which contains a Michael Jordan-inspired press release from his pgLang company detailing his eagerly anticipated project.
“The following statement was released today by oklama, through his company pgLang at 11:00am PT in Los Angeles, CA,” the press release reads. “Album: ‘Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers.’ Release date: 5/13/2022.”
It continues, “All factual information for this release will come directly from this source only.”
It was through his oklama.com website that Kendrick Lamar first ramped up excitement for his upcoming fifth album last August. However, the news was bittersweet as K. Dot revealed the project will mark his last release on Top Dawg Entertainment, the label he’s called home since the start of his decorated career.
“I spend most of my days with fleeting thoughts,” he wrote. “Writing. Listening. And collecting old Beach cruisers. The morning rides keep me on a hill of silence. I go months without a phone. Love, loss, and grief have disturbed my comfort zone, but the glimmers of God speak through my music and family. While the world around me evolves, I reflect on what matters the most. The life in which my words will land next.”
He continued, “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. There’s beauty in completion. And always faith in the unknown. Thank you for keeping me in your thoughts. I’ve prayed for you all. See you soon enough.”
Every Verse Kendrick Lamar Has Dropped Since 'DAMN.'
Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers will serve as the follow-up to Kendrick Lamar’s monumental 2017 effort DAMN., which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 after selling over 600,000 copies in its first week. The album made Hip Hop history by winning the prestigious Pulitzer Prize for Music, while taking home Best Rap Album at the 2018 Grammy Awards.
Since then, King Kendrick has kept a low profile, save for a string of guest appearances and a cameo at the star-studded Super Bowl LVI Pepsi Halftime Show alongside Dr. Dre, Eminem, Snoop Dogg, 50 Cent, Mary J. Blige and Anderson .Paak.
The 34-year-old MC will return to the stage for a series of headlining festival performances this summer, where he’ll likely perform his new album for the first time. In June Kendrick will close out Glastonbury Festival in the UK in front of over 200,000 people, followed by a headlining slot at Rolling Loud Miami in July.
Now all the stans are coming out off the bushes for an unrivaled and extraordinary moment of dickriding. Just watch it.
You being the first. Congrats.
Where in my comment did you perceive some kind of dickriding you dumbfuck?? It’s rhetorical don’t even bother to answer that!
You saying stand coming out etc… you were the first one to click on the article and comment. The most Stan, dick-riding shit ever. Dumbfuck. Probably can’t even spell IQ. Idiot.
So clickin on an article means you “endorse” its content or “dickride” the person it is written about??! Congratulations you’re the bonehead of the month you fuckin waste of brain cells!
If you didn’t care, then why did you click on this article in the first place? Now, who’s the fuckin waste of brain cells, dummy
Well he’s right. You’re a dumb fuck because you’re calling people who are praising their favorite artist as dickriders yet you’ll be the first person to comment on any article that involves the person
This could be the CLB of his discography and like Drake fans, they’ll call it album of the year and claim he’s the goat
CLB is a masterpiece though
No its pop garbage that didn’t have one memorable single on it. Clown. This is a hip-hop site. I’m sure teen choice has a comment section for your candy cane ass.
Why didn’t you say 1st or some weird sh*t weirdo!
Kendrick ain’t payin your bills you fuckin waste of human skin!
Pusha T and Kendrick dropping within a month. This is awesome.
Idk he’s good, but idk what the fucking IMMENSE Stan hyping for him is all about
Amen! I’ve said this a million times. If he came out in the 90s or 2000s, he wouldn’t even be in the top tier of MCs. Stans call GKMC, TPAB and Section 80 better than Illmatic and Reasonable Doubt combined. FOH
“If he came out in the 90s and 2000s”, then stick to old school if you don’t like today’s rap
Bcos he’s the best rapper of this generation, duh
I’m so hyped. Who knows how this is gonna sound, but he has disappointed yet.
King of New York
He’s not even from New York dumbass
A Control verse reference
bro, sit down.
About time!
I know this probably won’t happen but I would love for kendrick to get the weeknd treatment. When drake helped out both become relevant, they turned their backs on drake.
Weeknd lost to a c list rapper this year. I wonder if kendrick could lose out to a shit rapper called jack harlow (macklemore ripoff) where his first week sales pale compared to Jack’s second week.
Man, having OVO as a name just proves you don’t know shit about hip hop. Drake fans are basically Beliebers. STFU. Dork.
imagine being Drake, getting lipo and writing comments like a child on a website run by human traffickers that sets off my antivirus software every time I try to look at it
lol Kendrick did not turn his back on Drake, not his fault Drake got emotional over Control.
Can’t say I’m hyped, because of such a long hiatus. I was around when Eminem took 5 years, but it was Eminem. Kendrick is not nearly as entertaining, but I’ll listen to what he has to say.
Kendrick will surpass Em, what are you saying?!
it will probably sound out dated and weird and if anythinh like the leaks not a “hip hop” album, but people thinking hes gonna be coming back on top.are dumb. this is basically his retirement album. its also been 5 years since damn, and i dont see him making a big wave now. too much has changed. plus ppl are more into dumb ish like Fivio Foreign or Wack Harlow
lmao imagine being this delusional. kendrick is going to outsell every album out this year. kendrick does pop numbers. the song he featured on with big keem was a top 20 single and big keem was literally a nobody before it.
*baby keem. case in point lmao
Last time you said this about weeknd, he lost to a shit rapper.
the weeknd has never moved as many units as kendrick. also not sure why you so concerned about kendrick… no one on OVO moves units except for drake lmao
I know what you mean, but I seriously don’t think Kendrick will do us like that.
This won’t age well.
ATTENTION ALL ATTENTION TARDS… THIS IS NOT KENDRICKS ALBUM YOU BLOODY IDIOT BANDWAGON HOPPING INTERNET LOSERS!!! THIS IS FOR AN ARTIST ON HIS LABEL PGLANG U MUPPETS!!!! THATS THE NAME OF THE FIRST PROJECT ON HIS LABEL. KDOT IS ON TOP DAWG AMD INTERSCOPE/AFTERMATH .
USE YOUR FKN BRAINS IF YOU HAVE ONE .
This isn’t going to age well.
Pglang is K dots media company you Dumb Ass. If you know HOW to read the statement reads it will be his final album on TDE. Stupid ass conspiracy theorists always trying to manipulate what is the simple truth SMH
Hopefully he finally got some Dre beats on there!