Kendrick Lamar opens Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers with a brutal confession. “I’ve been going through somethin’,” he mutters on “United in Grief,” the staccato piano chords soundtracking a descent into madness. It’s a simple phrase, curt and concise, that begins to cut through all the intrigue surrounding his artistic disappearance.
It’s been 1,855 days since he released his last opus DAMN., which only further cemented the Compton icon as a beacon of critical and cultural success. Then, for five years, it seemed as though none of that mattered to him anymore. From the outside, it looked like he was content to rack up Pulitzer Prizes and coast on the occasional feature.
On Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers, Kendrick explains what that “somethin’” was. For 75 minutes on this double-sided album, he parses through every issue that’s plagued his mind during his break from the spotlight. He’s placed under the microscope, using enthralling funk, jazz and soul compositions to fuel the uncomfortable, introspective ramblings that have been churning for half a decade. In doing so, he combines grand moments of musical execution with intense vulnerability, pulling off one of the greatest feats in his career yet.
Review: Kendrick Lamar's "DAMN." Pads His Generational GOAT Status
The presence of the other familial voice in the opener, Kendrick’s partner Whitney Alford, is the second clue to figuring out the thesis of Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers. “Tell them, tell ‘em, tell them your truth,” she speaks softly, acting as the grounding force for Lamar before he begins self-discovery. “I went and got me a therapist/I can debate on my theories and sharing it,” Kendrick raps while a subdued marching band drumline slowly builds with the piano chords. He warns his brand of transparency is brash and unflinching. Frantically recounting his lust, addiction-induced infidelity and spiraling material obsessions. His thoughts and words unravel at the seams, fraught by coping with guilt and shame.
Kendrick espouses ideas that register as both half-baked and contradictory, getting in the way of salient points he makes throughout the album. For someone who claims to have been offline for much of the last five years, he consistently laments the supposed impact cancel culture has on creative freedom, standing with the complaints of Dave Chappelle. “What the fuck is cancel culture, dawg?/Say what I want about you n-ggas, I’m like Oprah, dawg,” he shouts at the end of “N95.”
On the subsequent track “Worldwide Steppers,” he doubles down: “N-ggas killed freedom of speech, everyone sensitive,” Kendrick rambles over a beat that sounds like a Honda Accord engine turning over. It’s a tired take, one formed in a rich echo chamber characterized by a fear of a boogeyman that doesn’t exist. His revolt against cancel culture is punctuated by the presence of Kodak Black, toeing the line between advocating for the forgiveness of his domestic violence and alleged sexual assault transgressions and flaunting the inability to truly cancel an artist.
He calls upon producers such as Sounwave, J.LBS and DJ Dahi, surrounding himself with creators who understand the unique quirks he has in his creative style. The production team on “Rich Spirit,” spearheaded by DJ Mustard, crafts a graceful beat that fuses West Coast bounce with singer Sam Dew’s angelic vocalizations. On “Purple Hearts,” a rousing drum beat combined with ornate strings and piano composition give Ghostface Killah’s outstanding performance the cinematic stage it deserves. It proves Kendrick is still extremely adept at putting himself in positions to make the most intriguing music possible.
Surprisingly, the moments where Kendrick abandons the long-form storytelling structure he’s become famous for — choosing instead to rap and croon in tight pockets — produce outstanding results. Supported by two standout cameos by Blxst and Amanda Reifer on “Die Hard,” he elects to muse about the philosophies of love in short spurts. “Tell me you in my corner right now/When I fall short, I’m leaning on you to cry out,” he beckons with refreshingly emotional openness. On “Count Me Out,” he unleashes a dizzying amount of flows for over four minutes, with each bar nestling in the space between the stripped-down kick drums. And he’s still capable of executing moments of brevity amongst the shroud of heavy subject matter. The hook of the trap-influenced “Silent Hill” is a delightful earworm, leaving the listener mimicking Kendrick’s falsetto as he croons, “push these n-ggas off me like huh!”
Kodak Black, Lil Durk, Tyler, The Creator + More React To Kendrick Lamar's 'Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers'
The most uncomfortable listen of the album is also the most musically intriguing. “We Cry Together” is a sprawling, polarizing mess: a tableau of one of the more toxic arguments between a couple, performed by Kendrick and Zola star Taylour Paige. Each barb is piercing, precise and deeply personal: Paige’s character blames society’s rampant misogyny on Kendrick’s actions and he gives it right back, holding his material gifts over her head. It gets ugly, but no one can’t tear away from it once it’s on, like we’re trapped on the couch between them. That was Kendrick’s goal, and it was pulled off with ease. A Florence and the Machine sample combines with The Alchemist production, which sounds like it belongs on Tana Talk 3, to create a stress-filled rollercoaster ride that someone will try at least once.
The parental references on “Father Time” and “Mother I Sober” represent the height of his bubbled-up emotions. On the former, he raps with fury about his relationship with his own father, parsing out the hereditary effects of toxic masculinity. “I love my father for tellin’ me to take off the gloves/’Cause everything he didn’t want was everything I was,” he raps, at a point in his life where he can forge his own concept of what it means to be a man. Then on “Mother I Sober,” that same fury dissipates. In its place lies a lamenting whisper that sits over a somber piano beat. Kendrick’s melancholy arrives as he unpacks the generational trauma of familial violence and sexual abuse involving his mother, cousin and himself. It’s the heaviest stretch of the album, punctuated by Portishead’s Beth Gibbons becoming a stand-in for Kendrick’s pain as she sings, “I wish I was somebody/Anybody but myself.”
But on “Auntie Diaries,” Kendrick shares the story of how his two relatives’ experience with trans identity interacts with his own journey of accountability and growth. It’s fueled by earnestness and empathy, as he reconciles his past homophobia and transphobia with his love for his family. It unravels when he tries to demonstrate the progression of unlearning his usage of the f-slur but in the process, he repeats it 10 times, ultimately distracting from his message of acceptance. Yes, Kendrick is emphasizing the slur is not his to say — akin to how he wouldn’t let a white girl say the n-word at his concert — but the wanton usage of the word upset folks in queer communities, fumbling a chance to open the door for legitimate LGBTQIA+ allyship in mainstream rap.
Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers paints a gripping portrait of how trauma and therapy have morphed the 34-year-old artist beyond recognition. Even with superior production choices and a semi-triumphant tone of self-actualization, it feels as if listeners can’t fully define what place he’s in — the question of what’s left for him lingers. The only clue is the final line of “Mother I Sober,” where Sam Dew sings, “I bare my soul and now we’re free.” In his mind, with this confessional epic, he’s purged the mountain of pain from the past. Kendrick has achieved absolution from listener and critic expectations, free to head toward the uncertainty of the future with the shackles of his memories left behind.
THIS IS A GREAT ALBUM WITH ALOT OF BIG MOMENTS BUT ITS BIGGEST FLAW IS HOW IT TRANSITIONS FROM VOL 1 TO VOL 2. FEELS LIKE THE ALBUM STARTS OVER AGAIN AND LOSES THE MOMENT IT BUILDED FROM THE 1ST PART. I HAD A BETTER EXPERIANCE PLAYING THEM INDIVIDUALLY INSTEAD OF TOGETHER. SOLID 4 FROM ME FOR NOW.
MOMENTUM***
Good music, but this is not a rap album to me. It sounds more like pop/folk music with all these accoustic pianos and singing. I don’t deny kendrick’s ability to spit rhymes but the first thought that crossed my mind after listening to it was: “Damn rap music really transitioned into to something else”… just like when disco turned into funk that turned into rap after that. The album is consistent and the replay value is strong but I give it a 3,5/5 juste because kendrick’s music does not sound like rap music anymore. The last real rap album I’ve listened to was Nas – Magic. That’s how a rap album should sound like.
This album sucks no matter which way you look at it. I didn’t think it could get worse than DAMN but it did. He’s confused as an artist. He’s not sure what he wants to do and this recent pile of shit is proof of that.
This album is great with a lot of flaws. I think Kendrick had much more potential with this album and was not worth the 5 year wait.
This is were I bow out. It’s been four albums from Kendrick Lamar now and I’m still waiting for something magical. Someone as highly regarded as he is has no right to release something so generic. Especially after FIVE YEARS.
Easily the most creative, introspective album of the year, and you call it generic? I call shenanigans.
I feel like this album has one good song (N95) and that’s it. Everything else is just a disappointment compared to his albums like “To Pimp A Butterfly” or “M.A.A.D CITY” or “Damn. There was so much disappointment and I think he should not make us wait 5 years for this pile of crap.
I feel like you should go back to listening to Soulja Boy and Sean Kingston and keep these idiotic comments to yourself. This album wasn’t made for the causal listener. If you don’t get it then it only means it’s not for you dummy.
It apparently wasn’t made for sounding good either. Lyricism is there. Sonically sounds terrible.
BTW WORD OF ADVICE. ABSOLUTELY NO ONE IS INTERESTED IN THE OPINIONS OF RANDOM BUMS ON TWITTER. YOU SHOULD REMOVE THOSE AS ITS NOT A GOOD LOOK.
I think the album is good. Good kid and damn are better. Tpab is wildly overrated (still good but not a classic like everyone says) so I think this slides in just above that. It’s a sit down and listen album, not gonna sound that good if you try listening while doing other things. It has its place. It’s not a 1/5 like these dudes are saying. Giving a 4 because I can’t give decimals, I prefer to round up to balance out the haters below.
Album of the year
Unreal to give this anything less than a 4.5.. on the production alone. This some Pitchfork type ish smh
Worst album kendrick has made esp production wise, total garbage.
None of Kendrick Lamar albums were a casual listening experience. So is this one. But – it is as good as all his previous work was. I love it (minus ‘we cry together’ and ‘auntie diaries’). Musically 5 out of 5. Favourite song – “die hard” just because you can listen to it anytime and would work as a standalone pop radio single.
I like the album and think its a solid piece of work even if theres some song I dont like. Biggest problem though is that very few songs have any replay value. Its possible to make an album without compromise and still give it replay value. Its Almost Dry is a prime example of this. I hope that now that KDot has got all his demons out he can come back again in a couple years with some actual dope music. Tldr, low score because of low replay value.
This is a great album, good production and Kendrick raps his ass off. But there’s a major problem and that’s the album har no replay value. Hopefully K.Dot will come back with some fire next time around now that he got all his demons out on wax.
AOTY
AOTY – Exceeded my already high expectations – not sure what some of you are listening to tbh lmao
I hate url..Url let a propa release by Dave East go under the radar and ofcrs jump on the kendrick hype train. FUCK URL
Terrible and boring. Not to mention pretentious.
Terrible and boring.
This is an ok album. Kendrick has always been overrated and he can’t really rap all that well. I hate his voice, it sounds like a child or a weak man. But west coast has never had any dope rappers and I’m from the west coast.
If you feel that way, check out Zero Grav. He’s from Cali and released the best album of 2021. CHMBR ZRO
Terribly boring and pretentious. Kendrick is a sellout.
Not that good, he’s reaching a bit too far in this album, not the hip hop I was looking for
It was an album of different directions. Solid after being absent for five years.
First Heard Kendrick back in 2009 on a track called “Today”, very simple loop sample but the lyrics had some brilliant content to it. I knew he was Guna be a massive star as I kept telling people back then. But I cannot make any excuses for him after this Album. It’s egotistical, narcissistical and frankly, extremely Repetitive. He doesn’t respect his fanbase at all especially if your white for some reason. I guess it’s easier to blame white people on things than to say the Jewish name at the bottom of his cheques. Seems to be quite the trick among Black celebrities in 2022. It’s called Playing It Safe and this is what Kdot Did too with this album. 5 whole years and yet, I’m already sick of hearing his voice. It’s strange as I didn’t think I’d feel this way. The album only Came out on Friday and Ive only listened to this 3 times and unable to sit thru it again. It’s boring, the Kodak features are useless and draining to the brain. I won’t start on the Transgender song as that isn’t something I care about and as a hip-hop fanatic , I don’t need that shit. So in a nut shell… ” Boo boo , my life is so hard and by the way, here is my boring ass album that explains how much better I am than you …
I expected this from drake…
Kendrick WAS my favourite artist alive before this album dropped. I’m seriously disappointed but hey, who cares ….
Idk why all these high ratings. I’ll put any of his past albums against Mr. Morale. His wife obviously had too much influence over this album. It will not age well.
Idc what any of the dick riders say. Kendrick, J Cole, and the other popular rap artists made they’re best content on their come up, and Kendricks sophomore album was great too.
This album sounds terrible. Yeah, lyrics are there. Eminem gas lyrics too but sounds terrible nowadays.
I was a huge kendrick fan from 09-2015 or so. This sounds horrible. It’s not even rap or hiphop. It’s folk pop or something. A true hiphop album, that SHOULD be album of the year is Nas Magic. That’s what hiphop is. This is not hiphop.
J COLE I THINK HE’S TALENTED BUT ADMITTEDLY I FIND HIS MUSIC BORING AND UNAPPEALING. ITS DEFINITELY NOT FOR ME. I RESPECT HIS ARTISTRY, BUT IT GENERALLY MISSES ME EVERYTIME. I DID ENJOY BORIN SINNER THO.
This album is sooooo pop star. Just like the other albums. He’s singing. He’s alwysssss using other rappers problems and issues and names in his songs. Yall be gassing him causes He’s on apple music. Stop. Lyrics were practical and not that intricate. 3 out 5 at best. So many other dope lyrical rappers minus the pop star image.
I would love to know which song you though had any pop quality to it. If anything none of the songs are even radio friendly. Silent Hill getting radio play was a stretch IMO.
I would love to know which song you thought had any pop quality to it. If anything none of the songs are even radio friendly. Silent Hill getting radio play was a stretch IMO. The album, especially the beats, isn’t for everybody but I can see how he’s grown as a person. I can also tell he makes music for himself and not for us to like (which is good and frustrating at the same time).
This is the best album that I heard in years…
Good album… not better than Damn or GKMC but we’ll structured.
This album is pretty incredible once you take your time with a listen and break it down.
I really didn’t like the album at first but it is growing on me. Some of the beats aren’t my cup of tea and his voice is annoying at times. Funny that you took issue with that Auntie track. I lost respect for his hypocrisy in treating that fan the way he did as well as the absolutely idiotic logic involved. I gained more respect for him for being honest enough to acknowledge his bullshit on that song. The album is far from a classic in my mind but I respect it.
Different from his other work, really interesting approach to instrumentals, personal and introspective
Goated.
forgot to rate the album. You can make a deep, introspective album that slaps… this didn’t.
almost depressing 1/5
You can’t look at this album and compare it with his other albums. It’s a different category altogether. Everyone either says they love it or hate it. It is truly a work of art. If he used an alias and no one knew it was Kendrick, most everyone would say this is musically great, it’s intense at times, it’s vulnerable, it’s powerful. He’s not making another DAMN, he’s making something entirely new. Kanye has done the same thing on certain albums. You can’t compare College Dropout to 808’s and Heartbreak. It’s emotional, it’s raw, and it’s very well done. Listen to it in its entirety and you will be left loving at least a few great moments even if you’re looking at it critically and with negative bias. A very deep and thought provoking album with moments of self reflection as well as moments of ego. A great balance
Question. How much did you cry while writing that crap?
If it’s the best album u heard in a while, you need to listen to more music. If it’s a work of art, your right but not good art. If this cat didn’t have Dee behind him he’s be another less talented version of a back pack rapper. Zero memorable lines. A couple of nice hooks and nice beats, at the end of the day no more than 2/5
def not an album for the faint of heart and close-minded. if you don’t like the album it’s likely that you only want songs you can dance to on tiktok
No
Y’all cowards with no integrity you really couldn’t rate it lower than Quelle Chris Album, none of the rapping was impressive and sonically it was corny
Y’all cowards with no integrity you really couldn’t rate it lower than Quelle Chris Album, none of the rapping was impressive and sonically it was corny
Please go fuck yourself. Just because you’re too superficial to understand anything deep, doesn’t mean people with a developed frontal lobe should discard art. Back your job is a Fry cook at Taco Bell. I’m sure you love Drake and 21 Savage.
If you think it’s deep then you need a proper basic education. It seems like your source of knowledge is only limited to rap lyrics. Stop projecting your trashcan upbringing on others cause someone didn’t like your fake ass woke rapper preachings. Get a clue and gfy.
This album was literally listening to a piece of art. I understand that some people don’t wanna walk through a museum while driving to work… it’s not for everyone. Art has its place and its time. People can watch the shining and think it’s horrible or not entertaining, I get that it’s not an uplifting fun piece of cinema. I will consider this album same thing. It’s an amazing piece of art, it is incredibly multifaceted. The track he has with the lady where they go back-and-forth as an argument and end up fucking is insanely deep. If you as an adult haven’t had a relationship where you’ve gone at someone knowing that there’s no purpose or into it. I just can’t help you as a human. There’s so many deep examples like this on this album. Is there a song to drive around bumping loud like Humble was? No IMO. Still. Timeless. Personally after hearing it once through I’m good. It’s light years ahead and way better than anything anyone has done in a very long time. A true masterpiece.
This album was literally listening to a piece of art. I understand that some people don’t wanna walk through a museum while driving to work… it’s not for everyone. Art has its place and its time. People can watch the shining and think it’s horrible or not entertaining, I get that it’s not an uplifting fun piece of cinema. I will consider this album same thing. It’s an amazing piece of art, it is incredibly multifaceted. The track he has with the lady where they go back-and-forth as an argument and end up fucking is insanely deep. If you as an adult haven’t had a relationship where you’ve gone at someone knowing that there’s no purpose or into it. I just can’t help you as a human. There’s so many deep examples like this on this album. Is there a song to drive around bumping loud like Humble was? No IMO. Still. Timeless. Personally after hearing it once through I’m good. It’s light years ahead and way better than anything anyone has done in a very long time. A true masterpiece.
Nuff said
It’s great, not perfect
This album was wack. Forget the ‘art’ lines people telling you. This is unlistenable. Sonically terrible. Totally self indulgent. You are a sucker if you like this album.
He can rap. It was fully hip hop. Wack album nonetheless.
The greatest rap album in 100 years. Kendrick should now be mentioned among other great in Music:Prince, Michael Jackson, The Beatles etc. He has surpassed HipHop.
It was OK. His feature verses are always better than his songs. Maybe it’s the production, maybe its how depressing his stories are on his own tracks. I think people describing it as art are forgetting about the obvious skips.
I’M sick of everyone talking about J Cole. His music is so boring. Pusha T deserves album of the year. Best out period.
5/5
This album bangs
Still processing it. So far so good.
Where’s the Cocodrillo Turbo review at?!?!?!?!
Deeply challenging album.
Masterpiece.
A challenging listen that rewards repeat listens. The songs I was iffy on initially (Die Hard, Rich in Spirit) have grown on me while the depth of Kendrick’s lyrics here have slowly unwound themselves.
Those of you bitching about the lack of bangers are whack. Kendrick’s never been about the bangers. And the atypical, minimalist production fits with the albums themse and helps, in places, put an empahsis on the lyrics.
I’d put it as firmly his 3rd best album (behind TPAB and GKMC).
Garbage ass album. Fake deep wokeass back at his annoying preachings again. Incoherent and confused as ever. Screw him and his trashcan, low IQ fans whose source of knowledge is rap lyrics only. That’s why this pretentious shit is appealing to them, media is always there to hype it. Pathetic.
Gave the whole album 1 listening. Generic woke garbage at best. Damn I hated it when that fake humble woke crap took over hip hop. Hip hop is not cultural anymore, it’s just pop music pretending to be something it is not. And enough with the non stop Jesus garbage already. He can almost change his name to Kendrick West. And what’s up with the mumbling on almost every track?? I can barely understand what he’s saying. Can’t say I like one single song on this overhyped piece of crap. His old work was WAY better, until he let it all go to his head and became a woke bible thumper.
whys everyone getting so butthurt if someone likes the album – “you mfs bitchass shitty fucking ass mf if you like this album you’re a bum with no taset 1/10” mf whats it to you if I like this album, stop acting so entitled to think your opinion is the gospel when your opinion is as valuable as anybody elses smh
i thought it was super gas, surprised by the rating
No artist is this honest album is another masterpiece
Man I love Kendrick but I’m not sure about this one. Super humble woke isn’t the vibe. Couple of decent tracks on the album.
Man I love Kendrick but I’m not sure about this one, even after 4 or 5 full listens (I’ve tried). Super humble woke isn’t the vibe. Couple of decent tracks on the album.
Fire Kendrick Album, super unique sound fantastic lyrics
Beyond Fire, AOTY contender for sure. Up there with Push, Denzel,Conway,Benny,Saba
All albums on our shortlist for best of the year as well!
Rapping on wack beats kills any good MC and gives it no replay value. Beats and Lyrics go together like Peanut butter and Jelly. .
All his albums are overrated but this one weak as hell. Same raps new production different results. Try madlib he’s an abstract producer that would bring out the best in his talent.
This album got me feeling hot in the cold
Here to offset the haters
Masterpiece
It’s album of the year so far. I love Kendrick but it’s not a classic. I’ve listened over 5 times and will continue listening but… there’s propaganda and stuff that I feel like is ham fisted
You have to understand this is a very this is a healing album and plus it has some bangers as well I love every song.
Kendrick is literally the Lebron of rap ?? Kendrick is definitely in my top 5. GOAT!! ??
The new Kendrick Lamar album is different from the everyday same ole same ole sounds. It’s a beautiful peace of work!!!
Definitely the hottest album of the year????
This isn’t his best album but it’s still the same level of quality of his previous works. Anyone calling this wack is a troll and I would love to see their wack ass playlists.
Great Album
Amazing album
Great Album
great album
Great album, quality replay value and dense messaging through and through. Every track layered and commentating on levels of social narratives
?????
Probably the first theatrical,cinematic album ever…..MASTERPIECE!
Clearly an insane talent lyrically and a unique flow. There are definitely some very good tracks but also a bunch of fillers that I don’t like at all. Whilst the production is polished, the ‘understated’ beats are generally below average.
Dope album
Another masterpiece
Another masterpiece
People calling this album a masterpiece are clearly dickriding. Kendrick is a good rapper but the album is average. It is not even a rap album. All these accoustic instrumentals and singing are making this album sounds more like pop/urban/folk music. If yall want to listen to a REAL rap album, go listen to Nas – Magic. That’s what rap music sounds like. I’m tired of all these sheep following the trend and labelling an album a classic that does not sound like one just because THEIR favorite rapper dropped a release.
People calling this album a masterpiece are clearly dickriding. Kendrick is a good rapper but the album is average. It is not even a rap album. All these accoustic instrumentals and singing are making this album sounds more like pop/urban/folk music. If yall want to listen to a REAL rap album, go listen to Nas – Magic. That’s what rap music sounds like. I’m tired of all these sheep following the trend and labelling an album a classic that does not sound like one just because THEIR favorite rapper dropped a release
He raps for most of the album with some singing and spoken word interspersed throughout. People have been experimenting with the genre for decades and people have been singing and using acoustic instruments in rap since the 90’s at least (I’m admittedly not as familiar with 80’s hip-hop), Kendrik is just doing it in his own way. If you dont like it that’s fine, but just because you dont like it doesnt mean its not real rap. Gatekeeping is annoying.
Sooo… You try to take the moral high ground and question the sincerity of people when voting by stating they like an album just because it is made by their favorite rapper. At the same time, you feel it is up to you to define what hip hop is and directing people to the latest Nas album. I like Nas, he is in my all time top 10, but his albums have been ranging from weak to okay in the past ten years and magic gave me the same vibe when listening to it (which I did not do enough). Long story short: it seems that mr. morale here does exactly what he claims other inferior human beings are doing as a result of their inferiority: claiming an album is great just because Nas is their favorite rapper.
Doesn’t matter if it’s a rap album or not. content was good and production was trash!
Not even close to previous albums. I would HATE to hear these tracks in a concert. The 2018 tour with J Rock had the perfect blend of tracks in The Woodlands.
Wow!
This is by far his worst album. Im convinced that people saying otherwise are merely doing so based on some type of virtue signal that is beyond my frequency. This isn’t a rap album…
It’s ok. The production is very disappointing. On this album, Kendrick’s highlights happen over weak beats. I listened several times hoping I’d enjoy it more. I didn’t.
Wasn’t his “best” album bt still better than almost any rap album in the last 5 years, in terms of rap / hip-hop albums Kendrick is 5 for 5 nobody makes better albums than this man!! Nobody!!
This album is very deep. I just can’t put it in words. Kendrick tried a new route which an average hip hop fan wouldn’t really like to listen to. But me as a lyricist, wordsmith whatever. I’m happy that kendrick did such an album, coz fake kendrick lamar fans come out of the closet and their expectations were to get the same kendrick lamar they listen to him in 2017, I mean people grow you have to grow with them, if u don’t then u ain’t a real real kendrick lamar fan if u get what am saying
Man no one can doubt that he’s a great lyricists but you don’t have to be a real or fake fan to recognize that the album’s production was pure garbage…
I agree! I respect that artists grow up but that’s content wise and it doesn’t have to be over trash beats…
This definitely Kendrick worst album….ughhh?
I can’t envision a scenario in which I listen to this album again. ?
Stop lying to yourself…it’s fire
I respect that he did what he wanted to do and not what most people wanted him to do but the album’s production was horrible, annoying, boring and made me wanting to skip to the next one throughout the album. For the benefit of the doubt, I gave it around 3 full listens and Count Me Out / Silent Hill are the only 2 tracks out of the entire album that made it on my playlist. No one can debate his lyrical abilities though but production is sometimes as important to keep the people engaged and this album failed miserably at that.
A bit boring to be honest
boring
Pusha T still king i like always a couple tracks on each of kendricks albums but i really feel his music be overrated as hell like jazz hip hop his beats n flow aint the best tbh i rather bump some Boldy James, Rome Streetz, Rigz street bars over this Benny The Butcher Tana Talk 4 album was lot better listen
This is a great album.
Kendrick lamar once again shares his struggles and what it takes to get it right.
Masterpiece, best release of 2022