#also i just believe everyone should listen to TPAB

[sexygaywizard]

fwiw kendrick lamar is the only rap artist to have ever won a pulitzer so if you're like "idk who that is!" like go listen to To Pimp A Butterfly and educate yourself idk

#not that awards from white institutions are necessarily an indicator of value #but like he's the only musical artist from a non-classical or jazz genre to win. there aren't even any pop artists who have won #also i just believe everyone should listen to TPAB #should be required listening like shakespeare plays are required reading in schools #i talk

[bangers2]

Review: Kendrick Lamar's Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers is an underrated masterpiece.

AOTY first impressions: I quite literally cannot put together words to describe this album. It's cathartic and deeply personal while at the same time being so sonically diverse and obviously Kendrick's flows are amazing. Even though it's a heavy listen, it's one that I keep coming back to - even the more challenging tracks like "We Cry Together" are just SO interesting, artistic and purposeful.

Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers is a 2022 album by the incomparable artist Kendrick Lamar. The album is deeply personal and sees Lamar working through deep-seated trauma and confronting how it has impacted his present-day life. It's a double album; structured such that each track is a different therapy session, and they all tackle different angles at which he approaches his struggles. There are emotional highs and lows as the album (and his healing) progresses, showcasing the non-linearity of the process.

I think the underlying messages of the album are ones that resonate with me deeply - addressing the general sentiment that "hurt people hurt people" by tackling Lamar's personal issues head-on and connecting back to underlying traumas and struggles he experienced in the past. The advocacy for therapy and healing is so important in this day and age, when there is still so much stigma in many communities.

While MM&TBS is a difficult listen, it's one that I think everyone should have at some point. There are some challenging topics discussed. But they're so important.

Other than the lyricism, I found the production on here so diverse. It's a lot more minimalistic than Lamar's other albums but still keeps things interesting. "Worldwide Steppers" has a beat that almost sounds like a panic attack, floating in and out and having a rushed energy. "Purple Hearts" features sweet chords and a wonderful drum beat. "Saviour" has a chord progression and synth(?) line that I can't even describe, but the feeling it gives elevates the ideas of the song brilliantly.

I don't know why this album was shrugged off by so many. It's not as immediately hard-hitting as TPAB or GKMC, but with time and attention, it's a record that I genuinely believe is Kendrick Lamar at his best.

While I think this is an album that must be listened to in full, I think a good introduction is the track "Count me Out." It features a wonderful chorus and introspective lyrics, and while it's a turning point in the album (the first track of the second album, "Mr. Morale"), I think it echoes themes present throughout the entire record. Give it a listen!

I have found the rap beef immensely entertaining, but it has also opened the door for so many more people to discover the rest of Kendrick's music. As a newer fan (I first listened to TPAB in September last year), I'm really glad more people can get to sit down and listen to these albums for the first time. MM&TBS is one of my favourite albums of all time. I hope it resonates with new fans as much as it did for me. I just hope people don't go into this expecting "Not Like Us." 💀

anyways, thank you for reading! I love writing album reviews and getting to yap about topics I enjoy, and this album has been really impactful to me as of late. While I don't relate to his personal struggles much, I do relate to the general idea that healing is non-linear and a lot of your current self-destructive behaviours are a result of past suffering. Understanding that and giving yourself grace as you heal is so important.

If you've made it this far I just want you to know that you are loved and deserve so. much. good. Whatever you may be going through, you will get through it. Keep going, it will all be okay in the end! I believe in you. You got this. <3

#music #album review #music review #music opinions #kendrick lamar #kdot #mr morale and the big steppers #rap music #hip hop #please listen to this please please. it's so. fucking good.