“Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers”
High expectations exceeded: Kendrick Lamar returns after a five-year break
In addition to the cover, the lyrics of his new album also provide a deep insight into Kendrick Lamar’s private life
© Universal Music / DPA
For years, Kendrick Lamar has been considered one of the most important figures in hip-hop. His profound works have brought the musician several Grammys and a Pulitzer Prize. With his new album, Kendrick Lamar also symbolically crowns himself.
In the age of Spotify and Apple Music, not only is much more music being consumed, but artists are increasingly outperforming each other with faster and faster releases. Hardly any fan forgives long breaks between individual works without turning away from the artist. One of the few exceptions is the American rapper Kendrick Lamar. Five years after his worldwide success “DAMN”, which not only brought him five Grammy Awards but also a Pulitzer Prize, his new work “Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers” was released on Friday night. Critics and fans are enthusiastic again.
With a total of 18 tracks, “Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers” is significantly longer than its predecessor. Supporting Kendrick Lamar on his new work include Portishead’s Beth Gibbons, Summer Walker, bassist and frequent collaborator Thundercat, rap legend Ghostface Killah, his cousin Baby Keem, Sampha and Kodak Black.
Album cover provides deep insights into private life
Even before you could hear the new songs, the cover of the new album made headlines. The photo shows Kendrick Lamar with a crown of thorns on his head and a handgun in his waistband. He holds his three-year-old daughter in his arms while his longtime partner Whitney Alford tends to a newborn baby in the background. It is speculated that Kendrick Lamar recently became a father for the second time.
“Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers” joins an incomparable series of musical masterpieces of recent years. After the groundbreaking successes of “good kid, mAAd city” and “To Pimp A Butterfly”, which had already shaped and changed the genre, Kendrick Lamar rose to the top of the US hip hop up
Kendrick Lamar: Lyrical reappraisal of racism and crime
His rise reads like that of many big names in the scene. At the age of eight, the boy from Compton started rapping and freestyling. The notorious gangster area of Los Angeles has preceded other hip-hip legends like Dr. Dre, Ice Cube and Coolio. Kendrick has always processed his everyday life, which is characterized by racism and crime, in his music. Afro-American life in the USA, poverty, gun violence, prejudices, the American dream – all of this can be found in the lyrics of the 34-year-old musician.
No one sets the social direction in American music quite like Kendrick Lamar. For years he has been considered the “state of the art” of the genre. His lyrics are so empathetic, philosophical and uncompromising that he can be compared not only to other rappers but also to writers like James Joyce.
Deepfake video goes viral – fans are thrilled
Shortly before the album release, his first single had already made headlines. “The Heart Part 5” stands on its own musically and is not part of the album. Nevertheless, it connects both poetically and aesthetically with the artistic works of previous years. Kendrick Lamar raps over a sample of the Marvin Gaye song “I Want You” and slips into the role of critically discussed black celebrities, into whom he simultaneously transforms visually using a deepfake technique. He becomes Kanye West, Will Smith, Jussie Smollett and OJ Simpson, among others. He also assumes the role of the two recently deceased hometown legends, Kobe Bryant and Nipsey Hussle.
It seems as if Kendrick Lamar has hit a social nerve again with “Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers”. Even though the album was only released a few hours ago, many on the internet are already calling it album of the year. The hashtag #albumoftheyear has been trending on Twitter for quite some time. The long wait for his fans was worth it.
Sources: DPA, The New York Times, Music Express