Making sense out of “Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers”

I’ve been goin’ through somethin’
One-thousand eight-hundred and fifty-five days

United in Grief — Track 1 on Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers

Kendrick Lamar lays it all out there in his newest release, Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers. This man is not the “Savior” of hip-hop, but his artistic expression is still unmatched. The production has never been better. His lyrical work has never been better. To say “this is better (or worse) than TPAB” is a distinction that honestly misses the point.

This IS TPAB 2. This is DAMN. 2. This is GKMC 2. This is Section.80 2.

Soundscapes and thematic material come directly from Kendrick’s past work. Both discs in this double album will instantly bring you back to these past eras. It’s fantastic. We knew it would be and it is.

But of course, the million-dollar question is:

what do this album mean?

Kendrick has always been self-reflective, but never quite at this level. This isn’t just storytelling à la GKMC, or politics à la TPAB. This is deeper. This is self-work. Mindfulness. Looking within to find answers to life’s biggest questions.

• Everybody grieves differently — United in Grief
• Take off the material goods and work…