Born in Compton, California, where all the legends rise, Kendrick Lamar Duckworth is a name that has become the staple of hip hop across the world. He solidified his legendary status with his speaker, knocking ‘HUMBLE.” and his black empowerment anthem “Alright” released 2 years prior. After 1855 days, the king of the west coast has finally returned from his long hiatus and released the latest addition to his catalog. “Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers” released to mixed reviews; not really being the album most people thought it would become.
Kendrick was known for being on the more reclusive side of the media, keeping his personal troubles off of airways during his hiatus. With this new album releasing on May 13, 2022, he put it all out there⎯including his struggle with mental health and even mentioning how he had a lust addiction. With the “Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers” album, Kendrick opened a new conversation concerning mental health as a parent, as a son, and as an individual, in hopes of using his power and position to highlight such a grave issue in today’s society.
Duality
As teased by a promotional image in the oklama.com website, the Kendrick Lamar album was split into two different parts: Mr. Morale and well... the Big Steppers. This was done to show the two different parts of how a man tends to cope with a mental challenge: by denying everything and saying you’re ok, then accepting you aren’t as ok as you thought you were.
The album starts with Disc 1, “The Big Steppers.” The term “big steppers” is a slang term used to describe someone who can move their own weight, who can do things on their own. Throughout the first half of the LP, the common theme of the nine tracks discusses how Kendrick was brought up and taught to never depend on anyone. In the song “Father Time” featuring the long lost artist Sampha, Kendrick accredits his hardened mental state by saying:
“Daddy issues, f*ck everybody, go get your money, son
Protect yourself, trust nobody, only your mama'n'em
This made relationships seem cloudy, never attached to none
So if you took some likings around me, I might reject the love”
This was the common theme, to push people back and to “pop the pain away.”
The last half to the dual album is called “Mr. Morale.” The term “morale” can be taken in many different ways, the first being that the definition of morale refers to motivation and enthusiasm. The second way one can take the word “morale” is by using the root word “moral,” which the definition states as the principles between right and wrong behavior. The prefix “Mr.” in this scenario is used to represent oneself, that anybody can identify as Mr. Morale. This second half dives into the most vulnerable place Kendrick has ever taken his listeners, drawing back the curtains to show how he truly feels on topics such as today’s climate, the view and expectations others have on him, as well as show the doubts and insecurities he carries that led him to being unfaithful to his wife. Kendrick uses this latter part of his album to show how he has been dealing with the shift in today's world. Creating controversy by dropping the F-word associated with the LGBTQ+ community, yelling to the world he is not their savior, Kendrick expresses his frustrations on how new things are being shoved into his own world through "Mr. Morale."
What it Means to Be a “Strong Man”
Many people tend to have a negative opinion on “Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers,” saying it doesn’t hold up to previous projects. This Kendrick Lamar album was a much-needed spotlight in a current epidemic we have in modern times: men’s mental health. Tyler, the Creator said it best in his conversation with Converse: “I feel like he touches on sh*t that’s so f*cking like open, that some people can’t listen to it because they probably like he’s looking at them in their eyes.” To many, this was a much-needed album to show the young and uneducated that even idols are human and they aren’t perfect. The song “Savior,” featuring Baby Keem, demonstrates this with lyrics such as “The cat is out the bag/ I am not your savior/ I find it just as difficult to love thy neighbors.” However, Kendrick isn’t just a man who vents and is seeking help; this album is a man who is showing you what he’s been through and giving you a way out. In the closing song of the album, “Mirror,” Kendrick has this to say about anyone who feels the same way he has felt throughout the album:
“Workin' on myself, the counselin' is not easy
Don't you point a finger, just to point a finger
'Cause critical thinkin' is a deal-breaker
Faith in one man is a ship sinking”
In Conclusion
Watching friends die and family get abused while not being able to do anything about it isn’t a fight anyone should go through alone, but what if one does? What if the stone-cold man starts to crack, who will help piece him back together? Surrounded by people who taught him to keep things bottled up while growing up in a rough neighborhood, Kendrick Lamar is a man who has suffered through a lot. Take a page from Kendrick’s book, listen to the advice he gives through his music and seek counseling, even if it’s hard. This album isn’t just an album telling stories full of traumas, this is a signal to men across the world who think being silent is the correct thing to do. It’s a sign to truly seek help from the hidden pain, to grow, to heal, to love yourself, and be there for the most important people in your life. Seek peace and forgiveness, for your sake.
References:
HioHop DX. (2022, June 21). Tyler, the Creator Explains Why He Loves Kendrick Lamar’s “Mr. Morale” Album [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SEpcTovc8Y
Kendrick Lamar. (2017, March 30). Kendrick Lamar - HUMBLE [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvTRZJ-4EyI
Kendrick Lamar. (2022, December 16). Kendrick Lamar - Count me out [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/5GhhVHpPR_M
Kendrick Lamar. (2022, August 26). Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers Vinyl [Album Promotion]. Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=621563139325331&set=pb.100044149523625.-2207520000