Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers, released on May 13, 2022, is the fifth studio album by the renowned American rapper, Kendrick Lamar. Presented by PGLang, Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE), Aftermath Entertainment, and Interscope Records, this album marks Lamar’s first release under his creative collective, PGLang, and serves as his final project with TDE.
This concept album delves deep into Kendrick Lamar’s life experiences during his therapeutic journey. Its poignant lyrics touch on a myriad of personal themes, including childhood and generational trauma, infidelity, and the consequences of celebrity worship. Lamar’s conscious hip hop style blends harmoniously with minimalist production, incorporating elements of jazz, R&B, trap, and soul.
Notably, the album features captivating narration by Whitney Alford and Eckhart Tolle, along with remarkable guest appearances from Blxst, Amanda Reifer, Sampha, Taylour Paige, Summer Walker, Ghostface Killah, Baby Keem, Kodak Black, Sam Dew, Tanna Leone, and Beth Gibbons of Portishead. Under the pseudonym Oklama, Lamar takes on the role of executive producer and reunites with frequent collaborators Sounwave, J. Lbs, DJ Dahi, and Bekon for the majority of the album’s production.
Upon its release, Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers garnered widespread acclaim from critics, who praised Lamar’s impeccable lyricism and the album’s profound scope, despite some finding it occasionally inconsistent. The album’s success was backed by three hit singles: “N95,” which soared to the top five of the US Billboard Hot 100, “Silent Hill,” and “Die Hard.” Lamar’s promotional efforts included headlining performances at the esteemed Glastonbury Festival and Rolling Loud, as well as a memorable musical guest appearance on the season 48 premiere of Saturday Night Live.
Unsurprisingly, the album debuted at the pinnacle of the Billboard 200, securing Lamar’s fourth number-one album in the United States. At the 65th Annual Grammy Awards, Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers triumphed in the Best Rap Album category and received a remarkable total of eight nominations, including a historic fourth nomination for Album of the Year. Lamar’s commitment to promoting the album extended to his fifth solo headlining tour, the Big Steppers Tour, which took him across Europe, North America, and Oceania.
