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Breaking down the hidden meanings and messages of the first half of Kendrick Lamar’s newest and final studio album with TDE, Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers. Part two out next Thursday.

Chapters:
Concept and Themes: 00:40
United in Grief: 06:00
N95: 07:30
Worldwide Steppers: 08:53
Die Hard: 11:12
Father Time: 11:48
Rich (Interlude): 14:50
Rich Spirit: 16:55
We Cry Together 17:47
Purple Hearts 20:55

Released as a double album, Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers is Kendrick Lamar’s fifth and final studio album with Top Dawg Entertainment. TDE founder and CEO Anthony Tiffith teased fans during a May 2020 Instagram Live, saying “Stay patient” and “King Kendrick will return soon.”

On August 20, 2021, Kendrick teased his return with a new website—oklama.com—explaining that the upcoming project would be his last release with TDE:

As I produce my final TDE album, I feel joy to have been a part of such a cultural imprint after 17 years. The Struggles. The Success. And most importantly, the Brotherhood. May the Most High continue to use Top Dawg as a vessel for candid creators. As I continue to pursue my life’s calling.

About a week later, on August 27, 2021, his cousin Baby Keem released “family ties,” featuring a guest verse by Kendrick with multiple allusions to the highly-anticipated record.

On April 18, 2022, Kendrick shared a statement revealing the project’s release date and title through his website and social media. A week before the release date, an image of Kendrick holding two CDs was shared via oklama.com, driving speculation that Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers would be a double album, which turned out to be accurate.

On May 8, 2022, Kendrick surprise-dropped “The Heart Part 5” with an accompanying music video that saw his face morphing into stars like Kanye West and Will Smith. Three days later, Kendrick took to social media to reveal the album’s cover art, shot by Renell Medrano. He didn’t unveil the album’s tracklist until its release, leaving fans hyped up until the final moments before the drop.

Most transition music by blacmass

The entire album is structured around a narrative of Kendrick’s therapy. The album opens with a musical motif that will repeat later:

“I hope you find some peace of mind…”

Later in the first track, Kendrick says, “I hope the psychologist listenin'.” In “Father Time,” Kendrick’s partner Whitney says, “You really need some therapy” and suggests he reach out to Eckhart Tolle, who then appears several times throughout the album and seems to serve the role of Kendrick’s therapist. As the album progresses, Kendrick processes his lust addiction, daddy issues, challenges of celebrity, and more. Although sometimes it seems Kendrick is just “tap-dancing around the conversation,” he eventually seems to confront his issues though therapy sessions and experiences breakthrough that culminates in a therapeutic release toward the end of the album. The second-to-last song then resumes the melody and choral style of the “piece of mind” line that opened the album, but this time the lyrics conclude with “I bare my soul and now we’re free.”