“1855 I’ve been going through something.” That is how Kendrick Lamar starts off his new album, Mr. Morale and The Big Steppers, after more than five years, or 1855 days, without releasing any albums. Lamar’s last project was the soundtrack for the 2018 movie Black Panther, however, his last album was released way back in April of 2017. Since then, the artist has barely been seen in public, besides some special occasions like the Live Concert at Las Vegas in 2019. Kendrick has also married his current wife, Whitney Alford, who he has had two children with, one of them being born less than a month ago. All these changes in his life have had an immense impact on the album.

This project is composed of 18 songs, which include two skits and two interludes. The album has many features from famous artists such as Kodak Black, Baby Keem or Sampha. Mr Morale and The Big Steppers is unlike anything he has done before. Kendrick mixes rap and hip-hop with religious a cappella singing and some elements of classical music, like in the first song of the album, United in Grief, where he uses violin and piano chords as a base for his rapping. The skits are really important in this project because they provide a background for the songs that follow. Mr. Morale and The Big Steppers is also a double album, where the interludes serve as a division between the two. The first section, named The Big Steppers, talks about Kendrick’s struggle, but not willing to make changes in his life to overcome these problems. On the second half of the album, titled Mr. Morale, Kendrick is more emotional, he reflects on what is wrong with his life, pursues self-growth, and attends therapy to take control of his life.

Mr. Morale and The Big Steppers is not what people were expecting from Kendrick, however, it might be better than anything he has done before. This album is more than just music, it almost serves as a therapy for the listener, if they are willing to listen to what Kendrick is going through.  Mr. Morale and The Big Steppers is definitely worth listening to at least once, and it will definitely go down as one of the best hip-hop/rap albums of all time.