Fall Albums: Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers

“Everybody grieves different.” Kendrick Lamar’s 2022 album Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers is one I find myself returning to year after year, particularly in the fall.

Throughout the project, rich and intricate production with delicate samples evokes images of earth tones. Raw and introspective, this album is perfect for those cool, contemplative nights.

After his wildly successful 2017 album DAMN., Lamar spent a five-year hiatus developing arguably his most vulnerable project to date. Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers is a cathartic journey of confession and eventual self-forgiveness.

On tracks like “Father Time,” Lamar grapples with the struggles of growing up with an unforgiving father and learning to become a man.

In “Savior,” Lamar criticizes the hypocrisies of society when it comes to religion, race and politics, while simultaneously confessing his own moral shortcomings.

One of the more experimental tracks, “We Cry Together,” features a five-minute enactment of a domestic argument set to a jazz instrumental. It’s an intentionally uncomfortable listen, shedding light on emotional insecurity.

A standout track, “Count Me Out,” is framed as a therapy session where Lamar confesses his greatest flaws. However, he frames this confession through a light of empowerment, promising to grow and improve — even if he must forgive himself “one hundred times.” “I love when you count me out.”

This emotional journey culminates in “Mirror,” where Lamar realizes what his path to growth requires. He repeatedly declares that, despite all his selfishness, trauma and imperfections, he must choose himself.

What makes this album so remarkable is Lamar’s ability to package such sensitive topics in a medium that is sonically interesting and enjoyable.

Hip-hop has often been dominated by notions of intensity and toxic masculinity. Despite this, Lamar breaks the mold, utilizing the genre to make what may otherwise be considered weak and vulnerable into something beautiful.

Fall is a season of change, marked by transforming colors and textures in nature, as well as the emotional shift from the start of school and a return to less familiar environments.

Transient times are sometimes the best for introspection and improvement. Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers embodies change as well by illustrating what it means to accept oneself and grow as a human being.

James King is a third-year student studying telecommunications and media industries. To contact him, please email jak6937@psu.edu.