More remarks as KODAK BLACK, LIL DURK, TYLER, THE CREATOR + MORE REACT TO KENDRICK LAMAR’S ‘MR. MORALE & THE BIG STEPPERS’

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Kendrick Lamarย ended the five-year wait for a new album on Friday (May 13) with the release of his eagerly-anticipated fifth studio albumMr. Morale & The Big Steppers.

An 18-song double-disc effort, the project boasts guest appearances from Ghostface Killah,ย Kodak Black,ย Baby Keem, Sampha,ย Blxst, Summer Walker, Tanna Leone and Portishead’s Beth Gibbons, among others. Behind the boards, frequent collaborators such as Sounwave, Pharrell, The Alchemist, Boi-1da and DJ Dahi supply the eclectic sounds.

But it’s Kendrick who steals the show, and not simply because of his lyrical talents. Across the album, the Compton native addressesย Kanye West and Drake’s reconciliation,ย Kyrie Irving’s COVID-19 stanceย and “cancel culture.” He also opens up about hisย “lust addiction” and infidelity, as well as transgender relatives and sexual abuse in the Black community.

Whileย Mr. Morale & The Big Steppersopens yet another chapter in Kendrick’s illustrious career, it also marks the end of an era in another sense, serving as the 34-year-old rapper’sย final release on Top Dawg Entertainment, the label he’s called home for well over a decade.

“As I produce my final TDE album, I feel joy to have been a part of such a cultural imprint after 17 years,” he wrote on hisย oklama.comย website last August. “The Struggles. The Success. And most importantly, the Brotherhood. May the Most High continue to use Top Dawg as a vessel for candid creators.”

Given the fervent anticipation leading up to its release, it’s no surprise thatMr. Morale & The Big Steppersย became one of the hottest topics on social media on Friday, with fans and artists alike flooding the internet with their reactions toย Kendrick Lamar‘s latest, long-awaited effort.

From current rap stars such asย Lil Durk,Tyler, The Creatorย andย Kodak Black(who makes several appearances on the album) to OGs such asย Lupe Fiasco,Questloveย andย JAY-Z‘s engineerย Young Guru,ย Mr. Morale & The Big Steppershad the internet goin’ nuts โ€” which is nothing new for King Kendrick.

Check out the reactions to Kendrick Lamar’s new album below.


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Mr. Benjamins

Egbodo Benjamin, aka Mr. Benjamins, is a music curator, Project Manager, and Quantity Surveyor with a deep passion for hip-hop culture and creative innovation. Heโ€™s the Founder and CEO of ThisIsHipHopHQ and Metis Vanguard, platforms shaping the future of music and entertainment. A global thinker, heโ€™s a proud member of the International Trade CouncilNIMWorld Economic Forum, and Amnesty International. From curating sound to leading strategy, Mr. Benjamins merges business with culture, creating impact both on and off the mic.

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