Kendrick Lamar - Father Time Ft. Sampha (Audio)

Following the release of his fourth studio album Damn (2017), Kendrick Lamar took a five-year musical hiatus.[1] During this time, he executive produced the soundtrack album for the superhero film Black Panther (2018),[2] became a father of two children with his longtime romantic partner Whitney Alford,[3][4] and founded the entertainment company PGLang with his creative partner Dave Free.[5] Lamar cites a two-year stretch of writer's block as one of the reasons behind his long absence.[6]

Due to its "messy but honest" lyrical content, many critics have regarded Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers as Lamar's most confessional body of work.[29] Its concept provides an independent analysis and reflection of his life experiences during his therapy journey.[30] Throughout the album, Lamar revolves around personal themes regarding his childhood and generational trauma,[31] sexual addiction and infidelity to Alford,[32] and struggles with celebrity worship and fame.[33] Other topics addressed on the album include fatherhood, toxic masculinity,[34] daddy issues,[35] therapeutic breakthroughs, spiritual consolation,[36] gender identity,[37] accountability,[38] fake news, cancel culture, capitalism, and performative activism.[39][16][15] Regarding the album's candid viewpoint, Dr. Christopher Driscoll, assistant professor of religion, Africana, and American studies at Lehigh University, writes "Within the intensely polarizing times we live today, very few artists across genres have the skill and the willingness to be so responsibly honest. Hip hop's always been better than many cultural spaces when it comes to unflinching honesty. [Lamar] runs with the latitude afforded by the hip hop culture he loves. The results are healing."[40]

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Ben Bryant of The Independent called the album a "tender opus from the defining poet of his generation", writing, "The rapper's first album in five years is a haunting and surprising meditation on fatherhood and family".[34] In a five-star review for The Guardian, Alexis Petridis praised the themes, lyricism and style.[33] Robin Murray from Clash enjoyed the album, saying, "Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers is one of his most profound, complex, revelatory statements yet, a double album fueled by sonic ambition, the will to communicate, and Kendrick's staunch refusal to walk the easy path".[81] Steve Loftin of The Line of Best Fit said, "It being one so vulnerable and exposing (including using his family for the artwork), stripping the skin down to the bone, is bold, beautiful, but most importantly, a reminder that an artist like Kendrick Lamar is once in a generation".[82] Reviewing the album for NME, Kyann-Sian Williams stated, "The rapper's first album in five years sees him overcome 'writer's block' to triumph with a collection on which his observational skills go into overdrive".[79] Rob Moura of PopMatters said, "On Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers, renowned rapper Kendrick Lamar observes the strife plaguing his kingdom and consciously abdicates the throne".[25] Writing for Exclaim!, Riley Wallace stated, "Kendrick Lamar lets it all out, and even if it's the last time we hear from him in this form, he's metaphorically put his whole heart on the table, with yet another body of work worthy of multiple spins and endless dissection".[83] Fred Thomas from AllMusic also stated that "While not always an easy listen, the album shows more of its intention as it goes, and ultimately makes sense as the next logical step forward in Lamar's increasingly multi-dimensional artistic evolution".[75]

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