Kendrick Lamar - MR MORALE & THE BIG STEPPERS First REACTION/REVIEW 

K Lamar’s Discography Explained: Section 80 - identifying the problem GKMC - explaining the problem through story TPAB - Trying to fix the problem (savior complex) DAMN - realizing he can’t fix the problem (damned if you do, damned if you don’t) Mr Morale - coming to peace with the problem and fixing himself

This was definitely Kendrick’s most personal album, he is being transparent and honest. It feels like he has accepted his problems and is eager to heal and fix himself.

I love how Shawn has the backbone to stick to his guns and stand on his opinion, even when he is overwhelmingly wrong

Count Me Out is a top tier track, I don't know how you can't say it's not hitting

i hope this doesn’t come off wrong but this album also humanised kendrick, he discussed his faults and shortcomings but he spoke so bluntly and emotionally about himself here and it gave me a look inside the pressure he deals with, sonically this aligns with my taste as well

the diversity in all of kendrick’s albums are actually insane 🐐

This album is not an album filled with bangers. It is an album that he made for himself. He is acknowledging himself and is addressing his own emotions and what he has to deal with.

Everyone says it’s not an album you can play over and over again but I havent stopped listening since it dropped and fall more and more in love every time this is a phenomenal album

This is Kendrick’s most personal album. Mother I Sober and Auntie Diaries almost made cry.

Fellas were really upset at DAMM for not being super deep like TPAB, now upset at this album for not having a bunch of bangers and radio-readys like DAMN...

He said it best on "Crown": *I can't please everybody.* And that's totally fine.

As a therapist myself, I remember during our training we are taught that genuine change only happens through honest discourse. If you are racist, sexist, homophobic, you have to speak about your attitudes and beliefs fully and honestly. BUT you have to recognize and validate the anger that comes from marginalized groups during your conversations. If you let people that have stereotypes or prejudice beliefs continue to hide their genuine thoughts, there is ZERO possibility of changing that persons perception.

I can respect Shawn’s opinion on MM&TBS. And honestly am not surprised when people say they’re not feeling the album. After listening to it in full about three times so far, I can tell that Kendrick intentionally avoided putting much emphasis on making club bangers or radio friendly tracks. He also wasn’t interested in barring us to death with amazing wordplay. The focus of this project was to openly focus on his inner demons as well as that of “black culture” in a way the was beautifully poetic but not necessarily to flex his emceeing skills. That was clearly going to take center stage alone while production and emceeing skills were going to take a back seat to that. The reason, I feel, that he did this is because he wants the listener (particularly those in the “black community”) to inspired and reflective of their own inner demons. IMHO, every great music artist should have at least one of these types of projects where they have the balls to say “I’m going to put together this deeply personal or experimental album that I know most people may not feel. But if you can relate to it come on this journey with me.” I can relate to this album immensely. I love the use of piano on several of the tracks. They put me in a contemplative mood to think about my own inner demons when I’m listening to them. It’s cathartic. Most of this album has high replay value for me. My two cents.

This might sound weird but I’m glad this album is divisive. Kendrick needs something like this in his discography. This project has some of his best songwriting ever and is so intresting the direction he’s going for on here. It keeps growing on me after each listen

0:56 “United In Grief” 3:11 “N95” 5:13 “Worldwide Steppers” 6:39 “Die Hard” Feat. Blxst & Amanda Reifer 8:07 “Father Time” Feat. Sampha 10:31 “Rich” (Interlude) 11:19 “Rich Spirit” 11:55 “We Cry Together” Feat. Taylour Paige 14:14 “Purple Hearts” Feat. Summer Walker & Ghostface Killah 14:54 “Count Me Out” 16:25 “Crown” 17:19 “Silent Hill” Feat. Kodak Black 18:30 “Savior” (Interlude) 19:45 “Savior” Feat. Baby Keem & Sam Dew 25:02 “Auntie Diaries” 29:29 “Mr. Morale” Feat. Tanna Leone 30:05 “Mother I Sober” Feat. Beth Gibbons Of Portishead 33:02 “Mirror”

Off first listen, I was reeeeeal iffy on this album. But after listening to it over the weekend, it’s already grown on me SIGNIFICANTLY. That’s what I love about Kendrick, his music is SO TIMELESS.

On United grief (1st song) he started off the song by saying he has been going through something for 1855 days. That is how many days ago he dropped DAMN. At the beginning of the song Whitney (his fiancé) tells him to "Tell Them what's been going on". Them being the therapist and now us. You can clearly tell he is reluctant to open up and talk to the therapist. This is his first session. Then the whole album he continues to take us through his sessions and his growth. Growth is not always an upward projection. A lot of the time it's anger, denial, it's ranting. It is realizing things you have not realized before. And sometimes it's saying fuck what everyone else feels. And that is exactly what the first side of the album is. Then the second side of the album starts with" Session 10. We reached a breakthrough. And the second album is that breakthrough. It is him admitting his guilt, his anger, his hurt, his wrongs, his trauma, his family trauma and accepting it and healing from it. And loving himself. Again this is not an upward trajectory either. But the album ends with him choosing himself. This whole album takes us through his self-love journey through trauma and pain. And he shows this process is not easy, pretty, or conventional. It is personal and it is the hardest journey anyone would have to take in their life. But it is so rewarding.

“When shit hit the fan, is you still a fan?” This album is a fleshed out look at the effect of this fear of his, and ultimately freeing himself from this question that I’m sure haunted him. I’m still a fan.

You gotta be open to new flows and content in today’s music. You’re tripping if you think N95 wasn’t good sonically. Synths went crazy

This album seems like an album for himself, he didn’t make a piece of art to sell he made it to truly express himself and all his issues and history. Not to mention his experiences with gender, race and even class in the US

the baby keem interlude is incredible. I mean like "My Uncle Would Tell Me The Shit In The Movies could Only Be Magic, This Year, I Did Forty-Three Shows And Took It All Home To Buy Him A Casket" is such a good bar.

DISC 1: BIG STEPPERS 0:56 “In Grief” 3:11 “N95” 5:13 “Worldwide Steppers” 6:39 “Die Hard” Feat. Blxst & Amanda Reifer 8:07 “Father Time” Feat. Sampha 10:31 “Rich” (Interlude) 11:19 “Rich Spirit” 11:55 “We Cry Together” Feat. Taylour Paige 14:14 “Purple Hearts” Feat. Summer Walker & Ghostface Killah DISC 2: MR. MORALE 14:54 “Count Me Out” 16:25 “Crown” 17:19 “Silent Hill” Feat. Kodak Black 18:30 “Savior” (Interlude) 19:45 “Savior” Feat. Baby Keem & Sam Dew 25:02 “Auntie Diaries” 29:29 “Mr. Morale” Feat. Tanna Leone 30:05 “Mother I Sober” Feat. Beth Gibbons Of Portishead 33:02 “Mirror”

I also feel like Shawn is lowkey some people kendrick was talking about on certain songs too. Like trying to hard to intricately decipher each line each bar to the T and he’s like “kendrick made you think about it but he’s not your savior” like kendrick literally sayin brah not every bar is that crazy i’m trynna be human.

Nah Shawn missed a lot! You made the one mistake that ordinary Kendrick fans would make which is to “expect” a certain type of album. Your expectations were not met and that’s fine. But that doesn’t make it a bad album or a miss from Kendrick.

This album felt a lot more emotional, powerful, thematically deep, and versatile than DAMN. I personally believe that Kendrick took a lot more risks here than he did with DAMN and overall I liked the songs a lot more here than on DAMN. The album was very beautiful in the Melodie’s and themes kendrick conveyed with each song and it definitely isn’t a radio friendly album, but that’s what makes it so beautiful and enchanting. This was Kendricks raw, emotional therapy session and I love it!

I will never understand why a lot of people didn’t love this in the first listen. This album had so much uniqueness and beauty and even some bangers. I enjoyed almost every song first listen because of the flows, the deeper meanings, the productions, and the I liked the features

The album is about breaking generational curses. It's personal but its not just for himself, it's for everyone, especially the black community, who are haunted by the traumas experienced by our ancestors.

this album changed my life. before i was paralyzed with no money and home. But after listening to the album, I now am cured, won the lottery, and living in a mansion.

Loved your feature on we cry together Shawn I thought you and Kendrick going back and forth was amazing

Sonically, N95 was phenomenally pieced together and executed.

This is one of the first albums I’ve listened to in a long time that is so ahead of its time. This is how beautiful rap/ hip hop can be. I’ve been listening to k dot for a really long time and I never expected him to reach this level of artistry. This is how you take your art and push it to the next level.

Saying this album is his weakest writing is wild to me. Father Time, Savior, United In Grief, etc are all phenomenally written songs, and Mother I Sober is legitimately one of his best written songs. I get that it doesn’t have replay value/hits because it’s so personal/experiential, but to say the writing isn’t up to par compared to past albums is bizarre.

I ain’t never seen someone miss the point of a song as badly as you did on Auntie Diaries 😭

HOW DO YOU NOT LIKE N95 someone hold me back

I’m mexican, and I don’t want this to seem like I’m trying to steal black trauma. But Mother I Sober really spoke to me and borderline triggered me because I went through something similar and so has my family. It’s happened a lot to us as well, just in different ways. Or maybe its the same idk. But Kendrick speaking so openly about it felt almost empowering because it felt like someone was speaking up for male sexual abuse victims for the first time in hip hop, even music. I hardly ever see that in any genre.

This isn't an entertainment album - it's a therapy album. I don't really see myself replaying individual tracks, but I'll be listening to the whole thing over and over.

"DAMN." was a tough act to follow. That album was covered so much, covered immensely on RU-vid, and Kendrick even won a Pulitzer for it. "MM&TBS", to me is like a "TPAB" or even "Yeezus" that once we give it more time to breathe, it'll be looked back at as a great album. Great outing from Kendrick. I'm not sure where I rank it compared to his other LPs, as I've only listened to it all the way once, but I think it'll hold up as time passes. Now, the BIG question on everyone's minds: Will "MM&TBS" lose to "Come Home the Kids Miss You" at the Grammy's next year for Best Rap Album? lol

He didn't miss at all . Album gets better with each listen. Same as DAMN was for me. Wasnt fukcing with it at first. But now i cant even stop thinking about it. He did it again 👏👏👏👏👏👏

I have never been more in a disagreement of a album like I don’t understand how people think it’s bad I personally love it.

Everyone was expecting a gangsta ass album reflecting on todays society instead we got a really poetic soul exploring album We cry together, father time, auntie diaries and mother l sober have such a good storytelling concept

as much as i love kendrick latest work, this is what made me put kendrick as my favorite rapper. he made me trully think about things i've been avoiding, especially with aunties diaries and mother i sober... even tho i know people was expecting a second good kid m.a.a.d city, i feel like this has a great potential to start a conversation about sexual trauma, gender, mental issues and all the sh*t we been avoiding.

I am glad that this album is not like his previous…it’s just another layer of his artistic capacity. With 4 solid albums already out to be able to still come out with this level of work 👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻 “this is not Kendrick” just shows that people get stuck with one sound from an artist and expect that same side every album.

A sentiment I've seen floating around is that Kendrick Lamar made the album he wanted to make, and he doesn't personally care too much about how people take him anymore. I personally agree.

The whole album is Kendrick growing from his ignorance and showing how certain elements of life and the culture can trap you, it’s one big therapy session the disc 1 is Kendrick showing all his frustrations and his issues, the second disc is Kendrick breaking through and kind of accepting the fact that he can’t change his perspective to please the world or please anyone and he basically states that he accepts how ignorant he was in the past and that he moves past it with his own opinion that no one can change

This album is honestly such a masterpiece. It was everything an more I wanted from Kendrick. Thank you King Kenny 🙌🏽

This album is Kendricks "For Your Eyez Only".. his most personal record yet.

"The point of art is to disturb the comfortable and comfort the disturbed." As someone who has wrestled with my gender and sexuality since childhood, I really don't see a problem with Auntie Diaries. Pretty much this whole album is confrontational and provocative, it's supposed to take aspects of ourselves we don't like and smack us in the face with it. I think this song is most effective for people in exactly Kendrick's position, people who have/had double standards on the usage of slurs in a casual context. And the only way to get the point across is to put it in bold text. Intention is important, and Kendrick is basically saying "gay and trans rights", so anyone who wants to be upset by that needs to do some healing themselves. Plenty of other things have explored this like South Park and IASIP, understanding slurs in context is what matters. Like if a college professor got fired for reading a text from the Jim Crow era with racial slurs in it, most people would be confused and mad af about that. Context matters always. The last part of the song is meant to be cynical, Kendrick doesn't want a free for all of slurs being tossed around. He's condemning their use in a context of not understanding the pain it might cause someone else. He knows his usage could potentially be hurtful, but imo that's really only the case if someone isn't really listening to what he's saying on the song. Just my two cents. edit: the "if Jack Harlow did dadada" argument doesn't hold up as much as it seems. Kendrick and LGBTQIA+ are members of a minority, Jack Harlow is a straight, white male. Is Kendrick functioning from a place of privilege? Sure, but nowhere near the level of a white rapper (which is its own can of worms) choosing to say the N-word to pat themselves on the back to their primarily white audience for how no longer racist they are.

On Mother I Sober he’s describing his mom being “touched” and worrying about if Kendrick had been “touched” . Although he keeps saying no, he wants to prove it didn’t happens by having sex with a lot of women, which has now affected his relationship. But before it can haunt his children, because he has put everything on the table, and addressed it, he can move forward now . Breaking generational curses. Then he goes on to celebrate because now he doesn’t hate himself, he loves himself and is making better decisions now

My Top 10 from the Album (as of now) 1. Mother I Sober 2. Auntie Diaries 3. Father Time 4. We Cry Together 5. Savior 6. Mirror 7. United in Grief 8. N95 9. Mr. Morale 10. Worldwide Steppers

People dont understand how different tastes can be, because as someone who likes Kendricks depth, this has so much replayability to me

This album is theatrical in all the right ways, it's unlike anything we've heard from him before and I think it'll grow on me even more. It's already great after the first listen. This is the most vulnerable we've ever seen Kenny. This is pure art.

The album is a breath of fresh air from the world we live in today. It's so raw, deep, honest, real, and full of emotion. It depicts the struggles and hardships we all go through that today's culture seems to mask and pretend isn't there

This album is a conceptual therapy session. It helps the listener (and Kendrick) come to terms with what it means to live the human experience. Kendrick (as he states) is all of us so there’s a lot that we, as humans, can relate with. He speaks on the human experience. He talks about mental health, who we should view as our ‘saviors’, topics that historically have brought us together and pushed us apart. It’s empowerment, it’s the removal of the shackles.

bruh. saying that father time isn’t on the level of DAMN has GOT to be hating

This one gonna get better as time goes on. I already like it more today than I did last night.

Kendrick has done enough for all of us, I’m happy that he’s making the music he wants to make above anything else, it’s rare somebody of his level gets this much artistic freedom in this current day and it’s beautiful to see

I fw Shawn cee’s reactions & insights heavy but I couldn’t shake the feeling that he took so many of these songs/lyrics at face value and failed to spot the intricate subtleties woven into them. I don’t think Kendrick really drew a line in the sand on any of the topics (ie. Shawn’s thoughts on Auntie diaries) he brought up or even proposed a decisive solution for them. Instead he shined a spotlight on the perspective he’d been taught his whole life, and so many others, in a way that allows many an opportunity to process a lot of these abstract feelings that otherwise can’t be nailed down

scrolling through this comment section was so validating haha i thought i’d be in the minority in saying i disagreed with a lot of this review lmao but i’m glad that it seems like the majority LOVED this project ♥️

This is why music is beautiful. I have the exact opposite opinion as Shawn, and still respect his. This unites everybody

Kendrick most personal album, it’s like every song is almost like a rant or him venting to someone or something. This album has so much to take in and settle. When I first heard TPAB I was disappointed because it was different and not like GKMC. Although with more listens and time I loved and enjoyed TPAB, this album I feel like is going to age like fine wine. Give the album some time and take it in and enjoy it.🫂

I don’t understand how you’re not into this album musically. The instrumentals are so rich with some of the best cord progressions I’ve heard. This is probably gonna end up as one of my favourite Kendrick albums next to TPAB and GKMC

I didn’t love it at first, but the album is growing on me with each listen. Kinda went through something similar with DAMN. Kdot is a genius, and I respect the level of transparency and vulnerability he put into this album. He’s definitely set apart for sure 💯

This album is in the vein of TPAB in that we expected one thing and he did something completely different. The more I listened to it, the more I fucking love this album.

this album gonna be a staple in hip hop when people wanna look at storytelling. this album does it picture perfect.

this album is one of the best albums in a very very long time, kendrick absolutely did it again and he arguably stepped up his craft from DAMN and made his feelings open to the world. absolute classic as always by the goat 10/10

Yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa u trippin on this one dawg

BRO OUTSIDE of this being a great album but can we talk about how Shawn Cee is really the goat for having guts chillin on his background?! BERSERK FOR THE WIN

The constant theme of tap dancing through the album is meant to highlight how we all dance around our problems and that we need to face them- we cry together/ Purple Hearts show the two contrasting sides of love- how it can be so bad and good at the same time.

I love how raw your reactions are, just by doing these reactions!!!!!

To my Radiohead fans I find this album as the A Moon Shaped Pool of Kendrick’s discography

Kendrick : I realized life is just perception Fans : this is mid, 5 years for this? Other fans : kendrick don't miss, another classic Kendrick again: I choose me sorry

If I’m understanding the overarching concept, side A is the big steppers. It’s the his old lifestyle, the posturing, the overconfidence, and the questions it all raises. And then side B, Mr. Morale, is about him becoming removed from those life situations. As Shawn said he’s finally in the quiet and having time to unpack his trauma. It literally starts with a song called Count Me Out (yes I know it’s used in a different context in the song but he’s Kendrick so I don’t think it’s a reach to say it’s layered) and ends with him saying he chooses him and releasing himself from the obligations he feels people have put on him as an artist and person.

I don't think he was trying to make a DAMN part 2 💀

Honestly the album is a roller coaster of gorgeous Melodie’s, insanely personal bars, and some of the absolute hardest experimental beats paired with insanely high quality delivery. I was blown away.

This is exactly why I'm subscribed to you. You have the most beautiful and introspective and insightful comments on individual tracks on an album that no other RU-vid reviewer I know does. Anthony fantano is absolutely ass at this but he's got rarely some interesting views on how an album sounds sonically and I love how you come back later and talk about your change in perspective of an album in retrospect and it's so refreshing to listen to. Thanks for that Bro. I hate the grind of life and I hope that I can overcome my own personal struggle and push myself to do things I'm afraid of and I know that's random but I get inspiration from dudes like you and from the music I listen to.

Shawn loves that word conceptionally

I think what might get some people is that the album is less typically “entertaining” and without bangers than some of his other work. But he trades that in for vulnerability and openness in a project where he says in mirror “I choose me” and more importantly that “you should chose you”. He’s done trying to be anything to anybody or the black savior that the black community lifts him up to be. He’s getting off the soapbox that he tried so hard to preach from and saying he’s only human. Maybe not necessarily the project we wanted, but the project he needed.

This album was Kendrick’s for your eyes only. The most open he’s been. It’s been a lot to dig into and Jesus I love it. I love it just as much I loved DAMN.

Ngl I cried the first time I heard Father Time. Shit was real and raw

This album is him telling us he is human he's not our savior he's human with flaws.

Kendrick discography is insane. The diversity in all his albums is soooooooooo surreal. The streak of great albums consecutively being released is only rivaled by YE discography

I was high and tired on my first listen and felt the same way, several mid tracks to me. I can't get this album out of my mind. Every time I listen the album grows. And the songs I didn't like first listen are my fav, like Crown and Rich Spirit

Kendrick made this album to heal himself. Hes over the hype and bangers and party anthems. He got DEEP and introspective and personal and raw. I was rendered speechless. This album is going to change people's lives because its going to make A LOT of people start to heal from their past traumas and break TOXIC and destructive generational and family curses (sexual abuse, drug addiction, abuse, negativity, poverty ect)that had plauged the black community. But not just black people, everyone. This album makes you reflect on how do YOU need to heal? Its an emotional masterpiece 👏👏👏

This album isn’t a movie, a book, or an experience. It feels like a play. A theatrical art that you could sit down and watch this be acted out on broadway.

Lmao man how you got copyright cleared so fast?? ain't no way xD

True masterpiece. Needs time and work to get into it, but it is totally worth it. I am not sure ATM if it even might be his best work. The album is personal, rhymes and flows are 10/10, storytelling on another Level. Many tracks transport emotions, keep u thinking and they keep you locked in 🔒

Favorite album of his. This project had me crying and after I finished it felt like leaving an intense therapy session or coming down from a tough (but needed) shroom trip. My favorite song of Kendrick is “Sing of Me”. This album gives me that sound/level of storytelling and I love it.

I feel like this album had such a clear and strong narrative??? He weaved so many stories, of personal experiences he's been through that left him feeling really morally conflicted. On his relationship between race and love, empathy for male trauma with condemnation of toxic masculinity, the role male aggression can play in relationships, his evolving perspectives on lgbt rights, and his sense of duty to family built upon difficult childhood experiences on his previous albums i feel like he has been fighting for acceptance and respect from his peers in the world he grew up in. with this album i feel like as he has been transitioning into fatherhood, he's recognizing that actually, the world around him has often played a negative role in his personal growth - that what gets him that respect hasnt always been congruent with his own moral compass.... seeing that that in order to grow into a better person and be a stronger role model for his children he needs to swallow his pride and let go of some of those hang ups. to look internally to concentrate on his own personal growth instead. he's mr morale, sharing his journey of personal growth. by the time he talks about breaking the cycle abuse on Mother I Sober, with his children coming in at the end.... it really feels like a triumphant breakthrough. And the closing track? to me it really sounded like he's recognizing that he's been in a toxic relationship with the community that he loves, and is working on setting some healthy boundaries so that he can put himself first and grow into a better person: "I realized, true love's not savin' face But unconditional When will you let me go? I trust you’ll find independence If not, then all is forgiven Sorry I didn't save the world, my friend I was too busy buildin' mine again I choose me, I'm sorry" This wasn't just the Kendrick album i was hoping for, it really may grow to be my all time favourite. I've heard it through 5 times already and it feels more emotional with each listen. Anyway, love your perspective, i hope it grows on you. bless.

I feel like this album is the “4 your eyes only” of Kendrick’s discography. It’s not banger heavy or really music I’d put in my playlist, but it was like catching up with an old friend on the phone when they’re dealing with some stuff.

You are so good in what you're doing. It was a pleasure to watch your video and to reflect on the tracks with your point of view

Would love to hear your take on the album after a bit of time getting used to it and really unpacking it. I personally found this album a very powerful, vulnerable and touching experience. This is probably my favourite album in a very long time.

Not to be harsh, but it seems that you wanted an album that sonically aligned and entertained you + the general populace. But it seems like Kendrick this time around made an album for himself to continue moving forward and that's beautiful to me. It's what he had in him for the past 5 years, and that's what he crafted with. Sure it may not resonate and relate to the overall populace but I think art is for the artist first and foremost. Not everything needs to be relatable, sometimes it's nice to just listen to someone else's story. I think people sometimes forget that artist are people too; they go through their own specific problems and deal with them in their own specific ways. No one's perfect, they aren't always going to be morally correct like a lot people want them to be. But it's still nice to hear and know they want to share their experiences with such a large audience.

Hearing Shawn talk about this album reminds me of Ben Shapiro talk about the new Batman. It seems the negative reaction is coming from judging the album for what you wanted it to be and not for what it is.

I love this album because I'm learning about Kendrick. He's essentially updating us with what he's been thinking and feeling. He's catering to himself and how he feels while the world moves forward, not us. This album is gonna age very well. Also, while I may not agree with Shawn all of the time, but I value his opinion on music because it's different to my own. It challenges my perspective and understanding of interpreting music.

this album split the fanbase immediately

We cry together had me pausing so many times. “R&B bitches don’t feature on each others songs” was wild🤣🤣

As a queer person, I feel Auntie Diaries has so much potential to heal and to make homopobic and transphobic people question their perspectives. I dont think its fair for someone who is straight and cis to hop on Kendrick and say "okay but everyone knows its okay to not say that", because they dont! Theres so much vitriol in our culture towards trans people especially at the moment, and for Kendrick to come and take a stance that is so strongly in support of queer and trans rights especially is powerful. That he uses examples from his own life, own community and family gives me hope too that people like Chappelle will stop seeing trans and queer rights as necessarily in conflict with black struggle, because there are black trans and queer people getting caught in the cross hairs here between racist gays and conservatives in the black community. Basically my point is that as a queer person, theres nothing to take for granted at the moment, especially in the trans struggle, and in that wider perspective the contribution of Auntie Diaries is massively positive. We can focus on the politics of saying one specific word and get tangled up in that, or choose to see the bigger picture - and the bigger picture of this song is too valuable to miss, even if it seems obvious to you as someone whos been backing us for a while now. Just another perspective, big love to ya Shawn for your concern and support about it, I know it comes from a good place.

shawn gotta listen to this again and redo this reaction.

In my honest opinion I really really love this album. Maybe not the one withb most bangers, but its probably his most personal and the most meaningful behind TBAP, really love We Cry Together, i was FLABBERGASTED the first listen lmao

“Kendrick isn’t trans and isn’t gay, so I don’t really want to hear him talk about that”, is a pretty weird takeaway, I think it’s pretty important and somewhat brave that one of the biggest artists, on one of the most anticipated albums of the year, comes out and talks about his internalised homophobia and transphobia, when the genre he’s expressing himself in, has a massive history and problem with lgbtq people, and having Kendrick talk about how he’s grown and changed could be really beneficial to a wider conversation, I get not liking the delivery of it, or thinking it could’ve been done better but saying he shouldn’t be talking about it is a pretty stupid take ngl