Kendrick Lamar Raps About Kanye West-Drake Reunion, R. Kelly on New Album
Kendrick Lamar’s new album Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers was released earlier today, and it didn’t take long for fans to start breaking down the lyrics.
The double album, which is divided into two parts, each containing nine tracks, features appearances from Baby Keem, Kodak Black, Summer Walker, Ghostface Killah, Sampha, Blxst, and more, with production from Pharrell, Boi-1da, DJ Dahi, and The Alchemist.
On the Sampha-assisted “Father Time,” Kendrick raps about Kanye West and Drake’s reconciliation, admitting that he was “confused” when the former rivals squashed their beef and reunited on stage in L.A. in December.
“When Kanye got back with Drake, I was slightly confused / Guess I’m not mature as I think, got some healin’ to do,” he raps.
On the Pharrell-produced “Mr. Morale” featuring Tanna Leone, he brings up R. Kelly, who was found guilty in his sex trafficking trial.
“I think about Robert Kelly / If he weren’t molested, I wonder if life’ll fail him,” he says of the embattled R&B star.
On the same track, the reclusive rapper reveals that his 2-year-old daughter is named Uzi (“Uzi, your father’s in deep meditation”) after previously sharing that he has a second child.
One of the album’s most-talked-about tracks is “Auntie Diaries,” on which Kendrick shares his support for the trans community by reflecting on his own experience with family members.
“My auntie is a man now / I think I’m old enough to understand now,” he raps while also revealing that his cousin is trans.
“Demetrius is Mary-Ann now / I mean he’s really Mary-Ann, even took things further / Changed his gender before Bruce Jenner was certain / Living his truth even if it meant see a surgeon,” he adds.
Later, he shares his regrets over using the F-word. “I said them F bombs, I ain’t know any better,” he says before reflecting on the time he invited a white fan on stage in 2018 and told her she couldn’t say the N-word. “To truly understand love, switch position,” says Kendrick.
Starting in July, he will bring the album to life when he hits the road on “The Big Steppers Tour.” The worldwide trek, which includes Baby Keem and Tanna Leone, will travel to North America, Europe, and Australia through December.