as a trans woman who cried her eyes out to auntie diaries i am absolutely in your camp regarding it. it's so raw and kind, it makes me sad to see how people have twisted it.
as someone who's transgender, my take away from the song is Kendrick is purposefully using the slur he knows to be harmful because he wants the usage of these slurs to be more normally criticized. in a sense, he isnt just saying he'll be anyones savior - he's actually being a savior. he's sacrificing his image and his song to be criticized by design, especially by a community that is historically been extremely anti-LGBTQ+, and in that sense he helps move the culture forward and progresses their minds and thoughts. thats just my opinion tho.
Yes, you’re correct. I’m glad you see it this way. He used the slurs and derogatory language to reach his target audience. Black men. In the black community, especially where he is from in Compton, the culture is riddled in gang violence and toxic masculinity. He grew up in “Bompton” which is the Piru Blood gang side of Compton. His closest friends are Piru Bloods. Being homophobic and transphobic is the norm. Trans black women are killed at higher rates than any demographic in America. So he was using that language to make the target audience invoke feelings of regret and sadness. But they have indeed twisted it. It’s a shame. Kendrick is a true artist who showed maturity and growth as a man with this album. From a man who grew up with gang ties, toxic beliefs, witnessed murders in the street, to becoming the type of black man who he is today is incredible. He is truly a one of a kind type of artist.
As a black person I understand when the N word needs to be used. If you write a book placed in 1920 with black, and white characters , except the N word to be used. it would be unrealistic,and it wouldn't help anybody's cause. Harsh reality is the only reality
My take on the song is Kendrick describing his uncle before and after their transition. Kendrick uses those “misgenderings” because when he says “she” Kendrick knew his uncle as she, and when he said “he” it’s when he knew his uncle after his transition. I beleiev your point stands as well. I just think Kendrick wanted to emphasize how confusing the transition was for him being a his uncles nephew. That’s my opinion on it. Kendrick is helping the listeners feel his confusion.
Having sex at the end of cry together is him neglecting and tap dancing around the conversation. Instead of talking about their problems they end up having sex. The sex is integral imo
@@professorskye his wife literally says “stop stepping around the problem” at the end of the song after the sound of tap dancing (signifying sex as a distraction, evasion of the root problems)
@@professorskye also in terms of being a “big stepper” it’s likely a reference to the tap dancing around dealing with your problems, around your emotions and the finding ways to deal with those things. So the Big Steppers is the audience that he’s trying to reach he’s purposefully included the audience in the title of the album
IMO White people talking about black trauma, Can be viewed in two ways sympathy (acknowledging someone else's pain.) And Empathy (choosing to feel the pain with them) But I’ve come to learn that Trauma knows no boundaries between black and white and Empathy through relatable trauma’s whether black or white draws the connection. Thank you for creating a platform like this for healthy conversations 🙌🏾💜
Along with black trauma, mexican americans go through much of the same struggle in nearly every modern-day facet. Kendrick is wearing the same outfit as the kids in American Me. Tan waist high khakis and an ironed, tucked in white shirt. California outlawed slavery as it had already been outlawed in Mexico before it was taken by the US. I can almost guarantee Kendrick has been approached at some point in his life by mexican gangsters in a negative manner or has known somebody who had problems with them. My best friend whose black would always get fucked with first when cholos were around. That is because prison gang culture established racial boundaries that permeated through the streets and even mixed families may not associate in prison based on physical features and it’s taught to BG’s, Pee Wees, and tiny locs by OG’s who are released. That’s institutionalization. Snoop Dogg’s verse in Lil Ghetto Boy touches on this.
@tamikabell6575 This is such a beautiful comment. I’m a white woman and have a diagnosis of Complex PTSD (the consequence of childhood abuse). You’re right that trauma knows no boundaries. We all need to have more love and understanding for one another, and empathy for how difficult the HUMAN experience can be.
Trauma can (oftentimes is, depending on the specific kind of trauma + the individuals involved) easily be a barrier itself - besides any racial factors If one of the people is able to see/acknowledge the trauma of the other, then yes, I agree with the above
I love that u don't do a 1-hour review just to talk about production, lyrics, and the instruments bla bla bla.. but more to tell stories and connect the listener to the album and help them to have their own understanding.. and also the books' suggestions and talking about literature is always my fav part.. I really respect what ur doing here sir! Kendrick is a genius and so are you, and this is probably the best album review that I ever watched!
We’re all mourning, or ‘grieving’ the death of ‘Kendrick Lamar’. Kendrick Lamar, after having been crammed into the saviour figure archetype of our culture throughout the last ten years, has created a non-dualist album in which he has given us the honest fruits of his meditation practice and experience. He’s rapping about Kendrick Lamar from the perspective of someone who is in the process of letting go of the entire concept of Kendrick Lamarness. Our culture may have wanted another album written from inside the ‘matrix’, or the ‘ego’, or ‘samsara’, from inside ‘Kendrick Lamar’ even, but Kendrick, having found the spiritual path has done what every good spiritual teacher must do: drop the illusion they have created, turning the light onto themselves, freeing themselves and everyone else from clinging to the idea that they’re in any way special or superior. Many people will feel deflated after listening to Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers, but as Chogym Trungpa Rimpoche said: enlightenment is the ego’s final disappointment, and I think that we have been somewhat freed from the myth of the saviour in a way that music has never before managed to accomplish. I put this comment on a couple of videos, but I think it’s most at home here.
@@chrilborn4138 Or the people more affected by the "politically incorrect" (dehumanizing) language being used. All about perspective, glad the target audience had a song they could get and approach and learn from. Less glad it's at the cost of the alienation of others. I forgot the definition of irony, but it seems to apply here.
I’ll keep this short and sweet. This album is the most important album in the past 10 years. It’s beautiful, complex, and needed. My reaction to this album ended in a 4 hour video lol. I chopped into half’s and it’s on the way, but I feel like it’s not enough at all. I hope people keep breaking this album down over time. It’s an instant classic and masterpiece is not a wasted word here.
@@professorskye I’ll have part two up tonight, but I appreciate your insight on Auntie Diaries. I think that anyone who truly understands the issue and listens to the song will come up with similar conclusions. Thanks for your reaction as well! Definitely hit the subscribe button.
Started watching your reviews after catching the latest Kendrick disses. Your stuff is incredible, and I plan on watching a lot more. Please continue analysis like this!
As an African American listener, from Los Angeles, I feel the importance of the white perspective is to have something to compare ideologies. It's connecting culturally, educationally (both from institution and that of the surroundings) and emotionally, finding the empathy and not just sympathizing during times of atrocity in minority communities. I appreciate your perspective Professor, for giving another literary angle that those who have read black activists and cultural literature before can understand. Gaining perspective is something I want to personally work on, so I thank you again for your take on cultural snapshots. The album and attempt at expressing very human battles, vices, experiences was that of someone who just knows there's more than just self. even more than family. Community and togetherness as a whole, really seeing our problems and speaking about those problems directly was the purpose. I hope to push for change in my community, at my college, in my home because if I don't, who will?
Powerful. And I don’t mind yt ppl speaking about black trauma, for 1. I can’t control conversations outside myself and 2. talking, expressing, communicating, conversing is necessary for any level of imagination, empathy, and maybe understanding of any subject. Thank you skye for this one 🙏🏾
For me, at first i was a little disappointed because i mistakenly had expectations. When he & baby keem dropped “family ties” he said “smoking on your top 5 tonight” so i was expecting a more aggressive snatch the rap crown type album. Unlike some i was able to appreciate it on 2nd listen with my expectations cleared & a better understanding of the aims of the album. Since then it’s been my favorite because theres no other album i know of that is therapeutic in the way this one is. So i think most people that don’t like it are expecting either a previous version of a kendrick, their own projected direction of where they expected him to go next, or expected something similar to other artists they typically prefer (like for example some drake fans may quickly skip over anything that doesn’t sound like a radio hit type song)
This is quite the year for hip hop Evolving as an art form. Considering Billy Woods, Denzel Curry and Kendrick Lamar. I am very excited about the growth of the genre.
"Except for when i went to Japan and everyone believed I was Brad Pitt because I was white" The best day of Brad Pitt's life is the day multiple groups of Japanese people mistook Professor Skye for him.
I think we need to give Whitney her due as well. She mentioned getting therapy after his infidelity. That's a strong empathetic woman right there. She's a humanist too.
Thank you. I found your channel as a result of the Drake/Kendrick beef and have been enjoying your other videos since. This is the most impactful one I’ve watched so far (also really liked your (GloRilla video). As a young man (33) who’s still trying to figure himself out and didn’t receive any of this kind of insight in my upbringing…I didn’t know I needed this video today, but I did. You put growing up in a way that is so succinct and I’ve never heard it put this way before. I started therapy some months ago and cannot wait to share your list of how to become a man with my therapist. It’s perfectly worded and I really appreciate you sharing it. Thank you :) Avaa 🙏
Good luck with therapy. There will be hard and low moments along the way, but it will be the BEST thing that you ever gift to yourself. You are going to grow and heal in extraordinary ways. x
this is my favorite album of all time, imo the best album of all time and it itself is like a therapy session. I rarely cry under influence of media, but this album made me cry multiple times, not just at home, but also in public spaces. the first time I heard "father time" and the lines "and to my partners who figured it out without a father I salute you, may your blessings be neutral to your toddlers" it felt like a bullet going straight through my heart. like, I have never heard sb compliment me on my personal self-accomplished growth in spite of me having an abusive (now ex-)alcoholic absent father, let alone coming from the mouth of another man. honestly, MM&TBS flipped holistically my view on fatherhood, as in it gave me appreciation and confidence I could be one myself and be proud of and safe knowing I don't have to fall for the same traps this asshole of a father I had went down for. Kendrick confesses his own sins and in turn made me confess mine to him (even tho ik he can't hear it, but he'd understand it) and to God. I still battle with the shit I have in my head, I still am very unwilling to go out there and talk to others, like therapists, etc. bcuz I am scared of being judged and so on, but he alone managed to give me a safe space where I can cuddle up and "hide in" to meditate. yk, his pressence might be preachy, but idc. he has worked for it, he deserves to be viewed as a cultural Messiah, as the champion of the people. the last time I had such an all-caring, all-understanding, all-inspire presence of an older guiding man in my life was a priest who had baptized me (fun fact, I was the first kid he ever baptized). since then I'm still religious, I still believe and cherrish God, and so on. apparently, when given a good example, yk how to do it again. AVAA.
After listening to this album (if this was the 70's), we would have named Kindrick a "spoken word artist." I would put him in same category with a Gil Scott Herron, Nikki Giovanni, and etc.. Good times.
Took me 2 months to get to you but I guess I was just saving the best review for last. And this turned out to be your best album review since RTJ4. As one of your faithful Black subscribers, I just want to say thank you for what you do.
Pertaining on whether kendrick is going to retire or not, there is a hip hop website called ambrosia for heads with a youtube channel of the same name that touched on the subject. They made an almost 3 hour video dissecting MM&TBS and in that video theres journalist called Reggie who has personally known Kendrick since overly dedicated and he was the person who first reported the fact that DAMN. can be played in reverse (which kendrick later confirmed). He has a theory that the real order of the album is playing the mr morale disc first and the big steppers disc second (in the same order of the album title); making "count me out" the intro song and "purple hearts" the closing song revealing that after dealing with his traumas and recognizing he is not anyone's savior, kendrick does want to continue being a messenger for god: "if the god is the source then I am the plug walking"
Definitely a fan of this Album, I believe it’s even deeper and more complex than DAMN. Now damn was more accessible than this but it still had deeper messages, with this album I think Kendrick wanted to really express his own trauma and tribulations, not just of the people but of himself as well. You can hear it in the drive and passion of this album, with every line Kendrick is trying to portray himself, and how his true self really deals with all the issues that he talks about in his music. He’s already explained how he felt his music fell on deaf ears, and now we hear it in music form, on these tracks he’s really going into how he feels about the impact of his music, positive or negative. It’s a dichotomy there than I think people are going to overlook, just like with his past works. Hopefully this time around people really listens to what he has to say on race, trauma, religion and beliefs in one’s values and how that changes throughout life. Thank you for the review and keep the fire content coming 🔥
Wonderful video, Professor Skye You brought up radical empathy as something central to this album, and I absolutely agree. I think this is what the world desperately needs but sadly gets too little of. I actually think the album's title is a reference to Bob Marley and the Wailers. Unlike a 'big stepper', a wailer is someone who expresses grief or pain audibly, just like Kendrick does in this album. I think the heart part 5 pointed to this connection with Bob Marley, not only in its overall message but also by the inclusion of his hairstyle (natty dread, cath a fire, rebel music etc). On 'Purple Hearts' Kendrick sings: Crown on Bob Marley (known for being against western materialism), wrist on Yo Gotti (Yo Gotti is famous for spending millions on his watch collection). On the album cover, Kendrick wears a crown of thorns; a crown that is actually iced, just like Yo Gotti's wrists (gold and diamonds I presume). This iced out thorn-crown encapsulates both sides of this coin by both being a representation of his Big Steppin' complex AND his bleeding process of grief. On 'Mirror' Kendrick sings: Do yourself a favor and get a mirror that mirror grievance
Then point it at me so the reflection can mirror freedom This hints at the mirror logic of the album ('Mirror' mirrors United in Grief, Mr Morale mirrors worldwide steppers etc), but this can also be taken literally. 'Bob Marley and the Wailers' is a mirror. A mirror that mirrors grievance (wailer=griever) The Big Steppers are in fact wailers (because of trauma, daddy issues etc), wailers that are tapdancing around the conversation by N95ing it with chains, cars, hoes and whatnot. This album is ultimately about Radical Empathy and healing. Kendrick is helping not only the culture but all of us out of the box. He is literally and figuratively a chain breaker (though not your savior). We must ultimately do the work ourselves.
I have never once listened to a Kendrick Lamar album. I'm a fan of Humble and his features, like on Sidewalks, but I'd never indulged in his own music beyond the big hits or hearing some of good kid m.A.A.d. city playing in the car. In fact, I still haven't listened to any of those albums. But I did listen to Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers. And then I listened to it again, then two more times. Then I realised it was one of my favourite albums I've ever heard, and a surprising one. It's 18 songs long, but so listenable, and they all feel like they belong, they don't feel like they're shoved in there to make the album look more full. I barely know anything about him, yet I still felt like I was getting the full story in every song. I feel like I understand every lyric more and more. Auntie Dairies? Superb song. Amazing self-reflection on his own biases especially regarding his past and how they differed from his religious experience and his current views. I'm *almost* a gay man, and hearing his own take of how he used to say homophobic slurs all the time as a kid, vs. how he reacted to the white girl who said the n word while rapping to his song on stage, and how he thought he was indifferent to words like that and their intentionless use, but it turns out he wasn't, but now he's trying to be, and just how that all came together, beautiful. Words do not describe it. And no, I don't care that he used "the word" because, like the review said, he didn't use it in any negative way, he used it to empower a change of view in his primary audience, to relate their own homophobia and transphobia and convince them with his own stories to change the way they see those things, not by force, but by an empathetic relation, to say that he did those things, too
@@Cornincarnate After extensive listening, I only like five songs from TPAB. Wesley’s Theory, These Walls, King Kunta, Alright, and The Blacker The Berry. I’m not a fan of TPAB’s instrumentals
One of the best insults ever is "div". It's a British word that comes from "divider", the lowest job at British penitentiaries where a person puts cardboard dividers into boxes. Totally unrelated to the album, but I thought you might like it.
I was really not expecting an album I would connect to in such a personal level from Kendrick. I am in a very transitional part of my life where I am really figuring out who I am and what I truly want while processing traumas that I have been through. Hell I just started going to therapy about a month before this album came out. Kendrick relieving himself of the pressures put on him (albeit willingly) and choosing to focus on himself and his family really resonated with me. Being a first generation hispanic-american and just my nature of being very empathic and giving myself to others, I realize, has taken a toll on my mental health and personal happiness. I wanted to be the figure for those around me to look up to and be the person others can come to for help/advice, I thought I had my shit figured out. I graduated with my Masters, have expectations to do more but I currently do not want it, the guilt from feeling like I am letting down others who believed in me is something I am currently working on. That last song just hits me like a ton a bricks, "Sorry I couldn't save the world my friend, I was too busy building mine again" "I choose me, I'm sorry". Don't want to leave this comment on a sad note, I am very hopeful that I will figure this shit out and that it will lead me to a more fulfilling and happy life but its just wild how connected I felt to Kendrick's message to where I am in my life right now. Hope it helps other people out as well.
the analogy of kendrick just soaring over our expectations like michael jordan, my mind immediately went to thinking of that scene in winning time! crazy that you actually used it. glad we’re on the same page professor😂 love the videos man this channel is probably my favorite on all of youtube!
You could say that as "Oprah-him" (I'm actually latina so I don't know too much about these two figures but I know that they are doing good to humans all over the world) This album review really makes me want to pursue poetry the Kendrick Lamar-way. I've listen to HUMBLE, All the Stars and a few from To Pimp a Butterfly. But I toon the time to listen to all the songs from this album and it was so worth it Awesome video!
I agree with you with that it's better to be a humanist than a activist. Activist tend to expose and highlight the differences in opinions political views religious dogma. A humanist tends to highlight what makes us all human and connect us. It transcends all those things that I mentioned previously.
May seem odd, but for me the album cover immediately evokes the iconic image of Malcolm X looking out the window with an AK-47. And Kendrick’s crown of thorns seems more a symbol of martyrdom than a Christ-like figure specifically. Just my two cents. Really enjoyed your review 👍
The necessity of Auntie Diaries is exemplified by RUclips hip-hop mega star and resident loser NoLifeShaq's reaction, wherein he freaked out over Kendrick saying "my auntie is a man now" and said "stop saying it". You don't need to look it up to know that he wasn't talking about the f slur.
Homo- and transphobia are alive and well in macho hip-hop culture. Standing against it would be tremendously uncool and I applaud Kendrick for standing against it.
I'm sad to hear that. I didn't know who he was before I watched his Heart Pt. 5 video reaction. He was clearly suppressing his feelings, outwardly denying ("I never cry!"), but I still enjoyed the video. I hope he takes the content of this album in earnest on repeated listens.
@@amberray5961 as recently as September 2018, Eminem (best selling rapper of all time) called Tyler the creator the f slur. It wasn't overheard at a club or anything either, it was in a single. Then you had the DaBaby thing like last year, which saw a bunch of rappers like TI jump to his defense saying "people like Lil Nas X can tell their truth, and DaBaby can tell his too" (paraphrase). DaBaby also doubled down on those statements a little later, referring to himself as the best live performer at the time.
I’ve revisited this video quite a bit and it feels more potent and on point each time. Thank you for sharing your perspective on this art. It helps me greatly to understand and connect with the themes and in reality it’s tremendously important. Kendrick is teaching radical empathy, humanism, fatherhood, self knowledge, and responsible militance all through great music and hopefully it’s not lost on us viewers that you do the same through brilliant engaging commentary. This connects deeply with me so truly, thank you.
I’m always excited to see you’ve posted, and especially so about this album. I’m a trans person and found Auntie Diaries really really challenging to listen to and confront. While hearing a hip hop heavyweight like Kendrick even mention transgender people in a non mocking, non belligerent tone was truly amazing and brought me to tears, the callousness with which it felt like he was disrespecting these close family members really hurt. If someone like Kendrick, someone so well spoken and kind and self aware thinks this about trans people he’s close to, how would he feel about a stranger like me? How would the average listener of this album feel about someone like me? The more I’ve listened to it though, the more I felt that this song lines up with a major theme of the rest of the album regarding unabashed truth, and individual responsibility for the hurt he’s caused. He knows that using the wrong pronouns or names for his uncle and cousin is wrong now, he knows that saying f*ggot is wrong now, but didn’t when he was young. I think the fact that it’s called Auntie DIARIES is integral to this, this is his reflection on his mindset as a young person, and him showing the growth he’s achieved since, and the growth he yet has to pursue. This is what genuine allyship looks like in my opinion, it’s owning your mistakes, being honest about your journey, about your growth, and about the things you still struggle with. Hope all that made sense. On a completely unrelated note, it’s nice to hear you’re a fellow Bostonian!
Man..that was so eloquently crafted. Big props and yea I understand that discomfort, for sure And it def isn't our fault or others who do feel re-traumatised And I'm not going to say every trans person has to go through the same metamorphic change on how they feel about the song It's okay to never like or appreciate it But to say that's its objectively bad for this or that reason? Nah that's not a case that can be made It's not a mandatory listen for trans ppl for sure, like nth is But to say that it's bad for everyone is kind of surface level judgement As you said it IS like a diary that shows progression of his words When he shifted to the present POV he says "f bomb" And for those who are like "well he says it at the end too!" That was him quoting his cousin, and I'm sure she didn't want the power taken out of that quote by censoring half of it It only hits when you hear both parts, that was the point of the quote
thank you, drake, for having poked kendrick resulting in the biggest hip hop beef ever which led me to discover this wonderful channel. binge watching your videos currently and everything you say is enriching. i appreciate your thoughts and wisdom and am looking forward to see what else is on your channel! coming back to this album after the beef, it really makes sense why kendrick despises drake so much, or at least sees him as problematic to the culture. Kendrick has beaten his demons, his transgenerational traumas, has grown out of his nurture and toxic surroundings to become the man he is today. Meanwhile Drake, who lived a fairly sheltered life, entertains all the toxic parts of the culture and utilizes them to create an image of himself that he presents as "ideal". While Kendrick tries to redeem himself and be an example to (black) culture, Drake does the opposite and presents the idea of feeding your inner complexes and traumas. Giving in. Distracting yourself with chains, cars, affairs, money, power. Drake, who most likely suffered a lot from his upbringing with a deadbeat father and an insecure racial identity, chose to confront his inner conflicts with distraction. Kendrick appealed to his audience to confront these problems with healing, self-reflection and change. Drake perpetuates the traumatic cycle while Kenny tries to break it. In that regard, even if it was filthy and wicked, it makes sense for Kendrick to talk to Adonis and Drake's (supposedly) hidden daughter. Telling them that they're better than that. To break the generational cycle. It makes sense for Kendrick to focus on the angle of Drake being a bad father/role model.
I know I'm late for this and you probably won't even notice this comment (and, even if you do, I'm sure you've read so many texts like the one I am about to write, but anyway). But I still felt the need to state my apreciation for you and your analyses with you and all he people that might be reading this. I, like you and every other viewer of your channel, absolutely love music (especially hip-hop, especially kendrick...). And everytime I watch your videos I can feel your passion just by seeing you talk about it in such a way that brings me so much joy and peace when I'm stressed out or something. Yet I don't think that's the main reason for my deep love for your videos, or rather, I don't think it's the only reason for it. What I have truly come to realize instead is, everything else. Everything else but the music, that you bring up in order to justify and explain your interpretation, nly helps me love even more the music itself. Every single thing you bring up in order to put into the context of an album, every single book you recommend, every single philospher and niche french terms you reference. It is all so fascinating to watch and, most importantly, those aspects of your essays, become essential to my interpretation and appreciation for whatever piece of art you may be talking about. And that is probably because I also have a huge interest for arts&humanities, philosophy and linguistics. And I just cann't help but to be in awe with your skill for intertextualizing and analysing art. It's all just absolutely marvelous to watch unravell. Furthermore, I think this is the best example of this. And I am to busy to write why and what I love specifically about this video (in the same way you didn't go fully into the lyrics and rhyme schemes in this album), mainly because of it's density. Also, I'm afraid I've already lost you by this time with this insanely long comment. So I'm gonna go ahead and wrap it up: Thank you professor Skye, please keep it going! I couldn't be more thankful for all your work, AVAA! PS: love from Portugal!
You're quickly becoming my favorite reviewer. The way your reviews are kind of this all encompassing discussion, with slice of life anecdotes on one hand and philosophy and literature on the other - its simply very interesting to listen to and creates an experience I haven't really encountered elsewhere.
So I finally finished the whole video!!! I found you with the review of tyler Baudelaire ❤️😍😍 And you are absolutely a treasure and a gift!!!!! And I'm going back to read and listen to everything you mentioned in this video I'm a fellow Christian who more than 100% believes and agrees with EVERYTHING you said In this video!!! I especially love you one sided convo in defending why you as a white person often talk about black trauma and you just believing it!!! It's not enough words to describe how amazing that was; tre mag nee fit! (Please critique me on how to correctly type that phrase lol) But I just also wanted to ALERT YOU, f.d signifier is also one of myyyy favorite you tubers And he actually went into a bit of depth already on black boy trauma and sexualization in the 2 videos. 1 was the one about black athletes being exploited And 2) the one where he discusses will smith... that one may be on his b sides Chanel Just wanted to let you know! Please continue your amazingness Beyond outstanding review!!
I came here for a breakdown on an album i haven't had rhe chance to listen too yet , and not even halfway through im confronting the issues ive been trying to get past this whole year. Thank you Sir, and thank you Kendrick
You’re my fav music reviewer on RUclips. Very nuisanced perspective (in a good way) being a white dad French professor with extensive knowledge on language and art who just found a new passion in hip hop. I love it, keep it up. It’s nice having new perspective
as a young trans person, auntie diaries meant a lot to me and while it’s not perfect it’s a huge step and i’m really glad kendrick spoke up when he didn’t have to at all
agree and it definitely wasn't meant to be perfect either. it's an honest story of how Kendrick came to terms with his views on trans people and how common transphobia is throughout his upbringing. while he's never been a full on transphobe, we can see how his understanding came to be, through how he correctly and misgendered his uncle (misgendered on a childhood perspective but correctly gendered his uncle on his mother's quote and adult perspective, etc)
I was just replacing some LEGO pieces on 2 models while listening you for the first time, been meaning to get around to it for a while, had the replacements prepped but didn't want to look up the model for reference to fix them for quite some time. They were 2 N-95 Star Wars ships I got in a lot last year, and when you mentioned the name of the song N-95, my weird synchronicity alarm started going off like crazy. I'm also wearing new wireless headphones I was given that allowed me to walk away from my computer to the shelves with the N-95s. It wasnt around the time I did this 5 minute task, it was right towards the end. Hope you enjoyed my little story of how the phrase as common as ' N-95 ' can connect strangers in some quantum thing that makes me wanna go to bed. edit - I also dont even listen to Kendrick Lamarm, this video came up after I watched yr black midi video. pps - Boston Bruins Baby!
Love it. Also love Star Wars Lego, at least with my kids. (Perhaps they are Z-95 starfighters). On top of all those coincidences, one of my ancestors fought in the battle of Bunker Hill, but I’ve never even been to the monument.
@@professorskye update - some kids tried to jump me for my trek bike about an hour after that post. I listened to the album and your review again t. All great stuff. Dunno how I slept on kendrick. Thanks for responding to my weird post, I'll be tuning in
I'd like to touch upon Auntie Diaries a bit, it's honestly one of my favorite Kendrick songs because it's him "choosing humanity over religion" it's him truly accepting trans and gay people, not tolerate, not in a way that acknowledges the struggles, but he looks at his family members and truly accepts them for who they are, as people, not as trans people, but as people who's thoughts, emotions and feelings are all true and meaningful. He's not saying "Guys you shouldn't be homophobic because their people and you have to nice to them" he's saying "Fuck the expectations of society, there's nothing wrong with being trans, these people don't deserve the same respect as others because they're people, they deserve respect because are no different than others." Kdot's Acceptance is including them into the view of the world, that they're not trans people, they're just people. "Acceptance" is saying that because trans people are humans that they deserve to be treated the same as others. Also on him using the f-slur, I'm gay, he can say it whenever wherever. I think Kendrick can say it not because I like him, not because he's making a point, but because he knows that slurs are used to degrade people who society sees as lesser, I am almost certain he doesn't use it in his daily language not because he's straight, but because he doesn't see gay people as lesser, he doesn't say it for the same reason you don't insult people, because you don't want to insult them, not because you can't call someone a dipshit, because you don't want to be rude to them. Yes context is important and slurs are generally top on the insult latter but my point is that he said himself, fuck political correctness, fuck whatever guidelines the other side (from the church) made for what is rude or not, it's not okay to generalize and vilify people, and it not okay to generalize and vilify language and the people who use it. LGBTQ+ rights is conversation between 2 ignorant sides, a side who vilifies innocent people because they don't understand them, and a side who is filled with people who think that they're "right" for thinking people deserve to not be prosecuted for no reason. Yes this is a vast generalization and it more representative of loud minorities and not of the opinions of normal people, normal people are just like "yea I don't really care, they can do their own thing" which is fine but I'm talking about the people who discuss it, the people who try to influence others, who fight with each other. There *should* be no reason that one should be revolted by hearing someone sing faggot, it's a word, people have set expectations of it's use but that is different from it's reality. Political correctness is just vilifying language, giving guidelines who can and cannot say words. Everyone can say faggot, I agree with you, if you feel that saying a slur can benefit your point than say it, like how I am right now to challenge the uncomfort about seeing the f-word. But I am a hypocrite, I'm not saying the n-word, I'm not saying the words that I "can't" say because there are reasons why you don't. The same reasons why you didn't say the f-word, we live surrounded by social barriers, we've made vast generalizations of right and wrong because we have to, I can't learn about every person I meet and truly explore and understand their opinions on topics to see if they're using a word for positive change or harm. As much as people *should* be able to say words, life is complicated, there are multiple reasons why you shouldn't and curtsy is one of them, just because you can, doesn't mean you should. If everyone wasn't racist, then there would be no one using the n-word to be racist, but because people are, you don't say it to show that you're aren't a horrible people.
I've often felt that you were too distanced from the culture to really understand the material you were listening to in the past, but I think you really got this one... which speaks both to your evolution as a consumer of this material and to Kendrick's evolution and mastery as an artist, as he's finally made an album about the Black experience that is universally relatable, and the key was just focusing on the universal aspects of human messiness and the urgency of our need to heal. I really enjoyed your insights and the academic references and anecdotes you pulled in. Comparing this album to Balzac actually makes a whole lot of sense, since this album is basically a play (each of his albums was a different medium: Section.80 was a book with chapters, GKMC was "a short film by Kendrick Lamar," TPAB was a journal, DAMN. was mainstream mass media, and this one is a stage play).
this is one of the main channels that have inspired me to work on my own video scripts, some of my favorite album breakdowns here, really good channel!
I don’t think I would appreciate this much at all if I hadn’t experienced my first loss-of-a-friend a few months ago (I’m 19) Humanity and empathy really are what the album is about and although I didn’t know it, I do need the encouragement the album offers to embody that empathy and humanity. I think I have a lot to learn from this record. Thank you for such a personal review.
the flows on Worldwide Steppers make it one of my favorite kendrick songs ever, no one is even thinking about doing what he’s done on this record, flow wise. He may have lost his fast ball but he invented 15 other pitches.
I liked this record the first time, but I like it even more after the weekend. Kendrick totally upended expectations to make this record, and that just makes me like him even more.
Only 15 minutes in so far, but I think I can speak for most of us by saying that we definitely ride for the long form reviews. I was personally very happy to see the runtime.
Thank you for posting this video and talking about your experience with therapy. It gave me the courage to talk with my parents about my upbringing, and come to a greater understanding through pushing our boundaries and making new ones to abide by. I've always had a feeling that I needed to do it, but I didn't know how to approuch the topic with them. Thank you, and especially thanks to Kendrick for making the album in the first place.
I cannot emphasise how good worldwide steppers is it feels like a silent anxiety attack. Its prolly my favourite song (not the best song) on the album so w take
I was floored when I first heard this album..the album was so raw and complex yet beautiful. When I came across your review, I had to hear your perspective breaking it down. Thank you for this. I loved it.
To me it STILL feels almost impossible that someone with the moral curiosity, the vulnerabilities, the self-awareness, the empathy, the FLAWS - all of these unquantifiable things - is a RAPPER, especially one who can reach, even appeal to people who like the more stereotypical aspects of hiphop culture, with all the ugliness and the traps that surround it. If the person with these qualities was a writer say, a sculptor, or a visual artist/painter, a philosopher, a classical musician, it would seem much more fitting. But no. He's a rapper. That is his biggest talent. Kendrick is not just great using / manipulating words - he is a VERY effective communicator because he conveys emotional depth, complexity and range, better than ANY rapper / MC I can think of - and he uses it to be a unifier, a healer to some extent, a lighthouse to self emancipation. "I belong to the warrior in whom the old ways have joined the new" (last samurai, when Algren gets the sword) KDot is not just leaving the "old" culture behind, he's carrying it with him while exploring other places, ideas and concepts.
i love the journey this video takes us, from your personal stories tying into kendrick's own narrative. just a great experience. thank you for that, much love from Brazil. 💕
Whats really interesting in the discussion of kendrick's new album is people thinking, "he could have delivered his message better without the use of slurs". My rebuttal to that statement is this. Kendrick is arguably the best lyricist of this generation. He has good command of the English language. People thinking his lyrics, use of imagery in the album and delivery style wasn't well thought out is just lazy thinking to me. In a world rife with political correctness, he chose to deliver his message in the way he thought was best and to hell with the backlash. Now as far as those marginalized communities feeling slighted, he's gonna deal with the criticism regardless. This is his art. His medium of expression. Watered down,politically correct delivery negates art.
I think without the slur the conversation wouldnt be as big as it is now. To me it feels like he exactly started what he wanted. Due to the use of the slur people see how hurtful the word can be. I hear enough people talk about how they didnt even know it was a slur, just a swear word.
also if he watered it down and was politically correct he would be a hypocrite to the verse on Savior “Bite they tongues in rap lyrics scared to be crucified about a song but they won’t admit it. Politically correct is how you keep an opinion”
NGL idk if it’s uncommon but I absolutely loved this album on first listen, and am excited to grow with it. I’m at a point in life with a lot of mixed emotions, change, loneliness, hope, grief, depression, excitement, and struggling to cope with my mental health, my neurodivergent condition, and my childhood conditioning. My sexual and relational conditioning. And my need to get back to therapy. My sexuality and gender. And everything in this album connects with me either at least somewhat or to an extremely personal degree.
I'm at the 16:14 time mark. Before I watched your video, I thought about the title and what it could mean. I did learn of moral morale's French origin. I feel like this is fate or something. I knew there had to be a deeper meaning to the title. I assumed the big steppers was alluding to the financial or corporate ladder.
I’m probably reading way too much into the cover art, but when you started comparing it to “Madonna and Child” it got me thinking. In “Madonna and Child” Jesus is looking out towards the viewer of the painting. This could be interpreted as being because Christ’s sacrifice was meant for all of humanity and the world in general. By contrast, on the Mr. Morale cover art, Kendrick is faced away from the viewer and towards his family. This could mean that his personal sacrifices going forward will be for his family first.
i wrote a long ass paragraph quoting zizek and shit but it got deleted. but whatever i appreciate your coverage a lot. you definitely helped me connect some new dots about the theme of this album. also the insight on kendrick being a humanist is spot on.
Kendrick releasing this album where he has therapy sessions with Tolle right after I finish the book The power of Now and hearing Tolle tell him about things like the pain body at the beginning of the interlude savior, is a sign to me.... Of what I do not know 😂😂😂
First person I’ve seen to connect the similarities to Psychodrama by Dave. He obviously draws some ideas and points of view from Dave, who is such a great young talent from the UK.
I was left very emotional by your discussion of Auntie Diaries because, as a trans woman who loves rap, I agree that this song is necessary. It’s crass, it’s genuinely upsetting to hear, and there’s a conversation to be had about Kendrick’s trans family members being utilized in this way ultimately just to say that trans people are people too. But that’s where we are culturally, so at this point in time, Auntie Diaries serves a societal good. Moving on, I see your point about distinguishing between using or saying a word, but I think it doesn’t make a difference how you categorize the uttering of a slur. I don’t take issue with Kendrick’s use of the F slur in this song. It’s inconsequential considering, like you said, its greater purpose. But there’s no equating the F and N slur. I don’t see any scenario where a person who isn’t Black saying the N slur would have a greater purpose. I’d imagine you agree though, which is why you spoke about it hypothetically. All in all, thank you for always putting out these fantastic analyses. Seeing artists like Billy Woods and Mach-Hommy critiqued by someone as yourself makes my day.
@dreaonline The N word has been used for a greater purpose especially in art and literature, and especially when exploring historical and fictional narratives dealing with race, for decades now.
YES! I WAITED FOR THIS! I didn’t want hear any opinions from anyone else on RUclips or even my own friends! I stayed up all Friday night into Saturday morning taking in the album and when it hit me hard at 2 something AM. I couldn’t wait to hear what my Prof had to say about this high level Art! Continuation Edit: Just finished watching this video and this is just amazing. Everything I expected and more! Thank you Prof! Just wanted to add based off my many listens and view: If you listen to it disc 2 first and then disc 1 … it actually flows better. Him starting in therapy… ‘Count me out’ Whitney says “session 10” To me, That’s the real start of the album.. The actual album title… Which The second half is literally titled Mr Morale (It’s in the tracklisting) is all focus on him (Kendrick)“internal” …And the first half is the Big steppers (also in the tracklisting) is the world outside of him “external“. I see this as after therapy. And Purple Hearts concluding the entire conversation or confession. The beat/instrumentation of the song even sounds like the ending of a show to movie.
Best album review for this 'masterpiece' I've seen so far 🎉 great breakdown and takes. Definitely an iconic album that's made to help heal/grow and it's so necessary.
I am so glad I have found your channel because your review/reaction is quite frankly the most accurate account of what I believe Kendrick was trying to tell us in every single song to the length degree, I continue to watch you beautifully master the breakdown of each track and the educational component you give to you audience and the rawness of current events and self awareness. I still to this day listen to this album from start to finish once a week, minimum. And while I cry through most of them because Kendrick's profound ability to impact those who truly HEAR what he is saying, when you spoke to Mother I Sober, I was crying right along with you. Those who heard that song, truly heard it like myself cannot help but shed tears on the impact of this incredibly difficult and yet life altering and beautiful song, this body of work is not of this earth. To that I say, there is a reason Kendrick Lamar is the only rap artist to have a Pulitzer Prize. What a beautiful job you've done in this review, you have a fan forever.
This album really spoke to me, so much that it's in my top 3 of his work, i could relate to so much of it and literally have just been starting to see a psychiatrist and was diagnosed with complex PTSD, i have just walked around with these horrible feelings thinking something was just wrong with me and i just needed to "man up" and thinking PTSD was for people that had been in war, until i read about the symptoms and ticked every box so now I'm also dealing with past trauma and having to see experts to hopefully get me working optimally, i really loved Father Time and Mother I Sober specifically and also Auntie Diaries, such an amazing album.
Best albums of the year thus far: 1. Black Country New Road - Ants From Up There 2. Gang of Youths - Angel In Realtime 3. The Smile - A Light For Attracting Attention
I don't know if I already mentioned this on you your videos I've been watching and commenting on a lot of your videos today. But if you like this Kendrick Lamar album sonically. If you haven't heard the Outkast Aquemini album you should check it out. How you said this Kendrick Album is futuristic. That outkast album is over 15 years old and it had these same type of weird blends of sounds to hip hop track very much ahead of it time.album. It went over a lot of people's heads cuz it was so different. A lot of the outkast fans wasn't too keen on them evolving their sound seem like initially.
48:07 watching this post beef. People theorized that N95 could’ve been a covert Drake diss and the lyrics in the first verse can make this plausible. The fact that you mentioned “Take Off” was Canadian slang just adds to the layer of a potential diss. I know Kendrick probably didn’t plan that but that fact that it just so happen to line up (same way ppl mentioned the different meanings of 6:16) Kendricks really good at somehow tying in layers to his lyrics.
Incredibly well thawed out review sir. You actually listened intently to what Kendrick was saying all over the album. Although I am also white. And I am from the UK! I related to loads on this album. From certain parts of Trauma, mistakes, regrets, trying to be better, self reflection and choosing myself. Which I done recently and it's changed my life!
April we had billy woods Aethiopes…….. And I think that it’s actually somewhat analogous to Kendrick’s album, billy woods talks about the generational trauma of the colonization of Africa by European nations, but more distant and zoomed out. Almost scientifically, as he never shows his face. Kendrick is doing the same thing in an artistic or religious way. Edit: I think they are actually good companion records the more I listen to both. Plus the iconography, vivid imagery of woods lyrics and the idea of reconciling the trauma you, or a population, went through is a theme in both. The come to different conclusions I think, at least on how to deal with the trauma but that’s the interesting part of their similar themes. woods is a very cynical person (from what I gain from his projects, I’ve been listening since 2012), he looks at the problems macroscopically, somewhat detached from it. It’s very academic in a lot of ways. Kendrick is artistic, creative, and emotional which is an equally valid way of approaching at least the theme that ties them together. I wish Universities around me had like a hip-hop literary criticism course or minor. It’s definitely the most important American music and literary movements to have come about.
Yep, Billy Wood is definitely more academic based on his mother's background in his lyrics. Kendrick is more personal about specifics and details. Neither are better or worse.
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as a trans woman who cried her eyes out to auntie diaries i am absolutely in your camp regarding it. it's so raw and kind, it makes me sad to see how people have twisted it.
as someone who's transgender, my take away from the song is Kendrick is purposefully using the slur he knows to be harmful because he wants the usage of these slurs to be more normally criticized.
in a sense, he isnt just saying he'll be anyones savior - he's actually being a savior. he's sacrificing his image and his song to be criticized by design, especially by a community that is historically been extremely anti-LGBTQ+, and in that sense he helps move the culture forward and progresses their minds and thoughts.
thats just my opinion tho.
Yes, you’re correct. I’m glad you see it this way. He used the slurs and derogatory language to reach his target audience. Black men. In the black community, especially where he is from in Compton, the culture is riddled in gang violence and toxic masculinity. He grew up in “Bompton” which is the Piru Blood gang side of Compton. His closest friends are Piru Bloods. Being homophobic and transphobic is the norm. Trans black women are killed at higher rates than any demographic in America. So he was using that language to make the target audience invoke feelings of regret and sadness. But they have indeed twisted it. It’s a shame. Kendrick is a true artist who showed maturity and growth as a man with this album. From a man who grew up with gang ties, toxic beliefs, witnessed murders in the street, to becoming the type of black man who he is today is incredible. He is truly a one of a kind type of artist.
As a black person I understand when the N word needs to be used. If you write a book placed in 1920 with black, and white characters , except the N word to be used. it would be unrealistic,and it wouldn't help anybody's cause. Harsh reality is the only reality
''where is your uncle at, cause i want to talk to the man of the house'' - Drake
My take on the song is Kendrick describing his uncle before and after their transition. Kendrick uses those “misgenderings” because when he says “she” Kendrick knew his uncle as she, and when he said “he” it’s when he knew his uncle after his transition. I beleiev your point stands as well. I just think Kendrick wanted to emphasize how confusing the transition was for him being a his uncles nephew. That’s my opinion on it. Kendrick is helping the listeners feel his confusion.
Having sex at the end of cry together is him neglecting and tap dancing around the conversation. Instead of talking about their problems they end up having sex. The sex is integral imo
Damn! You’re right. Good catch,
@@professorskye his wife literally says “stop stepping around the problem” at the end of the song after the sound of tap dancing (signifying sex as a distraction, evasion of the root problems)
@Hasan Piker ... Hasan what are you doing here
It’s also referencing the movies baby boy and poetic justice
@@professorskye also in terms of being a “big stepper” it’s likely a reference to the tap dancing around dealing with your problems, around your emotions and the finding ways to deal with those things. So the Big Steppers is the audience that he’s trying to reach he’s purposefully included the audience in the title of the album
if my professor was this chill i’d never miss class
Allegedly
So true. They don't teach us modern material. Its all old stuff that's hard to connect to
2 minutes in and giving proper praise to "Crown." Yup, time to listen to the full 94 minutes 🤘
Love how you spread the love in you’re reaction community bro 🤘🏽🤘🏽🤘🏽
One of my favorite songs
True. Crown is at the absolute core of what Kendrick is conveying through this album.
Here after the Drake and Kendrick beef. Your recent video was amazing and I came back to see this one. Well done
Exactly what im doing.. his analysis of the beef was beautiful and i saw he did this.. after this one im going to listen to every album review
Especially since his thumbnail to certified lover boy says “drake is just strangee”
@@ytho8245 you won’t be disappointed
^
Same
IMO White people talking about black trauma, Can be viewed in two ways sympathy (acknowledging someone else's pain.) And Empathy (choosing to feel the pain with them) But I’ve come to learn that Trauma knows no boundaries between black and white and Empathy through relatable trauma’s whether black or white draws the connection.
Thank you for creating a platform like this for healthy conversations 🙌🏾💜
Along with black trauma, mexican americans go through much of the same struggle in nearly every modern-day facet. Kendrick is wearing the same outfit as the kids in American Me. Tan waist high khakis and an ironed, tucked in white shirt. California outlawed slavery as it had already been outlawed in Mexico before it was taken by the US. I can almost guarantee Kendrick has been approached at some point in his life by mexican gangsters in a negative manner or has known somebody who had problems with them. My best friend whose black would always get fucked with first when cholos were around. That is because prison gang culture established racial boundaries that permeated through the streets and even mixed families may not associate in prison based on physical features and it’s taught to BG’s, Pee Wees, and tiny locs by OG’s who are released. That’s institutionalization. Snoop Dogg’s verse in Lil Ghetto Boy touches on this.
@tamikabell6575 This is such a beautiful comment. I’m a white woman and have a diagnosis of Complex PTSD (the consequence of childhood abuse). You’re right that trauma knows no boundaries. We all need to have more love and understanding for one another, and empathy for how difficult the HUMAN experience can be.
@@GBuaccc Nothing to add, just wanted to say this is a great comment. It’s something I had considered, but it’s nice to see it spelled out so neatly.
Trauma can (oftentimes is, depending on the specific kind of trauma + the individuals involved) easily be a barrier itself - besides any racial factors
If one of the people is able to see/acknowledge the trauma of the other, then yes, I agree with the above
I love how you stopped Toby from tap dancing around the conversation
I love that u don't do a 1-hour review just to talk about production, lyrics, and the instruments bla bla bla.. but more to tell stories and connect the listener to the album and help them to have their own understanding.. and also the books' suggestions and talking about literature is always my fav part.. I really respect what ur doing here sir! Kendrick is a genius and so are you, and this is probably the best album review that I ever watched!
Just the best. This is the only reviewer that I watch the same reviews multiple times. This channel scratches an itch that nothing else can scratch.
So u rather hear a music reviewer not talk about MUSIC? Lol
@@josephschmizzo1595 i mean… you can just LISTEN to the music
Or do you need someone else’s opinion to form your own?
@@zotanica thats an impressive irrational reach...like you pulling that out of your ass as a response to what i said is pretty mindblowing.
@@ivyvisions1 so they like bad reviews by ppl who dont kno wat theyre talkn about…
Got it.
We’re all mourning, or ‘grieving’ the death of ‘Kendrick Lamar’. Kendrick Lamar, after having been crammed into the saviour figure archetype of our culture throughout the last ten years, has created a non-dualist album in which he has given us the honest fruits of his meditation practice and experience. He’s rapping about Kendrick Lamar from the perspective of someone who is in the process of letting go of the entire concept of Kendrick Lamarness. Our culture may have wanted another album written from inside the ‘matrix’, or the ‘ego’, or ‘samsara’, from inside ‘Kendrick Lamar’ even, but Kendrick, having found the spiritual path has done what every good spiritual teacher must do: drop the illusion they have created, turning the light onto themselves, freeing themselves and everyone else from clinging to the idea that they’re in any way special or superior. Many people will feel deflated after listening to Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers, but as Chogym Trungpa Rimpoche said: enlightenment is the ego’s final disappointment, and I think that we have been somewhat freed from the myth of the saviour in a way that music has never before managed to accomplish.
I put this comment on a couple of videos, but I think it’s most at home here.
Beautiful
🙌🏾💜
I love this
This is a beautiful analysis
I completely agree with your take on Auntie Diaries. Kendrick is using politically incorrect language to meaningfully reach his target audience.
Yup, this album really points out the people who hear music and the ones who LISTEN.
@@chrilborn4138 very true
Spot on
@@chrilborn4138 exactly! I've been having this conversation since Friday.
@@chrilborn4138 Or the people more affected by the "politically incorrect" (dehumanizing) language being used.
All about perspective, glad the target audience had a song they could get and approach and learn from.
Less glad it's at the cost of the alienation of others. I forgot the definition of irony, but it seems to apply here.
I’ll keep this short and sweet.
This album is the most important album in the past 10 years. It’s beautiful, complex, and needed.
My reaction to this album ended in a 4 hour video lol.
I chopped into half’s and it’s on the way, but I feel like it’s not enough at all.
I hope people keep breaking this album down over time. It’s an instant classic and masterpiece is not a wasted word here.
Thanks for posting here. It led me to your channel. Looking forward to your full review. 4 hours sounds about right!
@@professorskye I’ll have part two up tonight, but I appreciate your insight on Auntie Diaries. I think that anyone who truly understands the issue and listens to the song will come up with similar conclusions.
Thanks for your reaction as well! Definitely hit the subscribe button.
Started watching your reviews after catching the latest Kendrick disses. Your stuff is incredible, and I plan on watching a lot more. Please continue analysis like this!
I hate saying "as a black person" online, but as a black person I value your perspective.
As an African American listener, from Los Angeles, I feel the importance of the white perspective is to have something to compare ideologies. It's connecting culturally, educationally (both from institution and that of the surroundings) and emotionally, finding the empathy and not just sympathizing during times of atrocity in minority communities. I appreciate your perspective Professor, for giving another literary angle that those who have read black activists and cultural literature before can understand. Gaining perspective is something I want to personally work on, so I thank you again for your take on cultural snapshots.
The album and attempt at expressing very human battles, vices, experiences was that of someone who just knows there's more than just self. even more than family. Community and togetherness as a whole, really seeing our problems and speaking about those problems directly was the purpose.
I hope to push for change in my community, at my college, in my home because if I don't, who will?
Politicians will the colonisers
Wow. The best thing about this beef is discoving your channel AVAA. It's like a free college class. You treat music like the art that it is
Powerful.
And I don’t mind yt ppl speaking about black trauma, for 1. I can’t control conversations outside myself and 2. talking, expressing, communicating, conversing is necessary for any level of imagination, empathy, and maybe understanding of any subject.
Thank you skye for this one 🙏🏾
I do not understand why people didnt like it first listen. This album was probably my best first listen in many years
I did not understand that either I am still listening it’s soooooo good
For me, at first i was a little disappointed because i mistakenly had expectations. When he & baby keem dropped “family ties” he said “smoking on your top 5 tonight” so i was expecting a more aggressive snatch the rap crown type album. Unlike some i was able to appreciate it on 2nd listen with my expectations cleared & a better understanding of the aims of the album. Since then it’s been my favorite because theres no other album i know of that is therapeutic in the way this one is. So i think most people that don’t like it are expecting either a previous version of a kendrick, their own projected direction of where they expected him to go next, or expected something similar to other artists they typically prefer (like for example some drake fans may quickly skip over anything that doesn’t sound like a radio hit type song)
This is my favorite Kendrick Lamar album. He touched my soul with this one.
This is quite the year for hip hop Evolving as an art form. Considering Billy Woods, Denzel Curry and Kendrick Lamar. I am very excited about the growth of the genre.
Its been a hell of a year!
Don't forget about Black Thought, he's gonna drop, Quelle Chris dropped and amazing album
Black Star too but most haven't heard it cuz its exclusive.
@@traplover6357 i appreciate them as well, but that shit got me irate B R O T H E R
Sadistik x Kno also made a great album and they're being slept on! Give them a listen. "Bring me back when the world is cured"
"Except for when i went to Japan and everyone believed I was Brad Pitt because I was white"
The best day of Brad Pitt's life is the day multiple groups of Japanese people mistook Professor Skye for him.
I think we need to give Whitney her due as well. She mentioned getting therapy after his infidelity. That's a strong empathetic woman right there. She's a humanist too.
Thank you. I found your channel as a result of the Drake/Kendrick beef and have been enjoying your other videos since. This is the most impactful one I’ve watched so far (also really liked your (GloRilla video). As a young man (33) who’s still trying to figure himself out and didn’t receive any of this kind of insight in my upbringing…I didn’t know I needed this video today, but I did. You put growing up in a way that is so succinct and I’ve never heard it put this way before. I started therapy some months ago and cannot wait to share your list of how to become a man with my therapist. It’s perfectly worded and I really appreciate you sharing it. Thank you :)
Avaa 🙏
Good luck with therapy. There will be hard and low moments along the way, but it will be the BEST thing that you ever gift to yourself. You are going to grow and heal in extraordinary ways. x
@@pimmspimms5462 thank you 🙏
I'm 33 now and in a worse position than I was at 22. You are not alone in trying to figure things out. We will both get there for sure.
this is my favorite album of all time, imo the best album of all time and it itself is like a therapy session.
I rarely cry under influence of media, but this album made me cry multiple times, not just at home, but also in public spaces. the first time I heard "father time" and the lines "and to my partners who figured it out without a father I salute you, may your blessings be neutral to your toddlers" it felt like a bullet going straight through my heart. like, I have never heard sb compliment me on my personal self-accomplished growth in spite of me having an abusive (now ex-)alcoholic absent father, let alone coming from the mouth of another man. honestly, MM&TBS flipped holistically my view on fatherhood, as in it gave me appreciation and confidence I could be one myself and be proud of and safe knowing I don't have to fall for the same traps this asshole of a father I had went down for. Kendrick confesses his own sins and in turn made me confess mine to him (even tho ik he can't hear it, but he'd understand it) and to God. I still battle with the shit I have in my head, I still am very unwilling to go out there and talk to others, like therapists, etc. bcuz I am scared of being judged and so on, but he alone managed to give me a safe space where I can cuddle up and "hide in" to meditate. yk, his pressence might be preachy, but idc. he has worked for it, he deserves to be viewed as a cultural Messiah, as the champion of the people.
the last time I had such an all-caring, all-understanding, all-inspire presence of an older guiding man in my life was a priest who had baptized me (fun fact, I was the first kid he ever baptized). since then I'm still religious, I still believe and cherrish God, and so on. apparently, when given a good example, yk how to do it again.
AVAA.
After listening to this album (if this was the 70's), we would have named Kindrick a "spoken word artist." I would put him in same category with a Gil Scott Herron, Nikki Giovanni, and etc.. Good times.
Took me 2 months to get to you but I guess I was just saving the best review for last. And this turned out to be your best album review since RTJ4. As one of your faithful Black subscribers, I just want to say thank you for what you do.
Pertaining on whether kendrick is going to retire or not, there is a hip hop website called ambrosia for heads with a youtube channel of the same name that touched on the subject.
They made an almost 3 hour video dissecting MM&TBS and in that video theres journalist called Reggie who has personally known Kendrick since overly dedicated and he was the person who first reported the fact that DAMN. can be played in reverse (which kendrick later confirmed). He has a theory that the real order of the album is playing the mr morale disc first and the big steppers disc second (in the same order of the album title); making "count me out" the intro song and "purple hearts" the closing song revealing that after dealing with his traumas and recognizing he is not anyone's savior, kendrick does want to continue being a messenger for god: "if the god is the source then I am the plug walking"
Definitely a fan of this Album, I believe it’s even deeper and more complex than DAMN. Now damn was more accessible than this but it still had deeper messages, with this album I think Kendrick wanted to really express his own trauma and tribulations, not just of the people but of himself as well. You can hear it in the drive and passion of this album, with every line Kendrick is trying to portray himself, and how his true self really deals with all the issues that he talks about in his music. He’s already explained how he felt his music fell on deaf ears, and now we hear it in music form, on these tracks he’s really going into how he feels about the impact of his music, positive or negative. It’s a dichotomy there than I think people are going to overlook, just like with his past works. Hopefully this time around people really listens to what he has to say on race, trauma, religion and beliefs in one’s values and how that changes throughout life. Thank you for the review and keep the fire content coming 🔥
Wonderful video, Professor Skye
You brought up radical empathy as something central to this album, and I absolutely agree. I think this is what the world desperately needs but sadly gets too little of.
I actually think the album's title is a reference to Bob Marley and the Wailers. Unlike a 'big stepper', a wailer is someone who expresses grief or pain audibly, just like Kendrick does in this album.
I think the heart part 5 pointed to this connection with Bob Marley, not only in its overall message but also by the inclusion of his hairstyle (natty dread, cath a fire, rebel music etc).
On 'Purple Hearts' Kendrick sings:
Crown on Bob Marley (known for being against western materialism), wrist on Yo Gotti (Yo Gotti is famous for spending millions on his watch collection).
On the album cover, Kendrick wears a crown of thorns; a crown that is actually iced, just like Yo Gotti's wrists (gold and diamonds I presume). This iced out thorn-crown encapsulates both sides of this coin by both being a representation of his Big Steppin' complex AND his bleeding process of grief.
On 'Mirror' Kendrick sings:
Do yourself a favor and get a mirror that mirror grievance
Then point it at me so the reflection can mirror freedom
This hints at the mirror logic of the album ('Mirror' mirrors United in Grief, Mr Morale mirrors worldwide steppers etc), but this can also be taken literally.
'Bob Marley and the Wailers' is a mirror. A mirror that mirrors grievance (wailer=griever)
The Big Steppers are in fact wailers (because of trauma, daddy issues etc), wailers that are tapdancing around the conversation by N95ing it with chains, cars, hoes and whatnot.
This album is ultimately about Radical Empathy and healing. Kendrick is helping not only the culture but all of us out of the box. He is literally and figuratively a chain breaker (though not your savior). We must ultimately do the work ourselves.
wow, ive not seen `anyone suggest this theory. Very cool.
Amazing to read. Screenshoted this analysis
I have never once listened to a Kendrick Lamar album. I'm a fan of Humble and his features, like on Sidewalks, but I'd never indulged in his own music beyond the big hits or hearing some of good kid m.A.A.d. city playing in the car. In fact, I still haven't listened to any of those albums. But I did listen to Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers. And then I listened to it again, then two more times. Then I realised it was one of my favourite albums I've ever heard, and a surprising one. It's 18 songs long, but so listenable, and they all feel like they belong, they don't feel like they're shoved in there to make the album look more full. I barely know anything about him, yet I still felt like I was getting the full story in every song. I feel like I understand every lyric more and more. Auntie Dairies? Superb song. Amazing self-reflection on his own biases especially regarding his past and how they differed from his religious experience and his current views. I'm *almost* a gay man, and hearing his own take of how he used to say homophobic slurs all the time as a kid, vs. how he reacted to the white girl who said the n word while rapping to his song on stage, and how he thought he was indifferent to words like that and their intentionless use, but it turns out he wasn't, but now he's trying to be, and just how that all came together, beautiful. Words do not describe it. And no, I don't care that he used "the word" because, like the review said, he didn't use it in any negative way, he used it to empower a change of view in his primary audience, to relate their own homophobia and transphobia and convince them with his own stories to change the way they see those things, not by force, but by an empathetic relation, to say that he did those things, too
If you enjoyed this album it is a near guarantee you will hold TPAB to just as high a regard if not higher. Worth a shot
@@Cornincarnate After extensive listening, I only like five songs from TPAB. Wesley’s Theory, These Walls, King Kunta, Alright, and The Blacker The Berry. I’m not a fan of TPAB’s instrumentals
@@klatchabobby oh . . . .
Man u're getting close to my fav reviewer .. Precise and insightful analysis monsieur
One of the best insults ever is "div". It's a British word that comes from "divider", the lowest job at British penitentiaries where a person puts cardboard dividers into boxes. Totally unrelated to the album, but I thought you might like it.
Ok
I was really not expecting an album I would connect to in such a personal level from Kendrick. I am in a very transitional part of my life where I am really figuring out who I am and what I truly want while processing traumas that I have been through. Hell I just started going to therapy about a month before this album came out. Kendrick relieving himself of the pressures put on him (albeit willingly) and choosing to focus on himself and his family really resonated with me. Being a first generation hispanic-american and just my nature of being very empathic and giving myself to others, I realize, has taken a toll on my mental health and personal happiness. I wanted to be the figure for those around me to look up to and be the person others can come to for help/advice, I thought I had my shit figured out. I graduated with my Masters, have expectations to do more but I currently do not want it, the guilt from feeling like I am letting down others who believed in me is something I am currently working on. That last song just hits me like a ton a bricks, "Sorry I couldn't save the world my friend, I was too busy building mine again" "I choose me, I'm sorry". Don't want to leave this comment on a sad note, I am very hopeful that I will figure this shit out and that it will lead me to a more fulfilling and happy life but its just wild how connected I felt to Kendrick's message to where I am in my life right now. Hope it helps other people out as well.
Beautifully said man, wishing you the best!
the analogy of kendrick just soaring over our expectations like michael jordan, my mind immediately went to thinking of that scene in winning time! crazy that you actually used it. glad we’re on the same page professor😂 love the videos man this channel is probably my favorite on all of youtube!
It felt like slam poetry style of rhyming.
Thi review + Aunties Diary = now I understand it
You could say that as "Oprah-him" (I'm actually latina so I don't know too much about these two figures but I know that they are doing good to humans all over the world)
This album review really makes me want to pursue poetry the Kendrick Lamar-way. I've listen to HUMBLE, All the Stars and a few from To Pimp a Butterfly. But I toon the time to listen to all the songs from this album and it was so worth it
Awesome video!
I agree with you with that it's better to be a humanist than a activist. Activist tend to expose and highlight the differences in opinions political views religious dogma. A humanist tends to highlight what makes us all human and connect us. It transcends all those things that I mentioned previously.
May seem odd, but for me the album cover immediately evokes the iconic image of Malcolm X looking out the window with an AK-47. And Kendrick’s crown of thorns seems more a symbol of martyrdom than a Christ-like figure specifically. Just my two cents. Really enjoyed your review 👍
I mean, he did say "he's not in the music business, he's in the human business." 🔥🔥🔥
The necessity of Auntie Diaries is exemplified by RUclips hip-hop mega star and resident loser NoLifeShaq's reaction, wherein he freaked out over Kendrick saying "my auntie is a man now" and said "stop saying it". You don't need to look it up to know that he wasn't talking about the f slur.
Homo- and transphobia are alive and well in macho hip-hop culture. Standing against it would be tremendously uncool and I applaud Kendrick for standing against it.
I'm sad to hear that. I didn't know who he was before I watched his Heart Pt. 5 video reaction. He was clearly suppressing his feelings, outwardly denying ("I never cry!"), but I still enjoyed the video. I hope he takes the content of this album in earnest on repeated listens.
Damn, I stopped watching NoLifeShaq personally for platforming Tom MacDonald, so this doesn't surprise me sadly.
Holy shit that's amazing
@@amberray5961 as recently as September 2018, Eminem (best selling rapper of all time) called Tyler the creator the f slur. It wasn't overheard at a club or anything either, it was in a single. Then you had the DaBaby thing like last year, which saw a bunch of rappers like TI jump to his defense saying "people like Lil Nas X can tell their truth, and DaBaby can tell his too" (paraphrase). DaBaby also doubled down on those statements a little later, referring to himself as the best live performer at the time.
I’ve revisited this video quite a bit and it feels more potent and on point each time. Thank you for sharing your perspective on this art. It helps me greatly to understand and connect with the themes and in reality it’s tremendously important.
Kendrick is teaching radical empathy, humanism, fatherhood, self knowledge, and responsible militance all through great music and hopefully it’s not lost on us viewers that you do the same through brilliant engaging commentary. This connects deeply with me so truly, thank you.
I’m always excited to see you’ve posted, and especially so about this album.
I’m a trans person and found Auntie Diaries really really challenging to listen to and confront. While hearing a hip hop heavyweight like Kendrick even mention transgender people in a non mocking, non belligerent tone was truly amazing and brought me to tears, the callousness with which it felt like he was disrespecting these close family members really hurt. If someone like Kendrick, someone so well spoken and kind and self aware thinks this about trans people he’s close to, how would he feel about a stranger like me? How would the average listener of this album feel about someone like me?
The more I’ve listened to it though, the more I felt that this song lines up with a major theme of the rest of the album regarding unabashed truth, and individual responsibility for the hurt he’s caused. He knows that using the wrong pronouns or names for his uncle and cousin is wrong now, he knows that saying f*ggot is wrong now, but didn’t when he was young. I think the fact that it’s called Auntie DIARIES is integral to this, this is his reflection on his mindset as a young person, and him showing the growth he’s achieved since, and the growth he yet has to pursue.
This is what genuine allyship looks like in my opinion, it’s owning your mistakes, being honest about your journey, about your growth, and about the things you still struggle with. Hope all that made sense.
On a completely unrelated note, it’s nice to hear you’re a fellow Bostonian!
Man..that was so eloquently crafted. Big props and yea I understand that discomfort, for sure
And it def isn't our fault or others who do feel re-traumatised
And I'm not going to say every trans person has to go through the same metamorphic change on how they feel about the song
It's okay to never like or appreciate it
But to say that's its objectively bad for this or that reason?
Nah that's not a case that can be made
It's not a mandatory listen for trans ppl for sure, like nth is
But to say that it's bad for everyone is kind of surface level judgement
As you said it IS like a diary that shows progression of his words
When he shifted to the present POV he says "f bomb"
And for those who are like "well he says it at the end too!"
That was him quoting his cousin, and I'm sure she didn't want the power taken out of that quote by censoring half of it
It only hits when you hear both parts, that was the point of the quote
This is literally the point of this album, healing together. You put this so well and thank you for sharping 🙏
thank you, drake, for having poked kendrick resulting in the biggest hip hop beef ever which led me to discover this wonderful channel. binge watching your videos currently and everything you say is enriching. i appreciate your thoughts and wisdom and am looking forward to see what else is on your channel!
coming back to this album after the beef, it really makes sense why kendrick despises drake so much, or at least sees him as problematic to the culture. Kendrick has beaten his demons, his transgenerational traumas, has grown out of his nurture and toxic surroundings to become the man he is today. Meanwhile Drake, who lived a fairly sheltered life, entertains all the toxic parts of the culture and utilizes them to create an image of himself that he presents as "ideal".
While Kendrick tries to redeem himself and be an example to (black) culture, Drake does the opposite and presents the idea of feeding your inner complexes and traumas. Giving in. Distracting yourself with chains, cars, affairs, money, power. Drake, who most likely suffered a lot from his upbringing with a deadbeat father and an insecure racial identity, chose to confront his inner conflicts with distraction. Kendrick appealed to his audience to confront these problems with healing, self-reflection and change. Drake perpetuates the traumatic cycle while Kenny tries to break it.
In that regard, even if it was filthy and wicked, it makes sense for Kendrick to talk to Adonis and Drake's (supposedly) hidden daughter. Telling them that they're better than that. To break the generational cycle. It makes sense for Kendrick to focus on the angle of Drake being a bad father/role model.
I know I'm late for this and you probably won't even notice this comment (and, even if you do, I'm sure you've read so many texts like the one I am about to write, but anyway). But I still felt the need to state my apreciation for you and your analyses with you and all he people that might be reading this.
I, like you and every other viewer of your channel, absolutely love music (especially hip-hop, especially kendrick...). And everytime I watch your videos I can feel your passion just by seeing you talk about it in such a way that brings me so much joy and peace when I'm stressed out or something. Yet I don't think that's the main reason for my deep love for your videos, or rather, I don't think it's the only reason for it. What I have truly come to realize instead is, everything else.
Everything else but the music, that you bring up in order to justify and explain your interpretation, nly helps me love even more the music itself. Every single thing you bring up in order to put into the context of an album, every single book you recommend, every single philospher and niche french terms you reference. It is all so fascinating to watch and, most importantly, those aspects of your essays, become essential to my interpretation and appreciation for whatever piece of art you may be talking about. And that is probably because I also have a huge interest for arts&humanities, philosophy and linguistics. And I just cann't help but to be in awe with your skill for intertextualizing and analysing art. It's all just absolutely marvelous to watch unravell.
Furthermore, I think this is the best example of this. And I am to busy to write why and what I love specifically about this video (in the same way you didn't go fully into the lyrics and rhyme schemes in this album), mainly because of it's density. Also, I'm afraid I've already lost you by this time with this insanely long comment. So I'm gonna go ahead and wrap it up: Thank you professor Skye, please keep it going! I couldn't be more thankful for all your work, AVAA!
PS: love from Portugal!
Read and appreciated! Well thought out appreciation like this is worth a million views.
You're quickly becoming my favorite reviewer. The way your reviews are kind of this all encompassing discussion, with slice of life anecdotes on one hand and philosophy and literature on the other - its simply very interesting to listen to and creates an experience I haven't really encountered elsewhere.
So I finally finished the whole video!!!
I found you with the review of tyler Baudelaire ❤️😍😍
And you are absolutely a treasure and a gift!!!!! And I'm going back to read and listen to everything you mentioned in this video
I'm a fellow Christian who more than 100% believes and agrees with EVERYTHING you said In this video!!!
I especially love you one sided convo in defending why you as a white person often talk about black trauma and you just believing it!!! It's not enough words to describe how amazing that was; tre mag nee fit! (Please critique me on how to correctly type that phrase lol)
But I just also wanted to ALERT YOU, f.d signifier is also one of myyyy favorite you tubers
And he actually went into a bit of depth already on black boy trauma and sexualization in the 2 videos.
1 was the one about black athletes being exploited
And 2) the one where he discusses will smith... that one may be on his b sides Chanel
Just wanted to let you know! Please continue your amazingness
Beyond outstanding review!!
très magnifique ;)
"I'm not in the music business, I'm in the human business"
I came here for a breakdown on an album i haven't had rhe chance to listen too yet , and not even halfway through im confronting the issues ive been trying to get past this whole year. Thank you Sir, and thank you Kendrick
You’re my fav music reviewer on RUclips. Very nuisanced perspective (in a good way) being a white dad French professor with extensive knowledge on language and art who just found a new passion in hip hop. I love it, keep it up. It’s nice having new perspective
You're the absolute greatest music reviewer on RUclips
as a young trans person, auntie diaries meant a lot to me and while it’s not perfect it’s a huge step and i’m really glad kendrick spoke up when he didn’t have to at all
Get religion.
i totally agree
agree and it definitely wasn't meant to be perfect either. it's an honest story of how Kendrick came to terms with his views on trans people and how common transphobia is throughout his upbringing. while he's never been a full on transphobe, we can see how his understanding came to be, through how he correctly and misgendered his uncle (misgendered on a childhood perspective but correctly gendered his uncle on his mother's quote and adult perspective, etc)
@@losyen4487 yeah its a narrative and its a huge step, id rather someone speak up without being perfect then no one do nothing
Big agree
I was just replacing some LEGO pieces on 2 models while listening you for the first time, been meaning to get around to it for a while, had the replacements prepped but didn't want to look up the model for reference to fix them for quite some time. They were 2 N-95 Star Wars ships I got in a lot last year, and when you mentioned the name of the song N-95, my weird synchronicity alarm started going off like crazy. I'm also wearing new wireless headphones I was given that allowed me to walk away from my computer to the shelves with the N-95s. It wasnt around the time I did this 5 minute task, it was right towards the end. Hope you enjoyed my little story of how the phrase as common as ' N-95 ' can connect strangers in some quantum thing that makes me wanna go to bed.
edit - I also dont even listen to Kendrick Lamarm, this video came up after I watched yr black midi video.
pps - Boston Bruins Baby!
Love it. Also love Star Wars Lego, at least with my kids. (Perhaps they are Z-95 starfighters). On top of all those coincidences, one of my ancestors fought in the battle of Bunker Hill, but I’ve never even been to the monument.
@@professorskye update - some kids tried to jump me for my trek bike about an hour after that post. I listened to the album and your review again t. All great stuff. Dunno how I slept on kendrick. Thanks for responding to my weird post, I'll be tuning in
I'd like to touch upon Auntie Diaries a bit, it's honestly one of my favorite Kendrick songs because it's him "choosing humanity over religion" it's him truly accepting trans and gay people, not tolerate, not in a way that acknowledges the struggles, but he looks at his family members and truly accepts them for who they are, as people, not as trans people, but as people who's thoughts, emotions and feelings are all true and meaningful. He's not saying "Guys you shouldn't be homophobic because their people and you have to nice to them" he's saying "Fuck the expectations of society, there's nothing wrong with being trans, these people don't deserve the same respect as others because they're people, they deserve respect because are no different than others." Kdot's Acceptance is including them into the view of the world, that they're not trans people, they're just people. "Acceptance" is saying that because trans people are humans that they deserve to be treated the same as others.
Also on him using the f-slur, I'm gay, he can say it whenever wherever. I think Kendrick can say it not because I like him, not because he's making a point, but because he knows that slurs are used to degrade people who society sees as lesser, I am almost certain he doesn't use it in his daily language not because he's straight, but because he doesn't see gay people as lesser, he doesn't say it for the same reason you don't insult people, because you don't want to insult them, not because you can't call someone a dipshit, because you don't want to be rude to them. Yes context is important and slurs are generally top on the insult latter but my point is that he said himself, fuck political correctness, fuck whatever guidelines the other side (from the church) made for what is rude or not, it's not okay to generalize and vilify people, and it not okay to generalize and vilify language and the people who use it.
LGBTQ+ rights is conversation between 2 ignorant sides, a side who vilifies innocent people because they don't understand them, and a side who is filled with people who think that they're "right" for thinking people deserve to not be prosecuted for no reason. Yes this is a vast generalization and it more representative of loud minorities and not of the opinions of normal people, normal people are just like "yea I don't really care, they can do their own thing" which is fine but I'm talking about the people who discuss it, the people who try to influence others, who fight with each other. There *should* be no reason that one should be revolted by hearing someone sing faggot, it's a word, people have set expectations of it's use but that is different from it's reality. Political correctness is just vilifying language, giving guidelines who can and cannot say words. Everyone can say faggot, I agree with you, if you feel that saying a slur can benefit your point than say it, like how I am right now to challenge the uncomfort about seeing the f-word.
But I am a hypocrite, I'm not saying the n-word, I'm not saying the words that I "can't" say because there are reasons why you don't. The same reasons why you didn't say the f-word, we live surrounded by social barriers, we've made vast generalizations of right and wrong because we have to, I can't learn about every person I meet and truly explore and understand their opinions on topics to see if they're using a word for positive change or harm. As much as people *should* be able to say words, life is complicated, there are multiple reasons why you shouldn't and curtsy is one of them, just because you can, doesn't mean you should. If everyone wasn't racist, then there would be no one using the n-word to be racist, but because people are, you don't say it to show that you're aren't a horrible people.
I've often felt that you were too distanced from the culture to really understand the material you were listening to in the past, but I think you really got this one... which speaks both to your evolution as a consumer of this material and to Kendrick's evolution and mastery as an artist, as he's finally made an album about the Black experience that is universally relatable, and the key was just focusing on the universal aspects of human messiness and the urgency of our need to heal. I really enjoyed your insights and the academic references and anecdotes you pulled in. Comparing this album to Balzac actually makes a whole lot of sense, since this album is basically a play (each of his albums was a different medium: Section.80 was a book with chapters, GKMC was "a short film by Kendrick Lamar," TPAB was a journal, DAMN. was mainstream mass media, and this one is a stage play).
Such a beautiful fucking album. Love this album so much. Such a time piece, truly a masterpiece.
And I love your Lego Battledroid icon!
this is one of the main channels that have inspired me to work on my own video scripts, some of my favorite album breakdowns here, really good channel!
Emotional analingus is CRAZY.
Professor a freak fr lmao
I don’t think I would appreciate this much at all if I hadn’t experienced my first loss-of-a-friend a few months ago (I’m 19)
Humanity and empathy really are what the album is about and although I didn’t know it, I do need the encouragement the album offers to embody that empathy and humanity. I think I have a lot to learn from this record.
Thank you for such a personal review.
Thank you for taking your time to give your insight on this album!!
More than a masterpiece, it's a re set. It's a homecoming to, real and what I believe is just ,"common sense. "
the flows on Worldwide Steppers make it one of my favorite kendrick songs ever, no one is even thinking about doing what he’s done on this record, flow wise. He may have lost his fast ball but he invented 15 other pitches.
I liked this record the first time, but I like it even more after the weekend. Kendrick totally upended expectations to make this record, and that just makes me like him even more.
This album is a masterpiece imo. I can’t stop listening to it. It had to grow on me though, I initially wasn’t feeling it.
Only 15 minutes in so far, but I think I can speak for most of us by saying that we definitely ride for the long form reviews. I was personally very happy to see the runtime.
Thank you for posting this video and talking about your experience with therapy. It gave me the courage to talk with my parents about my upbringing, and come to a greater understanding through pushing our boundaries and making new ones to abide by. I've always had a feeling that I needed to do it, but I didn't know how to approuch the topic with them. Thank you, and especially thanks to Kendrick for making the album in the first place.
It is so great when people take care of themselves, it helps the whole world.
I cannot emphasise how good worldwide steppers is it feels like a silent anxiety attack. Its prolly my favourite song (not the best song) on the album so w take
I was floored when I first heard this album..the album was so raw and complex yet beautiful. When I came across your review, I had to hear your perspective breaking it down. Thank you for this. I loved it.
To me it STILL feels almost impossible that someone with the moral curiosity, the vulnerabilities, the self-awareness, the empathy, the FLAWS - all of these unquantifiable things - is a RAPPER, especially one who can reach, even appeal to people who like the more stereotypical aspects of hiphop culture, with all the ugliness and the traps that surround it. If the person with these qualities was a writer say, a sculptor, or a visual artist/painter, a philosopher, a classical musician, it would seem much more fitting. But no. He's a rapper.
That is his biggest talent. Kendrick is not just great using / manipulating words - he is a VERY effective communicator because he conveys emotional depth, complexity and range, better than ANY rapper / MC I can think of - and he uses it to be a unifier, a healer to some extent, a lighthouse to self emancipation.
"I belong to the warrior in whom the old ways have joined the new" (last samurai, when Algren gets the sword) KDot is not just leaving the "old" culture behind, he's carrying it with him while exploring other places, ideas and concepts.
i love the journey this video takes us, from your personal stories tying into kendrick's own narrative. just a great experience. thank you for that, much love from Brazil. 💕
Whats really interesting in the discussion of kendrick's new album is people thinking, "he could have delivered his message better without the use of slurs".
My rebuttal to that statement is this. Kendrick is arguably the best lyricist of this generation. He has good command of the English language.
People thinking his lyrics, use of imagery in the album and delivery style wasn't well thought out is just lazy thinking to me.
In a world rife with political correctness, he chose to deliver his message in the way he thought was best and to hell with the backlash.
Now as far as those marginalized communities feeling slighted, he's gonna deal with the criticism regardless.
This is his art. His medium of expression. Watered down,politically correct delivery negates art.
I think without the slur the conversation wouldnt be as big as it is now. To me it feels like he exactly started what he wanted. Due to the use of the slur people see how hurtful the word can be. I hear enough people talk about how they didnt even know it was a slur, just a swear word.
also if he watered it down and was politically correct he would be a hypocrite to the verse on Savior “Bite they tongues in rap lyrics scared to be crucified about a song but they won’t admit it. Politically correct is how you keep an opinion”
NGL idk if it’s uncommon but I absolutely loved this album on first listen, and am excited to grow with it. I’m at a point in life with a lot of mixed emotions, change, loneliness, hope, grief, depression, excitement, and struggling to cope with my mental health, my neurodivergent condition, and my childhood conditioning. My sexual and relational conditioning. And my need to get back to therapy. My sexuality and gender. And everything in this album connects with me either at least somewhat or to an extremely personal degree.
I'm at the 16:14 time mark. Before I watched your video, I thought about the title and what it could mean. I did learn of moral morale's French origin. I feel like this is fate or something. I knew there had to be a deeper meaning to the title. I assumed the big steppers was alluding to the financial or corporate ladder.
I’m probably reading way too much into the cover art, but when you started comparing it to “Madonna and Child” it got me thinking.
In “Madonna and Child” Jesus is looking out towards the viewer of the painting. This could be interpreted as being because Christ’s sacrifice was meant for all of humanity and the world in general.
By contrast, on the Mr. Morale cover art, Kendrick is faced away from the viewer and towards his family. This could mean that his personal sacrifices going forward will be for his family first.
i wrote a long ass paragraph quoting zizek and shit but it got deleted. but whatever i appreciate your coverage a lot. you definitely helped me connect some new dots about the theme of this album. also the insight on kendrick being a humanist is spot on.
Kendrick releasing this album where he has therapy sessions with Tolle right after I finish the book The power of Now and hearing Tolle tell him about things like the pain body at the beginning of the interlude savior, is a sign to me.... Of what I do not know 😂😂😂
"I'm never listening to this song again."
Aw. Such a good father figure. 😋
Don't fear art, though.
First person I’ve seen to connect the similarities to Psychodrama by Dave. He obviously draws some ideas and points of view from Dave, who is such a great young talent from the UK.
I was left very emotional by your discussion of Auntie Diaries because, as a trans woman who loves rap, I agree that this song is necessary. It’s crass, it’s genuinely upsetting to hear, and there’s a conversation to be had about Kendrick’s trans family members being utilized in this way ultimately just to say that trans people are people too. But that’s where we are culturally, so at this point in time, Auntie Diaries serves a societal good.
Moving on, I see your point about distinguishing between using or saying a word, but I think it doesn’t make a difference how you categorize the uttering of a slur. I don’t take issue with Kendrick’s use of the F slur in this song. It’s inconsequential considering, like you said, its greater purpose. But there’s no equating the F and N slur. I don’t see any scenario where a person who isn’t Black saying the N slur would have a greater purpose. I’d imagine you agree though, which is why you spoke about it hypothetically.
All in all, thank you for always putting out these fantastic analyses. Seeing artists like Billy Woods and Mach-Hommy critiqued by someone as yourself makes my day.
Movies, books and every other art form that has to present the evil face of racism.
@dreaonline The N word has been used for a greater purpose especially in art and literature, and especially when exploring historical and fictional narratives dealing with race, for decades now.
You made some good points I hadn't recognized in the album. Made me appreciate it even more. This felt like a 30 minute video. Very interesting. Thx
watching this back in may 2022 helped me. Thank you. AVAA
22:02 How to become a man is spot on. still working on it. so glad i found this channel. keep doing what you're doing.
i come back to this whenever i need it
YES! I WAITED FOR THIS! I didn’t want hear any opinions from anyone else on RUclips or even my own friends! I stayed up all Friday night into Saturday morning taking in the album and when it hit me hard at 2 something AM. I couldn’t wait to hear what my Prof had to say about this high level Art!
Continuation Edit: Just finished watching this video and this is just amazing. Everything I expected and more! Thank you Prof!
Just wanted to add based off my many listens and view:
If you listen to it disc 2 first and then disc 1 … it actually flows better. Him starting in therapy…
‘Count me out’ Whitney says “session 10”
To me, That’s the real start of the album..
The actual album title…
Which The second half is literally titled Mr Morale (It’s in the tracklisting) is all focus on him (Kendrick)“internal” …And the first half is the Big steppers (also in the tracklisting) is the world outside of him “external“. I see this as after therapy.
And Purple Hearts concluding the entire conversation or confession. The beat/instrumentation of the song even sounds like the ending of a show to movie.
Is it not a lot about duality and non-duality?
I really like your take on Disc 2 then 1, opens up a new perspective on the album!
@@jaseallenson316 yes. Yin and Yang. Balance.
Best album review for this 'masterpiece' I've seen so far 🎉 great breakdown and takes. Definitely an iconic album that's made to help heal/grow and it's so necessary.
I am so glad I have found your channel because your review/reaction is quite frankly the most accurate account of what I believe Kendrick was trying to tell us in every single song to the length degree, I continue to watch you beautifully master the breakdown of each track and the educational component you give to you audience and the rawness of current events and self awareness. I still to this day listen to this album from start to finish once a week, minimum. And while I cry through most of them because Kendrick's profound ability to impact those who truly HEAR what he is saying, when you spoke to Mother I Sober, I was crying right along with you. Those who heard that song, truly heard it like myself cannot help but shed tears on the impact of this incredibly difficult and yet life altering and beautiful song, this body of work is not of this earth. To that I say, there is a reason Kendrick Lamar is the only rap artist to have a Pulitzer Prize. What a beautiful job you've done in this review, you have a fan forever.
40:31 😂😂😂😂😂 took me out‼️ You were dead serious, like I have things to do y’all. I can’t chew up and feed it to you too 😂😂😂😂
This album really spoke to me, so much that it's in my top 3 of his work, i could relate to so much of it and literally have just been starting to see a psychiatrist and was diagnosed with complex PTSD, i have just walked around with these horrible feelings thinking something was just wrong with me and i just needed to "man up" and thinking PTSD was for people that had been in war, until i read about the symptoms and ticked every box so now I'm also dealing with past trauma and having to see experts to hopefully get me working optimally, i really loved Father Time and Mother I Sober specifically and also Auntie Diaries, such an amazing album.
Best albums of the year thus far: 1. Black Country New Road - Ants From Up There 2. Gang of Youths - Angel In Realtime 3. The Smile - A Light For Attracting Attention
Incredible review!! Detailed, descriptive and in-depth. No one does it like this.
I don't know if I already mentioned this on you your videos I've been watching and commenting on a lot of your videos today. But if you like this Kendrick Lamar album sonically. If you haven't heard the Outkast Aquemini album you should check it out. How you said this Kendrick Album is futuristic. That outkast album is over 15 years old and it had these same type of weird blends of sounds to hip hop track very much ahead of it time.album. It went over a lot of people's heads cuz it was so different. A lot of the outkast fans wasn't too keen on them evolving their sound seem like initially.
You’re a real dude man ✊🏽 You’re comment about if you using the “N” word would inspire positive change… I respect that very much.
48:07 watching this post beef. People theorized that N95 could’ve been a covert Drake diss and the lyrics in the first verse can make this plausible. The fact that you mentioned “Take Off” was Canadian slang just adds to the layer of a potential diss. I know Kendrick probably didn’t plan that but that fact that it just so happen to line up (same way ppl mentioned the different meanings of 6:16) Kendricks really good at somehow tying in layers to his lyrics.
This break down is just distinctly different then what I've seen so far. So thankful of that beef cause I've never would've found you're channel.
Congratulations ❤️ you earned a new friend , art brought me here . And love Will make me stay God is good. Thank you for sharing 👍
21:20
Don’t mind me. Just saving this for when I need it again
DJ Dahi is also another anchor in Kendrick's core production for sound direction.
Incredibly well thawed out review sir. You actually listened intently to what Kendrick was saying all over the album. Although I am also white. And I am from the UK! I related to loads on this album. From certain parts of Trauma, mistakes, regrets, trying to be better, self reflection and choosing myself. Which I done recently and it's changed my life!
Black Star album: "no fear of time" is something you should definitely listen to.
April we had billy woods Aethiopes……..
And I think that it’s actually somewhat analogous to Kendrick’s album, billy woods talks about the generational trauma of the colonization of Africa by European nations, but more distant and zoomed out. Almost scientifically, as he never shows his face. Kendrick is doing the same thing in an artistic or religious way.
Edit: I think they are actually good companion records the more I listen to both. Plus the iconography, vivid imagery of woods lyrics and the idea of reconciling the trauma you, or a population, went through is a theme in both. The come to different conclusions I think, at least on how to deal with the trauma but that’s the interesting part of their similar themes. woods is a very cynical person (from what I gain from his projects, I’ve been listening since 2012), he looks at the problems macroscopically, somewhat detached from it. It’s very academic in a lot of ways. Kendrick is artistic, creative, and emotional which is an equally valid way of approaching at least the theme that ties them together. I wish Universities around me had like a hip-hop literary criticism course or minor. It’s definitely the most important American music and literary movements to have come about.
True!
Yep, Billy Wood is definitely more academic based on his mother's background in his lyrics. Kendrick is more personal about specifics and details. Neither are better or worse.
Amazing. Just wow. Definitely will not be taking Kendrick for granted. Once in a life time artist
You should definitely start a podcast