"Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers" is as arcane as it is revolutionary. Pulitzer Prize winner and Oscar nominee Kendrick Lamar Duckworth makes his long-awaited return to the rap universe by unveiling his fifth studio album.

Awakening from his five-year hiatus, the disputed G.O.A.T. of modern rap masterfully combines moments of solemn rumination with euphonious lyrics that demonstrate his excellency in his field. The double album also largely focuses on his own family; Whitney Alford, Lamar’s partner, acts as a helmsman through the mystifying nature of the numerous distinctive songs.

Lamar largely presents this album as a story of mental development and his own personal reflections on his past actions. "United in Grief" commences the album with an enchanting lull urging his audience to find "paradise," contrasted with Alford’s relentless demands for Lamar to explain his life in candor. Suddenly, the track evolves as Lamar starts unleashing a barrage of lyrics describing modern-day issues such as mental health, racism, and sexism, all through a tornado of spiraling staccato piano notes and a barrage of intense drums that contribute to the song’s chaotic grandeur.

The album opens with lead single "N95," where Lamar showcases his bailiwick for music by criticizing "clout chasing" and "cancel culture" over (large) beat switches. Lamar’s adroit use of Auto-Tune paves a glamorous entrance for the melodious and crisp drums, while ethereal pianos divide explosive and eloquent streams of bass. Lamar’s unparalleled delivery of the lyrics solidifies "N95" as one of the greatest songs on this album.

Through esoteric yet sympathetic storytelling, Lamar succeeds in touching the hearts of millions of people across the globe. "Worldwide Steppers" and "We Cry Together,", while they might disappoint adventurous listeners yearning for radio hits such as "Hummle" and "Alright," from Lamar’s past albums, depict his own experiences with religion, guilt, and relationships. "Worldwide Steppers" portrays his opinions on political bias and us humans' sanctimonious qualities over hints of piano notes sprinkled over a pulsating beat as he explains his personal troubles with interracial relationships and his pride in being an African-American.

Minimalist jazz samples fuel "We Cry Together," a six-minute vivid tale of domestic violence that delineates an estranged couple launching allegations more ludicrous than the next at one another. Taylour Paige executes an Oscar-worthy performance throughout the track; her heart-wrenching pleas along with malicious insults paint a thin layer of comic relief over years of pain, misery, and emotional abuse. "We cry together" marks a turning point: the album’s purpose is not to showcase possible Billboard hits; it’s simply much more than that.

Disc 2, otherwise known as the "Mr. Morale" part of the album, features a more intricate analysis of himself than the issues he has faced with society.

"Mother I Sober,", as with several other songs included in the album, explains the struggles that members of the African American community face daily. Lamar characterizes lust and sexual abuse as plagues that have affected not only his close relatives but himself. While crooning in a sentimental manner, he expresses remorse for his past actions of attempting to suppress his intense grief through alcohol and drugs, which had caused him to act improperly and hurt those whom he holds dear to himself. He promises to end this curse through pure honesty, positivity, and love through several mediums.

5 Grammy nominees, winning the categories of "Best Rap Song" and "Best Rap Performance," it is simply crystal clear why "The Heart Part 5" stands out from the rest of the album. Everything about this song is simply perfect, ranging from the energetic drums that construct the spine of the song to the melodic strums of the guitar. A determined Lamar raps about all the flaws he has seen throughout his life.

Lamar first gives the listener a description of his life growing up in Compton, surrounded by gangs, promoting an atmosphere where "murder is minor." Prison, death, and robbery were so common for young Kendrick that it has caused him to accept them as a simple norm of life and describe them as "the culture."

The song is also a tribute to Nipsey Hussle, a prominent rapper and activist who was killed in March of 2019. Hustle strongly opposed gang violence, saw the repeating sequence of hate children in underprivileged African American communities were falling into, and made it his mission to stop it. Lamar grieves for his family and elucidates that the reason for his death was the very thing he was trying to end.

Perhaps the most powerful and cinematic lines are when Lamar describes the modern world as "the land where no equal is your equal," in order to emphasize the issue of inequality in the present moment. This leads to the final lines of Verse 2, where Lamar expresses his hatred for the system of savagery, where he states, "In a land where hurt people hurt more people, f**k calling it culture." Throughout the song, he gives numerous experiences of troubles in society but always excuses them by justifying them as "the culture." However, at this very bar, Lamar expresses his abhorrence for these recurrences in society and infers that a better world could be achieved if everyone contributed in order to create a better society. "Hurt people hurt more people" directly applies to the recurring topics in his rap career: whether it be crime, domestic abuse, or hate, the motives of all our actions are based on the events that we have experienced.

"Mirror" concludes the album by presenting a newly enlightened Lamar apologizing to his fans for his prolonged absence and discussing his battles against his savior complex. His unswerving strive to save others through his passion for rap has caused him to develop narcissistic characteristics that have strained relationships with his loved ones. In the final words of the album, Lamar raps, "I chose me; I’m sorry."

"Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers" is a journey starting with his abandonment of martyrdom and recovery by understanding his role as a father, son, and husband, and is simply more evidence that Lamar will forever be known as one of the greatest and most influential rappers of all time.