Kendrick Lamar’s new album Mr. Morale & the Big Steppersis out now after gaining massive anticipation from fans and musicians alike.
The new project comes just two days after Lamar revealed the solemn album cover via Instagram on Wednesday. Taken by photographer Renell Medrano, the cover gained support from fellow musicians Kehlani, Eric Bellinger, Roddy Ricch; producers MixedByAli and Mike Will Made-It, actors Yara Shahidi and Keith Powers along with many more who liked and commented the post. Shouting out Lamar’s California hometown, Ricch commented, “Compton Jesus.” Additional Instagram users chimed in noting that the Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers could be Grammy-nominated for album of the year.
Ahead of the album-cover reveal, Lamar dropped his tune THE HEART PART 5 and an accompanying music video. The visual, which arrived May 8, is a close-up shot of the rapper spitting bars through the song’s entirety as his face morphs into the likes of O.J. Simpson, Kanye West, Jussie Smollett, Kobe Bryant, Will Smith and Nipsey Hussle.