…but is it a masterpiece??? Kendrick Lamar “Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers” review
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- čas přidán 14. 05. 2022
- Are we just becoming Smellfungi? Humanity in its complexity, equality in its many forms and the ways we must learn to to live life as an adult. Plus 17th century philosophy and sports metaphors! @kendricklamar @KendrickLamarVEVO
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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
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
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.
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.
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 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.
I love how you stopped Toby from tap dancing around the conversation
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
"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.
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
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’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.
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
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 🙏
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"
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 🙏
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
This is my favorite Kendrick Lamar album. He touched my soul with this one.
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
Drake could never
Nah.. and I can’t believe we even have to talk about it…? Drake is good at his lane but he will never be capable of this. Their struggles, upbringing are so different it would not permit that.
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 🔥
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.
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
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 . . . .
I hate saying "as a black person" online, but as a black person I value your perspective.
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 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!
I had just found your channel through this album and I have to say I love your work I definitely subscribed and even went back and watched some of your content thank you for the great analysis
Legitimately love your channel and your reviews. Love this album so far as well. Been back and forth with this and quelle Chris new record all weekend
I did not expect to learn SO much from this review. Thank you for this wonderful video. I’ll be sure to check out more in the future!!
I love your videos, I’m writing this before watching but I’ve seen several of your videos front to back. Just really appreciate you taking the time to add to music culture
Always looking forward to more from you. I enjoyed this. Thanks!
I just discovered your page and how you break down the album is great!!!
Man u're getting close to my fav reviewer .. Precise and insightful analysis monsieur
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.
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!
Wow! Love this album and love listening to a review that shares the love. This is the first time i watch an album review. I really enjoyed you! You’ve got a new subscriber 🙏🏻
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.
Man, I've been waiting for this! Super excited to hear your thoughts. Cheers!
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
Man all of your reviews really do a lot to add to the appreciation of these albums. Thank you Professor.
one of my favorite reviews of all time. i really love your channel and i couldn't agree more with your analysis on auntie diaries. appreciate you professor skye. your Aethiopes review was incredible as well.
Loved this album and been a fan of your reviews for a while… all love from Ithaca!
Thank you for taking your time to give your insight on this album!!
New sub earned without question, really thought provoking analysis of this album man, im excited to watch more
You have a great way with words and explaining your thoughts!
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.
Nice deep comprehensive review, appreciated the metaphors, analogies and comparisons. Well thought out
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. 💕
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!
Awesome review! This album is very much needed. As a fellow upstate new yorker from Rochester you got a subscriber
Incredible review!! Detailed, descriptive and in-depth. No one does it like this.
I have to watch this now that you were talking about "The Heart Part 6". I love this album and I am glad to hear someone's review that helps me understand it even better
brilliant breakdown of the album, professor. Your channel is a gem in the mines of youtube.
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.
your channel is amazing! thank you for your thoughtful and positive insights!
Found your channel thanks to the beef! Really dig your analysis. Mr. Morale was such a fire drop to me and I was sad to see it not getting the attention it deserved. Thanks for the work you do brother!
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.
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.
Such a great analysis, putting most of my thoughts and takes about this album into words
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.
Fantastic work Professor! Much like Kendrick I feel like you completely stuck the landing and nailed this video. One of your best for sure! Hope the exposure this album brings grows your audience considerably. Great work
Honestly this review so much better than I anticipated. This video is like a legit companion piece to the art that is the album itself. Bravo prof!
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.
watching this back in may 2022 helped me. Thank you. AVAA
another great review Dr. Skye!
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.
Fantastic review! This album really blew me away and I only expect it to grow on me more with time
Thank you for offering genuinely thought provoking comments on music today. You manage to speak in this very down to earth and accessible way while dealing with literary ideas. It’s super valuable!
You are doing an amazing service and I appreciate how considerate and empathic you are. God Bless
I’ve seen a few of your videos and I really appreciate your takes. I love hip hop, rap, and punk. I can see the influences. Thanks for the content
Professor Skye, this is my first time commenting but I think I have some valid opinions here.
So, for me, the ending of We Cry Together was really powerful. As terrible as all toxic relationships are, it is even more terrible that those couple think that make-up sex solves anything. And Kendrick perfectly pictures that with the tap dancing. By making up and going forward with your partner, although you were capable of saying all those things to each other, you can only make things a thousand times worse, as you're just avoiding the real problems.
Also, your interpretation of Auntie Diaries blew my mind and really explained everything to me perfectly.
Love to see your emotion and love your analysis. Thanks professor!
Your videos definitely enhance my listening experience
glad to hear.
The necessity of Auntie Diaries is exemplified by CZcams 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.
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 ;)
It felt like slam poetry style of rhyming.
avaa. An album I still listen all the way through regularly. I really appreciate getting your perspective on this work. Mother I Sober is a song that is always show stopping for me, just amazing.
Skye, thank you for your depth.
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).
13:57 this is such a wholesome thing to see
The pride you show is heartwarming
You’re my fav music reviewer on CZcams. 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
J'adore tes vidéos, continue comme ça ! C'est la première fois que je découvre une chaîne avant qu'elle devienne virale, et puis je découvre que non-seulement le mec s'y connaît en rap, mais en plus il parle français ! Donc je me suis dit que j'allais te laisser mon comm en français 😁 Je sors un album en Septembre, j'aimerais te l'envoyer. Le premier single "XXX" est sur ma chaîne. Il est thématiquement inspiré par Mr Morale (c'est-à-dire la déconstruction de soi-même, regarder vers l'intérieur pour faire face à ses démons), mais musicalement inspiré par le rap français des années 90 et 2000. Dans tous les cas, continue ! One love et bonne AVAAnture ❤
Just found your channel recently, but I’m really a fan so far, keep up the great work!
I was a little unsure about this album at first, especially the first half (which seemed a little hostile and critical, but not necessarily in a constructive way), but the more I listen to it, the more I agree with your analysis. There is this underlying humanity that runs through the album (and all of Kendrick’s discography, I would argue) that, if it doesn’t soften his criticisms, nevertheless helps to explain them and make them productive and constructive.
The album’s obviously very fresh, but based on where I am now, I see it aging very well (even if I’m not sure if it can surpass TPAB in my mind)!
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 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.
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.
Thank you thank you! I’ve prayed for a channel like this. I feel like I’m in class, being educated and it’s so refreshing. I love everything you talk about. I’m so over bad commentary, but I like you, Love CZcams. I believed I would find a place like this, but did not know how to search, how find it. I found you by way of Drake and Kendrick Lamars beef. I trusted I would find some super educated, intellectual, experienced person to listen to that would understand the trenches and could also lift us from the muck and mire state of conversation. Thank you God❤ 5/17/24
I did not listen to old hip hop as a young person. In fact, I found it in the late ‘90’s in my mid to late 40’s as I was raising 5 young humans. Their daddy called it the devil’s music, but I heard and felt something different. The beats got me first, but I couldn’t understand lots of the words. This led me to research, to google lyrics so I could read for understanding. With increased introduction to CZcams in 2020, I listen to so many interviews. My interest since my early 30’s has been in human development. What makes us tick? How can 2 people, close in age, born of the same parents, raised in the same home be so different and yet so alike? Thank you!!
Genuinely loved this review
alright Skye, now we need those "Emotional Anilingus" shirts to add to the merch collection!
great review :)
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 mean, he did say "he's not in the music business, he's in the human business." 🔥🔥🔥
i love your videos and respect your opinions so much! was just wondering if you had a spotify account where you could make playlists where you add songs you loved from the recent albums you reviewed or something. anyways hope you and your family are doing well! thank you for this great review ❤️
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.
Dude great review. Much love.
Prof! I like your interpretation of the “that’s on me” line in Father Time. You might have missed “that’s on me”, is also a kind of slang to emphasize something’s importance. Similar to saying, “on my mom” or “on my children”, etc… a cool double entendres
I'm still taking it as him taking ownership. I've never heard someone say that's on me with the same connotation of on my mama or my word is bond.
Every next listen I feel more and more like a smellfungi. I’m at 5 and feel like there’s still so much to learn. Thank you for educating