Rap legend Kendrick Lamar has shared a candid message from the middle of his lengthy current tour in which he discusses the power of music and its ability to shed light on humanity’s imperfections and more uncomfortable truths.
The Compton native is currently touring his celebrated fifth album Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers, and he has taken to Instagram to share an assortment of photos from the run whilst also writing a lengthy, heartfelt message on his Stories.
As reported by Complex, Kendrick wrote: “Rap has truly helped my expansion of self. beyond the perception of who I believe to be. on jojo. music is air to a young n***a at this point”.
He started the note by revealing that it took him 20 years to write the Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers track ‘Mother I Sober’, wherein he addresses family trauma and sexual abuse.
Interestingly, towards the final stages of the title track, ‘Mr. Morale’ which comes before ‘Mother I Sober’, spiritual teacher Eckhart Tolle is sampled discussing his famous ‘pain-body’ concept.
Tolle’s concept examines how people can carry emotional pain and trauma from childhood and that it never goes away but builds with intensity. Then, when adulthood hits, Tolle claims that the ‘pain-body’ periodically returns with more pain, and this time it targets a partner. Lamar clearly embraces the concept across his new album.
In his new post, Lamar explained: “Mr morale. the catalyst of my self expression”.
He continued: “ill never forget the process of falling in love with imperfection. the piano. my fans. the stories of reconciliation i hear from pentitentiaries [sic] to small villages. Some words will find you today. Some will find you in 10. find your children type shit. sitting in the corner like an old book,” he continued. “im forever underground. infratrating [sic] the mainstream a la carte. these cities still beautiful to watch. on jojo. ily. –ok ok!”
