KENDRICK LAMAR レコード& CD

Review: The reviews that followed the recent release of Kendrick Lamarr's first album in five years, Mr Morale & The Big Steppers, were universally positive. Of course, he's always been one of hip-hop's most insightful and thought-provoking MCs, with a passion for utilising backing tracks that sidestep hackneyed rap tropes and lazy samples, but even by his high standards this album is something special - as this differently packaged Japanese edition proves. Impeccably produced, with countless musical twists and turns, spellbinding instrumentation and all manner of guest stars, it sees Lamarr lyrically signposting his own failings and character flaws within a wider framework of accountability. It's brave but brilliant, with some of the topics covered including his relationship with money, his father, gender and generational trauma. A genuinely landmark album.