Kendrick Lamar Explains Why He Wrote "Mr. Morale": "Everybody's Going Through Something"

BY Erika Marie 9.2K Views
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The icon shared a few thoughts while he was on the Glastonbury stage.

In each of his projects, Kendrick Lamar gives introspective takes that his fans cling to as they identify with his lyrics, but he entered a new arena with Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers. The acclaimed record topped the charts around the globe and sparked conversations about mental wellness and LGBTQIA+ debates within Hip Hop. As listeners continue to argue the album's placement in Lamar's catalog, he recently took to the Glastonbury stage to share why he created Mr. Morale.

Clips of K-Dot's Glastonbury performance have been shared far and wide, including the powerful conclusion where he was bleeding from his diamond crown of thorns and advocating for Women's Rights following Roe v. Wade's reversal in the U.S.


However, elsewhere, Lamar took a moment to speak about his Mr. Morale motivation.

"So many faces, y'all blessed me to be upon this stage," the hitmaker told the roaring crowd. "And you know we blessed to make sure we give y'all some sh*t you feel, and that's the real reason why I wrote Mr. Morale, because everybody's going through something." He added, "No matter what you're going through, imperfection is beautiful."

"I wear this crown. They judged Christ," he said. "They judge you, they judge Christ... I wear this as a representation so you'll never forget one of the greatest prophets that ever walked the earth." The diamond-encrusted crown of thorns was reportedly crafted by Tiffany & Co and features 8,000 of the sparkly jewels.

Check out the clip of Kendrick Lamar below.



About The Author
Since 2019, Erika Marie has worked as a journalist for HotNewHipHop, covering music, film, television, art, fashion, politics, and all things regarding entertainment. With 20 years in the industry under her belt, Erika Marie moved from a writer on the graveyard shift at HNHH to becoming a Features Editor, highlighting long-form content and interviews with some of Hip Hop’s biggest stars. She has had the pleasure of sitting down with artists and personalities like DJ Jazzy Jeff, Salt ’N Pepa, Nick Cannon, Rah Digga, Rakim, Rapsody, Ari Lennox, Jacquees, Roxanne Shante, Yo-Yo, Sean Paul, Raven Symoné, Queen Naija, Ryan Destiny, DreamDoll, DaniLeigh, Sean Kingston, Reginae Carter, Jason Lee, Kamaiyah, Rome Flynn, Zonnique, Fantasia, and Just Blaze—just to name a few. In addition to one-on-one chats with influential public figures, Erika Marie also covers content connected to the culture. She’s attended and covered the BET Awards as well as private listening parties, the Rolling Loud festival, and other events that emphasize established and rising talents. Detroit-born and Long Beach (CA)-raised, Erika Marie has eclectic music taste that often helps direct the interests she focuses on here at HNHH. She finds it necessary to report on cultural conversations with respect and honor those on the mic and the hardworking teams that help get them there. Moreover, as an advocate for women, Erika Marie pays particular attention to the impact of femcees. She sits down with rising rappers for HNHH—like Big Jade, Kali, Rubi Rose, Armani Caesar, Amy Luciani, and Omerettà—to gain their perspectives on a fast-paced industry.

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