Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers cover art

  Studio Album · No. 5

Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers Songwriting Credits by Kendrick Lamar

2022 pgLang / Interscope Records 18 tracks 73 min

Produced by Kendrick Lamar, Sounwave, Pharrell Williams, Baby Keem, DJ Dahi, Duval Timothy  ·  Engineered by Manny Marroquin, Ray Charles Brown Jr., Johnathan Turner, Matt Schaeffer

pgLang / Interscope Records Hip HopWest Coast Hip HopConscious Hip HopSoulFree Jazz
94%
Authorship
Artist

Kendrick Lamar wrote 17 of 18 documented tracks

Authorship Breakdown 17 / 18 documented

Who wrote the songs?

Scored across the 18 tracks with documented writers, by whether Kendrick Lamar carries a lyricist or composer credit.

94%
17 trackswritten by Kendrick Lamar 1 trackoutside writers
Kendrick Lamar's roles on this album

Share of the 18 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.

Lyricist94%
Composer0%
Producer0%
Performer100%

By the Numbers

18
Tracks
54
Lyricists
24
Producers
1 million
US Copies Sold
2022
Released

Awards & Recognition 1

Best Rap Album (2023)
Data Insight

Kendrick Lamar wrote his own verses across this double album, using it as a self-interrogating record about therapy, generational trauma and accountability. Sounwave again served as a central producer, joined by Beach Noise, DJ Dahi, Boi-1da, Jahaan Sweet and Pharrell Williams, with pianist and composer Duval Timothy shaping several of the album's stripped, jazz-leaning passages. The guest list reflects that range, pulling in Baby Keem, Kodak Black, Ghostface Killah, Sampha, Summer Walker and others.

Released May 13, 2022 as a double album, Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers is Kendrick Lamar's most personal and therapeutic work. Released under his own pgLang imprint, it confronts childhood trauma, therapy, accountability, cancel culture, and inherited generational pain. Features Taylour Paige, Summer Walker, Ghostface Killah, Kodak Black, Baby Keem, and Beth Gibbons of Portishead.

Track Listing & Credits 18 tracks

Written by the artist Written by outside writers
#TitleLyricist(s)Composer(s)Producer(s)Performers
1
United in Grief
Kendrick LamarSam DewSounwaveJason PoundsDuval TimothyMatt SchaefferJohnny KosichJake KosichTimothy Maxey Kendrick DuckworthSam DewMark SpearsJason PoundsDuval TimothyMatt SchaefferJohnny KosichJake KosichTimothy Maxey OklamaSounwaveJ. LbsDuval TimothyBeach NoiseTim Maxey Kendrick Lamar (Rap)
2
N95 #3
Kendrick LamarSam DewBoi-1daSounwaveJahaan SweetBaby Keem Kendrick DuckworthSam DewMatthew SamuelsMark SpearsJahaan SweetHykeem Carter Boi-1daSounwaveJahaan SweetBaby Keem Kendrick Lamar (Rap)
3
Worldwide Steppers
Kendrick LamarSam DewSounwaveDonte PerkinsJason PoundsVincent CranePat DarnellPhillip Hunt Kendrick DuckworthSam DewMark SpearsDonte PerkinsJason PoundsVincent CranePat DarnellPhillip Hunt SounwaveTae BeastJ. Lbs Kendrick Lamar (Rap)
4
Die Hard
Kendrick LamarMatthew BurdetteAmanda ReiferSam DewThundercatVictor EkpoSounwaveDJ DahiBaby KeemJason PoundsMichael MuléIsaac De BoniMarvin Eugene SmithRobert T. Smith Kendrick DuckworthMatthew BurdetteAmanda ReiferSam DewStephen BrunerVictor EkpoMark SpearsDacoury NatcheHykeem CarterJason PoundsMichael MuléIsaac De BoniMarvin Eugene SmithRobert T. Smith SounwaveDJ DahiBaby KeemJ. LbsFnZ Blxst (Vocals)Amanda Reifer (Vocals)
5
Father Time
Kendrick LamarSamphaSounwaveDJ DahiMatt SchaefferJohnny KosichJake KosichDaniel TannenbaumDuval TimothyVictor EkpoKennis Jones Kendrick DuckworthSampha SisayMark SpearsDacoury NatcheMatt SchaefferJohnny KosichJake KosichDaniel TannenbaumDuval TimothyVictor EkpoKennis Jones SounwaveDJ DahiBeach NoiseBekonDuval TimothyGrandmaster Vic Sampha (Vocals)
6
Rich (interlude)
Kodak BlackSam DewDuval Timothy Bill KapriSam DewDuval Timothy Duval Timothy Kodak Black (Vocals)
7
Rich Spirit
Kendrick LamarSam DewSounwaveDJ DahiFrano HuettA. ThomasD. DennisG. JacksonM. Hall Kendrick DuckworthSam DewMark SpearsDacoury NatcheFrano HuettA. ThomasD. DennisG. JacksonM. Hall SounwaveDJ DahiFrano Kendrick Lamar (Rap)
8
We Cry Together
Kendrick LamarAlan MamanJason PoundsDaniel TannenbaumFlorence WelchGary Peacock Kendrick DuckworthAlan MamanJason PoundsDaniel TannenbaumFlorence WelchGary Peacock The AlchemistJ. LbsBekon Taylour Paige (Vocals)
9
Purple Hearts
Kendrick LamarSummer WalkerGhostface KillahSam DewAnthony DixsonSounwaveKhalil Abdul-RahmanJason PoundsMatt SchaefferJohnny KosichJake Kosich Kendrick DuckworthSummer WalkerDennis ColesSam DewAnthony DixsonMark SpearsKhalil Abdul-RahmanJason PoundsMatt SchaefferJohnny KosichJake Kosich SounwaveDJ KhalilJ. LbsBeach Noise Summer Walker (Vocals)Ghostface Killah (Vocals)
10
Count Me Out
Kendrick LamarSam DewSounwaveDJ DahiJason Pounds Kendrick DuckworthSam DewMark SpearsDacoury NatcheJason Pounds OklamaSounwaveDJ DahiJ. LbsTim Maxey Kendrick Lamar (Rap)
11
Crown
Kendrick LamarSam DewDuval Timothy Kendrick DuckworthSam DewDuval Timothy Duval Timothy Kendrick Lamar (Rap)
12
Silent Hill
Kendrick LamarKodak BlackBoi-1daSounwaveJahaan SweetMatt SchaefferJohnny KosichJake Kosich Kendrick DuckworthBill KapriMatthew SamuelsMark SpearsJahaan SweetMatt SchaefferJohnny KosichJake Kosich Boi-1daSounwaveJahaan SweetBeach Noise Kodak Black (Vocals)
13
Savior (interlude)
Kendrick LamarBaby KeemSounwaveJason Pounds Kendrick DuckworthHykeem CarterMark SpearsJason Pounds OklamaSounwaveJ. Lbs Kendrick Lamar (Rap)
14
Savior
Kendrick LamarSam DewDaniel TannenbaumSounwaveRonald LaTourJason PoundsMario LucianoTobias BreuerTommy Paxton-Beesley Kendrick DuckworthSam DewDaniel TannenbaumMark SpearsRonald LaTourJason PoundsMario LucianoTobias BreuerTommy Paxton-Beesley CardoJ. LbsSounwaveOklamaMario LucianoRascal Baby Keem (Vocals)Sam Dew (Vocals)
15
Auntie Diaries
Kendrick LamarHomer SteinweissDaniel KriegerDaniel TannenbaumTyler MehlenbacherSergiu GhermanCraig BalmorisMatt SchaefferJohnny KosichJake Kosich Kendrick DuckworthHomer SteinweissDaniel KriegerDaniel TannenbaumTyler MehlenbacherSergiu GhermanCraig BalmorisMatt SchaefferJohnny KosichJake Kosich BekonTyler MehlenbacherSergiu GhermanCraig BalmorisBeach Noise Kendrick Lamar (Rap)
16
Mr. Morale
Kendrick LamarAvante SantanaSam DewPharrell Williams Kendrick DuckworthAvante SantanaSam DewPharrell Williams Pharrell Williams Tanna Leone (Vocals)
17
Mother I Sober
Kendrick LamarBeth GibbonsSam DewThundercatSounwaveDaniel TannenbaumJason PoundsTimothy Maxey Kendrick DuckworthBeth GibbonsSam DewStephen BrunerMark SpearsDaniel TannenbaumJason PoundsTimothy Maxey SounwaveBekonJ. Lbs Beth Gibbons (Vocals)
18
Mirror
Kendrick LamarDaniel KriegerStuart JohnsonSounwaveDJ DahiDaniel TannenbaumTyler MehlenbacherSergiu GhermanCraig Balmoris Kendrick DuckworthDaniel KriegerStuart JohnsonMark SpearsDacoury NatcheDaniel TannenbaumTyler MehlenbacherSergiu GhermanCraig Balmoris SounwaveDJ DahiBekonTyler MehlenbacherSergiu GhermanCraig BalmorisTim Maxey Kendrick Lamar (Rap)

Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 79 contributors

More from Kendrick Lamar

Frequently Asked Questions Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers

Did Kendrick Lamar write Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers himself?
Yes. Kendrick Lamar wrote his own verses throughout Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers, structuring it as a confessional double album about therapy and generational trauma. He worked with a deep production team but the writing and performances are his.
Why is Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers a double album?
Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers is an 18-track double album split across two discs running over 73 minutes. The length lets Kendrick Lamar work through extended themes of accountability, family and self-examination.
What award did Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers win?
Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers won Best Rap Album at the 2023 Grammy Awards. It continued Kendrick Lamar's strong record in that category.
Who is featured on N95 from Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers?
'N95' is a solo Kendrick Lamar track with no credited guest feature. It debuted at number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100, the album's highest-charting single.
Who produced Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers?
Sounwave was the central producer on Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers, alongside Beach Noise, DJ Dahi, Boi-1da, Jahaan Sweet and Pharrell Williams. Pianist Duval Timothy shaped several of the album's jazz-leaning arrangements.
What is The Heart Part 5 on Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers?
'The Heart Part 5' was released as a promotional single ahead of the album and peaked at number 15 on the Billboard Hot 100. It continues Kendrick Lamar's recurring 'The Heart' song series.
Is Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers certified platinum?
Yes. Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers was certified Platinum by the RIAA in the United States. It opened with 295,000 album-equivalent units and passed one million units by the end of 2022.

Sources