Studio Album · No. 5
Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers Songwriting Credits by Kendrick Lamar
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
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.
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
| # | Title | Lyricist(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
KD
Kendrick Duckworth
Writer
KL
Kendrick Lamar
Writer · Rap
S
Sounwave
Writer · Producer
MS
Mark Spears
Writer
SD
Sam Dew
Writer · Vocals
JP
Jason Pounds
Writer
DT
Daniel Tannenbaum
Writer
DD
DJ Dahi
Writer · Producer
DN
Dacoury Natche
Writer
JK
Jake Kosich
Writer
JK
Johnny Kosich
Writer
MS
Matt Schaeffer
Writer
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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.