Released in mid-2022, Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers followed Lamar’s Pulitzer Prize–winning 2017 LP, Damn, and featured notable collaborators such as Portishead’s Beth Gibbons, Summer Walker, and Ghostface Killah. Per tradition, it was preceded by an installment of his “The Heart” singles series, “The Heart Part 5,” which came with a deepfake-heavy video in which Lamar morphed into Will Smith, Jussie Smollett, Kanye West, and others. He followed the LP with a concert film and went on to win Grammy Awards for Best Rap Album and, for “The Heart Part 5,” Best Rap Song.
Read about Kendrick Lamar’s Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers in “The 50 Best Albums of 2022.”
01 Wacced Out Murals
Producer: Craig Balmoris, Dahi, Jack Antonoff, M-Tech, Sounwave, Tyler Mehlenbacher, Frano
Composer: Deyra Barrera, Kendrick Lamar
Lyricist: Deyra Barrera, Kendrick Lamar
Additional Producer: M-Tech
Additional Vocals: Deyra Barrera
Associated Performer: Deyra Barrera
Mastering Engineer: Ruairi O’Flaherty
Mixer: Oli Jacobs
Recording Engineer: Jack Antonoff, Johnathon Turner, Laura Sisk, Oli Jacobs, Ray Charles Brown Jr.
Studio Personnel: Jack Antonoff, Johnathon Turner, Laura Sisk, Oli Jacobs, Ray Charles Brown Jr., Ruairi O’Flaherty
02 Squabble Up
Producer: Bridgeway, Jack Antonoff, Kendrick Lamar, M-Tech, Sounwave
Composer: Kendrick Lamar
Lyricist: Kendrick Lamar
Additional Producer: M-Tech
Associated Performer: Ink, Sam Drew
Mastering Engineer: Ruairi O’Flaherty
Mixer: Oli Jacobs
Recording Engineer: Jack Antonoff, Johnathan Turner, Laura Sisk, Oli Jacobs, Ray Charles Brown Jr.
Studio Personnel: Jack Antonoff, Johnathan Turner, Laura Sisk, Oli Jacobs, Ray Charles Brown Jr., Ruairi O’Flaherty
03 Luther
Producer: Bridgeway, Jack Antonoff, Kamasi Washington, M-Tech, Rose Lilah, Sounwave
Composer: Ink, Kendrick Lamar, Sam Dew, SZA
Lyricist: Ink, Kendrick Lamar, Sam Dew, SZA
Additional Vocals: Sam Dew
Associated Performer: Caleb Vaughn Smith, Drew Forde, Geoff Gallegos, Giovanna Moraga, Kerenza Peacock, Luanne Homzy, Luke Maurer, Paul Cartwright, Same Dew, Stephanie Payne, Stephanie Yu
Mastering Engineer: Ruairi O’Flaherty
Mixer: Oli Jacobs
Recording Engineer: Jack Antonoff, Johnathan Turner, Laura Sisk, Oli Jacobs, Ray Charles Brown Jr., Tony Shepperd
Strings: Caleb Vaughn Smith, Drew Forde, Geoff Gallegos, Giovanna Moraga, Kerenza Peacock, Luanne Homzy, Luke Maurer, Paul Cartwright, Same Dew, Stephanie Payne, Stephanie Yu
Studio Personnel: Jack Antonoff, Johnathon Turner, Laura Sisk, Oli Jacobs, Ray Charles Brown Jr., Ruairi O’Flaherty, Tony Shepperd
04 Man at the Garden
Producer: Craig Balmoris, Jack Antonoff, M-Tech, Sounwave, Tyler Mehlenbacher
Composer: Kendrick Lamar
Lyricist: Kendrick Lamar
Associated Producer: M-Tech
Associated Performer: Sam Dew
Background Vocalist: Sam Dew
Mastering Engineer: Ruairi O’Flaherty
Mixer: Oli Jacobs
Recording Engineer: Jack Antonoff, Johnathan Turner, Laura Sisk, Oli Jacobs, Ray Charles Brown Jr.
Studio Personnel: Jack Antonoff, Johnathan Turner, Laura Sisk, Oli Jacobs, Ray Charles Brown Jr., Ruairi O’Flaherty
05 Hey Now
Producer: Jack Antonoff, Mustard, Sounwave
Composer: Dody6, Kendrick Lamar
Lyricist: Dody6, Kendrick Lamar
Associated Performer: Sam Dew
Background Vocalist: Sam Dew
Mastering Engineer: Ruairi O’Flaherty
Mixer: Oli Jacobs
Recording Engineer: Jack Antonoff, Jonathan Turner, Laura Sisk, Oli Jacobs, Ray Charles Brown Jr.
Studio Personnel: Jack Antonoff, Jonathan Turner, Laura Sisk, Oli Jacobs, Ray Charles Brown Jr., Ruairi O’Flaherty
06 Reincarnated
Producer: Jack Antonoff, Kendrick Lamar, M-Tech, Noah Ehler, Sounwave
Composer: Deyra Barrera, Kendrick Lamar
Lyricist: Deyra Barrera, Kendrick Lamar
Associated Performer: Sam Dew
Background Vocalist: Sam Dew
Mastering Engineer: Ruairi O’Flaherty
Mixer: Oli Jacobs
Recording Engineer: Jack Antonoff, Jonathan Turner, Laura Sisk, Oli Jacobs, Ray Charles Brown Jr.
Studio Personnel: Jack Antonoff, Jonathan Turner, Laura Sisk, Oli Jacobs, Ray Charles Brown Jr., Ruairi O’Flaherty
07 TV Off
Producer: Jack Antonoff, Kamasi Washington, Mustard, Sean Momberger, Sounwave
Composer: Kendrick Lamar
Lyricist: Kendrick Lamar
Additional Vocals: Lefty Gunplay
Associated Performer: Amber Wyman, Chad Jackson, Evan Smith, Lefty Gunplay, Malik Taylor, Marta Honer, Miles Mosley, Paul Cartwright, Peter Jacobson, Reiko Nakano, Rickey Washington, Ryan Porter, Sean Sonderegger, Serafin Aguilar, Tylaa Renga, Yvette Devereaux, Zem Audu
Baritone Saxophone: Evan Smith
Bass: Miles Mosley
Cello: Peter Jacobson
Horn: Amber Wyman, Malik Taylor, Rickey Washington, Ryan Porter, Sean sonderegger, Serafin Aguilar
Tenor Saxophone: Evan Smith, Zem Audu
Violin: Chad Jackson, Marta Honer, Paul Cartwright, Reiko Nakano, Tylana Renga, Yverre Devereaux
Mastering Engineer: Ruairi O’Flaherty
Mixer: Oli Jacobs
Recording Engineer: Evan Smith, Jack Antonoff, Jonathan Turner, Laura Sisk, Oli Jacobs, Ray Charles Brown Jr., Tony Austin, Zem Audu
Studio Personnel: Evan Smith, Jack Antonoff, Jonathan Turner, Laura Sisk, Oli Jacobs, Ray Charles Brown Jr., Ruairi O’Flaherty, Tony Austin, Zem Audu
08 Dodger Blue
Producer: Jack Antonoff, Sounwave, Tane Runo, Terrace Martin, Tim Maxey
Composer: Kendrick Lamar, Sam Dew, Siete, Wallie the Sensei
Lyricist: Kendrick Lamar, Sam Dew, Siete, Wallie the Sensei
Additional Producer: Terrace Martin
Additional Vocals: Ink, Roddy Ricch, Sam Dew
Associated Performer: Ink, Roddy Ricch, Sam Dew
Mastering Engineer: Ruairi O’Flaherty
Mixer: Oli Jacobs
Recording Engineer: Jack Antonoff, Jonathan Turner, Laura Sisk, Oli Jacobs, Ray Charles Brown Jr.
Studio Personnel: Jack Antonoff, Jonathan Turner, Laura Sisk, Oli Jacobs, Ray Charles Brown Jr., Ruairi O’Flaherty
09 Peekaboo
Producer: Bridgeway, Sean Momberger, Sounwave
Composer: AzChike, Kendrick Lamar
Lyricist: AzChike, Kendrick Lamar
Mastering Engineer: Ruairi O’Flaherty
Mixer: Oli Jacobs
Recording Engineer: Jack Antonoff, Jonathan Turner, Laura Sisk, Oli Jacobs, Ray Charles Brown Jr.
Studio Personnel: Jack Antonoff, Jonathan Turner, Laura Sisk, Oli Jacobs, Ray Charles Brown Jr., Ruairi O’Flaherty
10 Heart Pt. 6
Producer: Jack Antonoff, JuJu, M-Tech, Sounwave
Composer: Kendrick Lamar
Lyricist: Kendrick Lamar
Additional Producer: JuJu, M-Tech
Associated Performer: Bobby Hawk, Ink, Sam Dew
Background Vocalist: Ink, Sam Dew
Mastering Engineer: Ruairi O’Flaherty Mixer: Oli Jacobs
Recording Engineer: Jack Antonoff, Johnathan Turner, Laura Sisk, Oli Jacobs, Ray Charles Brown Jr.
Studio Personnel: Jack Antonoff, Johnathan Turner, Laura Sisk, Oli Jacobs, Ray Charles Brown Jr., Ruairi O’Flaherty
Violin: Bobby Hawk
11 GNX
Producer: Jack Antonoff, Kenny & Billy, Rascal, Sounwave, Tim Maxey
Composer: Hitta J3, Kendrick Lamar, Peysoh, Young Threat
Lyricist: Hitta J3, Kendrick Lamar, Peysoh, Young Threat
Additional Producer: Tim Maxey
Mastering Engineer Ruairi O’Flaherty
Mixer: Oli Jacobs Recording Engineer
Recording Engineer: Jack Antonoff, Jacob Spitzer, Johnathan Turner, Laura Sisk, Oli Jacobs, Ray Charles Brown Jr.
Studio Personnel: Jack Antonoff, Jacob Spitzer, Johnathan Turner, Laura Sisk, Oli Jacobs, Ray Charles Brown Jr., Ruairi O’Flaherty
12 Gloria
Producer: Deats, Jack Antonoff, Sounwave
Composer: Deyra Barrera, Ink, Kendrick Lamar, SZA
Lyricist: Deyra Barrera, Ink, Kendrick Lamar, SZA
Associated Performer: Bobby Hawk, Sam Dew
Background Vocalist: Sam Dew
Mastering Engineer: Ruairi O’Flaherty
Mixer: Oli Jacobs
Recording Engineer: Jack Antonoff, Johnathan Turner, Laura Sisk, Oli Jacobs, Ray Charles Brown Jr.
Studio Personnel: Jack Antonoff, Johnathan Turner, Laura Sisk, Oli Jacobs, Ray Charles Brown Jr., Ruairi O’Flaherty
Violin: Bobby Hawk