Kendrick Lamar and the big samples
Switched on Pop24 Maj 2022

Kendrick Lamar and the big samples

It’s been five years since Kendrick Lamar released his Pulitzer winning album DAMN. Having established himself as a modern rap virtuoso whose songs have become anthems fueling social movements, expectations run high for his latest release. So when he dropped his new album Mr Morale and the Big Steppers, people tuned in - it is the biggest album drop of 2022 so far. Lamar moves his focus presumably from the societal to the personal on the double LP. His words arrive seemingly from therapy sessions meditating on family, infidelity, and the healing power of nature. The album has some bumps: platforming artists with a problematic past and an inelegant attempt at LGBTQ+ allyship. But nothing on the record is quite straight forward. Lamar doesn’t always say exactly what he means. He frequently shifts voices and puts on different characters. In musical interludes on the record, the sound of tap dancers points to the performative nature of recored music. Rather than give us direct meaning Kendrick leaves breadcrumbs for us to follow. To unravel his lyrics its necessarily to also examine the underlying production. The samples on Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers aren’t used just for their sound, in many cases they unlock the song’s meaning. Switched On Pop picked six stand out samples for close listening to hear the intent hidden in the music. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Avsnitt(523)

The hick hop renaissance (BigXthaPlug and Bailey Zimmerman)

The hick hop renaissance (BigXthaPlug and Bailey Zimmerman)

One of the biggest country hits of the year has been "All The Way," by Texas rapper BigXthaPlug and country rocker Bailey Zimmerman, which peaked at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song is a perfectl...

24 Juni 202535min

Is Morgan Wallen the problem with country music?

Is Morgan Wallen the problem with country music?

Country music stands at a crossroads between tradition and evolution, and no artist embodies this tension better than Morgan Wallen. His song "I'm the Problem" opens with beautiful bluegrass guitar be...

23 Juni 202535min

"Manchild" and other songs about male incompetence

"Manchild" and other songs about male incompetence

Looking for relationship advice? Skip the self-help books and turn to Sabrina Carpenter's latest single "Manchild" instead. This deep dive into the art of musical insults reveals how pop's newest sens...

17 Juni 202529min

Frankly, Sinatra still matters (with Seth MacFarlane)

Frankly, Sinatra still matters (with Seth MacFarlane)

What if the Chairman of the Board's biggest contribution to music wasn't his voice, but the blueprint he created for modern pop stardom? Frank Sinatra didn't just sing songs: he invented the concept a...

10 Juni 202548min

Is the future of pop...heavy metal?!

Is the future of pop...heavy metal?!

The UK outfit Sleep Token has done what we once thought impossible: Found commercial success playing heavy metal music in 2025 AD. Their fourth studio album, Even in Arcadia, went to number one on th...

3 Juni 202545min

Charli XCX threw this party 4 us

Charli XCX threw this party 4 us

Five years ago, Charli XCX released the track "party 4 u," a melancholic ode to throwing a function for that one specific person. Now, in 2025, the song has gotten a renewed life – motivated by a fool...

27 Maj 202538min

808: The drum machine that changed music forever (Twenty Thousand Hertz)

808: The drum machine that changed music forever (Twenty Thousand Hertz)

The 808 is arguably the most iconic drum machine ever made. Even if you’ve never heard of it, you’ve definitely heard it. It’s in dozens of hit songs -- from Usher to Marvin Gaye, Talking Heads to The...

25 Maj 202527min

Chartbreakers: Lorde & Drake reboot, Worship Pop, and the shortest song ever

Chartbreakers: Lorde & Drake reboot, Worship Pop, and the shortest song ever

What happens when worship anthems climb the charts alongside soul revivals and nostalgia-driven comebacks? The May 2025 Billboard charts reveal a fascinating musical landscape where Drake performs a s...

20 Maj 202552min

Populärt inom Nöje

mellan-himmel-och-jord-med-jlc
filip-fredrik-svarar
mardromsgasten
dialogiskt
rss-p3-musikdokumentar
mannen-utan-spar
badfluence
schulman-show
chilla-med-de-vet-du
fem-i-topp
gott-snack-med-fredrik-soderholm
skandal
podme-bio-4
hemma-hos-strage
karatefylla
sexet
rss-rockpodden
norden-jag
tv-fabriken
let-me-know-kiss-army-sweden-podcast