Joe Budden is “Jealous” Of Kendrick Lamar’s Independence from leaving TDE.
On social media, the buzz around Kendrick Lamar’s new album, Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers, is palpable. The mystery singer hasn’t produced a full-length album since 2017’s Pulitzer Prize-winning DAMN., and followers have been clamouring for one ever since.
Joe Budden says he’s “jealous” of Kendrick Lamar’s freedom he is getting by moving his own label ahead of the release of his long-awaited fifth studio album, Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers. “I am so f**king jealous of how he’s able to do that,” Budden stated during the segment, after reading a post from Lamar’s website. “In his own way, just quietly, ain’t said a peep for years.”
When Budden’s co-host stated how thrilled he was for the album’s release, he said, ” “As a music lover, you’re excited, and part of why you’re excited is part of why I’m jealous: You have no idea what he’s talking about. We don’t know what he’s talking about. We don’t know what mood he’s in. We don’t know how he’s on.”
On Sunday (May 8), Kendrick Lamar unleashed “The Heart Pt. 5,” probably the first sample of Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers. The track borrows sample of Marvin Gaye and finds the Compton-bred MC as lyrically brilliant as ever, accompanied by a controversial video in which Kendrick changes into Kanye West, Will Smith, Kobe Bryant, OJ Simpson, Jussie Smollett, and Nipsey Hussle.
Last year, Lamar declared that Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers will be his final album with TDE in a statement on his website, oklama.com. “As I produce my final TDE album, I feel joy to have been a part of such a cultural imprint after 17 years,” he said at the time. “The Struggles. The Success. And most importantly, the Brotherhood. May the Most High continue to use Top Dawg as a vessel for candid creators. As I continue to pursue my life’s calling.”
