Photo Credit: Merlijn Hoek / CC by 2.0
Kendrick Lamar’s Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers has broken a new Apple Music record for 2022.
The album has consumed the zeitgeist in many different circles on social media in the last few days. Some circles are upset that the album features Kodak Black, who can be heard on the tracks “Worldwide Steppers,” “Rich (Interlude),” and “Silent Hill.” The response to the feature has been mixed. Some fans were happy to see the young rapper get a spotlight on the album, while others weren’t.
“Kendrick having Kodak on this album is like how Kanye made that song with DaBaby and brought out Marilyn Manson,” someone tweeted about the album, mentioning past controversial artists.”Why is Kendrick talking about sexual assault on this album if he has a Kodak Black feature?” another fan asked, referencing Kodak Black’s sexual assault charges.
The discussion about the album has helped it achieve a new Apple Music record. Kendrick Lamar’s Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers has the most first-day listens of any album of 2022 so far.
Apple Music didn’t share exact numbers, but it did confirm the record on Twitter. The album will likely debut at number one on the charts as the week finishes. Kendrick Lamar has also announced his ‘The Big Steppers Tour‘ with artists Baby Keem and Tanna Leone as supporting acts.
Kendrick Lamar’s tour kicks off in Oklahoma City on July 19 and runs through September 15 in Los Angeles. The European leg of the tour begins on October 10 in Prague and will wrap up in Manchester on November 16. After that, Kendrick will head down to Oceania for dates in Perth, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, and Aukland.
Curious about the tour dates for the concert? Check out our coverage to see if the tour stops in a city near you.