Kendrick Lamar is one of the most artistically ambitious and decorated artists of the new generation. His latest album, the hauntingly personal and polarizing double disc Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers is his most challenging album to date. The off-kilter flows and auto-biographical lyrics of the album were brought to life as the Pulitzer Prize recipient kicked off The Big Steppers Tour at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City last night (July 19).
This tour almost doubles as a revue show for Lamar’s newly launched label pgLang as the openers, Baby Keem and Tana Leone, are the two first signees to the label. Both openers have features on Lamar’s 2022 album and were brought out to perform during the headliner’s 26-song set. Leone was brought out to perform the title track “Mr. Morale” towards the end of the show while Keem joined Lamar in a glass box for “Family Ties”, the viral hit from Keem’s 2021 album The Melodic Blue.
Lamar performed most of his latest album along with hits from his previous award-winning albums. Songs like “Worldwide Steppers”, “Father Time”, “Purple Hearts”, “Die Hard”, “Crown”, and “Mr. Morale” all received live debuts during the tour opener. In true Kendrick Lamar fashion, the stage design played a key role in his performance. Choreographed umbrella dances and larger-than-life visuals were displayed during songs like “United in Grief”.
The Big Steppers tour has Lamar and his pgLang affiliates going across the country. The next stop is a string of dates in Texas before heading over to Miami to headline the Rolling Loud festival.
Check out the full setlist and videos from last night’s performance below:
