Lorde praises Kendrick Lamar, calls him “the most popular and influential artist in modern music”

The New Zealand pop star has expressed her love for the rapper’s new album, Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers.

In the most recent instalment of her fan newsletter shared yesterday (24 May), Lorde wrote: “I’m loving Kendrick. I cannot get over the most popular and influential artist in modern music displaying a working nervous system, admitting mistakes, trying to process intergenerational trauma and prejudice.”

“I love the way the album opens, the pace and heat of the first few songs,” she continued, “and later Count Me Out, the build and strings in Auntie Diaries… special.”

Lamar released Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers on 13 May. The double LP features contributions from Duval Timothy, Thundercat, Portishead’s Beth Gibbons, Pharrell, Baby Keem and Ghostface Killah amongst others. The record is Lamar’s first since 2017’s DAMN and his last release on Top Dawg Entertainment. We spoke to three professors about the themes on Lamar’s fifth studio album, which you can read here.

Both Lorde and Lamar are set to play Glastonbury this summer, which will mark the rapper’s debut performance at the festival. Lorde is currently on tour in the UK before she heads across Europe next month including an appearance at Barcelona’s Primavera Festival.

Read our review of Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers.