Kendrick Lamar is coming to the Moda Center with The Big Steppers Tour this Friday, August 26th. Grab your tickets here.
Kendrick Lamar is indisputably one of the greatest rap artists of his generation. The Compton native has amassed 14 Grammys and a Pulitzer Prize over his five studio albums. He’s currently on tour around the world with his latest album, Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers. Kendrick Lamar and The Big Steppers tour will come through Portland with a performance at Moda Center on Friday, August 26th.
Kendrick is one of those rare talents who’s been able to achieve both critical & commercial success while amassing the respect of the icons who originally inspired him. His breakthrough album, good kid, m.A.A.d city, showcased that talented lyricist’s ability to paint an intricate story with his music. Over 75 minutes, he tells the painful story of his youth spent surrounded by gangs and poverty in Compton, California. The album was named Best Album of 2012 by the BBC, Complex, Fact, and Pitchfork. His next three full-length albums, To Pimp a Butterfly, DAMN., and 2022’s Mr. Morale and The Big Steppers further solidified his position at the pinnacle of modern hip-hop.
The Big Steppers Tour
Kendrick announced the worldwide tour for Mr. Morale just hours after the album dropped. The massive tour launches in Oklahoma City on July 19 and will move across North America, Europe, and Australia before closing in New Zealand late in December.
With the tagline, “come help Mr. Morale get out of the box”, the tour is supported by Baby Keem and Tanna Leone. Baby Keem appeared on the Billboard charts with “Praise God”–a Kanye West collaboration–in 2021, and again with the song “Family Ties” featuring Baby Keem’s cousin: Kendrick Lamar. Tanna Leone is a rapper based out of Los Angeles and was one of the earliest signees to Kendrick’s pgLang imprint. Both artists appear on the Mr. Morale album, Keem on “Savior”, and Leone on “Mr. Morale”.
Some critics have noted the dense complexities and “frustratingly uneven” nature of Mr. Morale and The Big Steppers. It’s true that, even at his most commercial, Kendrick has never catered to pop music sensibilities, but he’s betting that fans will still connect with the songs live.
Doors: 7:30 PM | Moda Center | Fri. August 26th, 2022
