The INCREDIBLE Piano on Kendrick Lamar's Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers

Get my FREE piano mini-course here! cornell.academy/instant-piano... Start your piano journey now: get 30% off our beginner-friendly "Intro to Piano" course with code LEARNPIANO30! cornellmusicacademy.com/intro...
Follow me on social!!
Instagram: bit.ly/2WoR7W1
Twitter: bit.ly/2I02YAt
Facebook: bit.ly/2K4rHq8
TikTok: bit.ly/2X7pnlN

[@CharlesCornellStudios]

I'm SUPER pumped to announce our new Harmony 101 course taught by the guy who taught ME! Be sure to get 50% off by taking advantage of our pre-sale, no code necessary! cornellmusicacademy.com/harmony

[@Llamaful]

I’m also super pumped.

[@gabsauvage]

Is it something that i can follow if i have really mid to none understanding of music theory ?

[@ShyGuyDood]

Please review the team fortress 2 soundtrack.

[@aumipe2295]

You should definitely check out “Bring Me the Disco King” by David Bowie. Some brilliant piano work on there that would be interesting to see a breakdown of

[@iankinnes7453]

@@ShyGuyDood Yes I just started playing again due to the #SaveTF2 movement and the menu music brought back so many memories. It's perfect for this channel!

[@the1b219]

Ben Shapiro should watch this

[@atmo1839]

He wouldn’t. He’d rather make shitty music with the world’s most albertan man

[@shapalapa2373]

“Rap isn’t music”☝️🤓

[@vogelvogeltje]

“My father is a classically trained musician ☝️🤓” head ass

[@Handleoriginal12]

He isn’t interested in actually understanding the music. He just uses it as another talking point in his agenda

[@clam6254]

his take that “music needs melody, rhythm, and harmony and rap only has rhythm” is one of the stupidest things i’ve ever heard. does bro think rap is just something talking monotonically with no instruments?

[@EdTalenti]

I’d give anything to see you breakdown some of the harmony on “To Pimp a Butterfly”

[@coastercraziness]

You should make a beat like To Pimp A Butterfly or try sampling one of the songs into a beat 👀👀

[@ntokozodeligence4686]

Or Savior from the Mr morale and Big Steppers album

[@boogiedown747]

AYEEEEEEEE!

[@soniibeatz]

wasup ED!!!! i love your videos!

[@sondersonics7534]

The harmony on complexion is crazy

[@OMGKenny314]

That sample work on “We Cry Together” was the genius work of the legendary hip hop producer Alchemist

[@mellewillems]

Love the way he pulls his music together. Absolute 🐐

[@clementinelives]

Hip hop producers have such unique ears

[@reubenlee6438]

The alchemist is without question in the Top 5 hip hop producers of the 21st century. So versatile but always has a sound unlike any other producer before and after him.

[@joeymiller551]

goat always will be

[@coastercraziness]

@@reubenlee6438 he’s the best imo, he’s so crazy with samples and turns the weirdest stuff into crazy beats

[@terminalfilms8074]

Bruh I can’t believe people were saying this album was “mid”, just because it had sounds they weren’t used too.

[@coastercraziness]

You gotta analyze To Pimp A Butterfly! You’ll love the harmony on there, it’s crazy. One of the best hip hop albums there is, and the jazz influence is heavy

[@yilinmao]

❤️

[@kentokuda7033]

Bro it's literally a jazz album with rap on it lmao

[@coastercraziness]

@@kentokuda7033 no it’s still a rap album, but it’s jazz rap

[@kentokuda7033]

@@coastercraziness I know but the jazz in is so powerful with the rap for me it feels like it

[@kentokuda7033]

@@coastercraziness I was just exaggerating

[@jdicos]

One of the reasons I will always love Kendrick is his diversity in his songs. This album is already dope, but To Pimp a Butterfly will always be true for the saxophone. Good vid, Charles!

[@riptide534]

I agree with this assessment

[@viniciusc.8735]

To Pimp a Butterfly is Kendrick's magnum opus imo

[@mistadude]

@@viniciusc.8735 i agree wtih this assessment

[@Kaladin2077]

Yes, because everyone knows Kendrick plays every single instrument on all his songs, he's a real guy

[@nefeytirisunamun9186]

@@Kaladin2077 not entirely, I know his friend did the saxophone parts

[@kriterer]

The way Kendrick utilized jazz/romantic piano to bring out the story aspects of the harmony/instrumentals below the direct storytelling of his verses made me feel like I was listening to a musical at some points (in the best way)

[@juleslariosa]

I agree! having previously played in theatre productions, when I heard “We Cry Together” I could envision it as a scene in a musical

[@tonywords6713]

Definitely! Works with the tap dancing and the planning on we cry together the whole thing feels like psychodrama and a children's theatre

[@PEN_STAME]

He prolly did it on purpose cause he uses forms of media as a way to do his albums for ex GKMC was a movie Section 80 was a book TPAB was a poem and DAMN was like a magazine so he prolly went for a play type feel. Kendrick has all these concepts he utilizes and then still has a a main concept for the story so it’s like a concoction of genius

[@thatguywiththeface722]

Felt like the only guy in the universe who appreciated the piano cuts on this album at all, but of course one of the greatest pianists on yt proves me wrong👌

[@yungsircashregister]

Yeah

[@taet7066]

same omg, hardly anyone was talking about the instrumentation which is the main draw to the album for me!

[@danielgantner7468]

I love watching somebody explain exactly what makes Kendrick's music and instrumentation so moving and engaging. Would love to hear you break down "How Much a Dollar Cost" off of To Pimp a Butterfly!

[@tim_brooks]

a lot of these chords sound similar to that song. wonder if it’s the same guy?

[@coastercraziness]

Just a video on To Pimp A Butterfly in general would be awesome, that album is insane

[@tim_brooks]

@@coastercraziness i agree. “if these walls could talk” gives me chills every time it starts and i’ve probably heard it hundreds of times

[@coastercraziness]

@@tim_brooks pretty much every song is great (personally not of You Ain’t Gotta Lie) and I even love the interludes

[@SiliPiano]

It's sampled off of Radiohead's Pyramid Song. What less people mention is that the chords were probably taken from Liszt's 2nd Ballade

[@kenansijercic4254]

Alchemist did the best for ‘we cry together’. You should definitely check him out. One of the best producers in hip hop rn

[@zip5644]

one of the best producers ever,, not just rn

[@AST-erisked]

@@zip5644 like for real this dude just knows how to adapt at the times

[@marcb3733]

Its like Kendrick combined the elements of rock opera, stage play, cinema, and hip hop to make this absolutely genius nuanced album. You can enjoy the music, the messages, the lyrics, the themes, the lessons, this was a gift to us my guys.

[@grantcleveland4506]

I love the ways that Kendrick uses jazz sounds in his music! Truly one of the greatest artists of all time that we get the opportunity to experience first hand

[@cooldebt]

A few years ago I wrongly dismissed him (ie. not listening to him) as another mumble rapper type but the saxophonist from The Consouls said he was listening to a lot of Kendrick Lamar so I paid better attention after that and realised how wrong I had been!

[@HeadbangoO]

@@cooldebt Yep, you just have to find the instrumental versions...

[@cooldebt]

@@HeadbangoO LOL, instrumental rap ;) Actually, I love old school rap but one of my favourites back in the day was Guru who put out the Jazzmatazz collections (discovered MC Solaar who is STILL rapping) because I really liked the rap/jazz blend. (And just on my tangent of The Consouls, they do instrumental VGM jazz which is why I like them as I generally don't listen to vocal jazz.)

[@sonicboom564]

@@cooldebt super weird dismissal, considering he has kodak on the album on a feature who IS a “mumble rapper” but you can still clearly hear everything he says, maybe you should look into that “mumble rap” label, drop it, and appreciate art

[@DonPasquale_]

@@cooldebt lmao how did you ever come up with the notion that Kendrick was a mumble rapper? Hasn’t released a single song that would fall into that category

[@joshuakoppes3665]

Duval timothy did most of the piano on the album. He is severely underrated and has been one of my favorites for a while!!

[@jounin9988]

Duval needs more recognition for this. Basically all the piano from MMATBS was sampled from his 2016 album Brown Loop. I think kendrick is a genius for rapping to his music but it’s sad when he doesn’t even get mentioned in videos like this.

[@ChrisValencia]

Tyler the Creator's last few albums (Flower Boy, IGOR, or Call Me If You Get Lost) also has nice chord work. Tyler's said he's always been a fan of chords and implements/writes them most, if not all the time. There are vids of him playing if you look around. Hope you check him out

[@talandirabanda]

I think his best chord works was on flower boy and cmiygl, igor was good just not on the same level

[@nyukechen]

I promise you every kendrick album I feel he gets highly influenced by Tyler but no one notices or mentions it. Before TPAB was Wolf and before this album was IGOR everything he did musically in those albums reflect the tyler albums previously.

[@theicekingonYT]

Bbrrroooooo I have never even studied music or anything I don’t even understand most of what is being said but I remember specifically taking a walk back home listening specifically for the keys. The chord progression on the second verse of the song saviour had me fighting back tears

[@seansachs6105]

The piano was really the big thing that jumped out at me on first listen along with the vocal harmonies. Really cool fragments of dissonant jazz that owe a lot to the TPAB era. One of the things I notice a lot with Kendrick (& something that David Bruce pointed out as well), is that even though he’s never been formally trained in music theory or anything like that, just exposing himself (and being exposed, given his family’s musical history & his collaborators) to more complex musical genres like jazz & soul has helped give him a deep-rooted familiarity with the kinds of sounds & atmospheres he wants to convey, even without some of that technical language to put a name on it. I have a friend who’s got some of that (& I have some myself, since I didn’t really start learning anything more than the basics until recently). It’s very powerful.

[@johnxina2140]

As someone who's been playing the piano for a long time but has never learned any theory, it's absolutely bonkers to me that things like this can be so complicated. To me it's just "oh yeah these sound nice together how about that" but to you it's an entirely different language. Amazing.

[@BeautifulFreakful]

learning music is very much like playing a new language, at a very basic level we could say notes are letters, chords are words, and harmonic progressions are sentences

[@florriemccarthy2457]

I totally get this. But what i will say is that learning the theory and the language allows you to understand maybe why it sounds good or communicate it more efficiently to other musivisns

[@johnxina2140]

@@florriemccarthy2457 oh I agree, it's not like I don't want to know it, I just feel that in some instances it can hinder creativity, tlwhem you're thinking of being in certain keys or scales whereas if you know nothing it's just a "make something that you enjoy" bar none of any lack of sense it may contain. Also lessons are expensive and am broke lol

[@barisharslan6115]

@@johnxina2140 I just feel that in some instances it can hinder creativity - that's completely untrue. You just know the name of what you're playing. It's still up to the musician to express their creativity.

[@johnxina2140]

@@barisharslan6115 I'm not saying that people that learned instruments through theory and lessons are just slaves to sheet music, obviously there's still incredible creativity. I'm just saying that through the things I've seen and heard, I've personally heard more interesting and unique sounds from people that are self taught, that's all

[@Znatnhos]

All of the reviews of this album I've heard so far have focused almost exclusively on the controversial aspects rather than the music itself. Can't deny the musical genius evident here no matter what you think of the man behind it.

[@joshuakomane6591]

I’m so grateful you actually did this album 😭 I don’t think people give Kendrick and his team enough credit for the music, ideas and harmonies he shared in his music over the years.

[@carissac33]

I know I"m super late to the party but I can't help but hear how the instruments in United in Grief are an extension of Kendrick's thought, feelings, etc. The fast punchy drums represents the surface level coping mechanisms of material possessions or addictions. They are loud, distracting, and really pleasing to the ear. But when he says "I grieve different" the piano comes in personifying his grief. The song continues with fast drums but the piano is a constant reminder of his grief. There's even a few major chords showing how there's hope of getting better but only to go back to the minors reminding us of the struggle of dealing with grief. At the end of the song the drums fade out while the piano plays. The materials/addiction can only distract or help so much and Kendrick has to deal with his emotions head on. It's only through accepting therapy that Kendrick is able to transend which is the major theme. This song is just the perfect intro for this album.

[@chavaunjones3857]

Just stumbled on this....but I gotta say, I LOVE watching this guy appreciate music and chords that would normally go unnoticed. Tickled me pink.

[@BattleRapBum]

a lot of the piano work was done by this dude named Duval Timothy (listed as producer on numerous tracks). Listen to songs such as “Through the Night”, which is the same production used on “Crown”

[@The_Catalyzt]

It makes me so happy to see you give the ART of sampling it's well deserved flowers. Alchemist made an absolute gem of a song out of a random part of that record, and then Kendrick and Taylour Paige turned it into a masterpiece.

[@olliemartinelli4034]

Surely you have to react to Pimp a butterfly? Arguably one of the best albums of all time. A jazz musician's dream of a rap record

[@gminor6288]

How much a dollar cost? 😍

[@Apizzaslice]

Complexion 😍

[@WildHeart7777]

It’s great to see someone talk about the music on this record. It’s so different. I was hooked immediately.

[@twocows2403]

I love Sen Am by Duval Timothy and I was surprised and delighted by how many credits he had on this album. I did not expect it, but he and Kendrick make a fantastic pair.

[@MrVirly]

I love when people can explain things I love in technical ways to me. ❤️❤️

[@gliecco]

The sample work on We Cry Together is really amazing

[@bdgabuilt]

I was waiting to hear that "Father Time" breakdown 😅 I'm no musician, but I swear the way you describe these sounds are exactly the way they register in my ear. I hope more people can appreciate the sounds delivered through this album.

[@coastercraziness]

The Alchemist is a madman, he found that one piece of the sample for We Cry Together and just thought “let’s use that” WHAT GOES THROUGH HIS BRAIN

[@jackdawson5490]

Everybody talking about TPAB in the comments, and they're right. Most interesting song to me musically in the album is "For Sale?" It's just so complex and beautiful, like nothing you've ever heard in a rap song before. Also Untitled 05 is very underrated.

[@piesmuggler7268]

agreed For Sale and 05 are beautiful. u and Mortal Man would also be very complex and interesting to analyze. the chord progression of Wesley's Theory probably isn't very complicated, but i've always wanted to know it too because it's so cool for a funk beat to have that darkness.

[@SkatohGleason]

Untitled 05 uses the “Nardis” chords

[@calebxviii]

was looking for a comment about 05 it’s absolutely underrated

[@xbenci]

05 is one of Kendrick's best songs imo, but more importantly it would definitely be amazing for a breakdown. a lot of subtleties in the instrumental, while there's also a very upfront piano that is a key part of the track

[@danielpinzon5603]

FOR SALE IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE SONGS EVER and no one ever talks about it it is such a crazy good song

[@Oscar-mi7yi]

Love how into the music you get. I don't even read music or play piano yet somehow I understood the whole video and you took me on a journey through this album. Beautiful. Your enthusiasm is the definition of infectious

[@kpdelaney6460]

After listening to the album I was really wanting to see what you thought of it. Glad you made a video over it!

[@theblackdaria_]

I have watched a bunch of your videos, I know NOTHING about music theory, but boy do I love to hear someone who is passionate about what they love and know. Thank you. ❤️

[@RayfieldA]

Thank you, Charles, for sharing this Kendrick Lamar CD that I otherwise would have likely never listened to. You point out the beautiful colors that these amazing piano chords paint all around us as we listen! I love hearing piano chords that make Me want to play again!

[@iamdodgepodge]

This is why I instantly got hooked on this album when I first listened to it, 2 years late, and on a plane. The piano and background beats/music are some of the best I've heard.

[@djprimetime9164]

It’s amazing to see your passion, expression and love for Jazz in everything from Kendrick to Silk Sonic to Earth Wind and Fire to name a few. Keep these videos coming. It reminds me how much good music is out there and how much good music is still being made. 🤙🏾

[@swaggerboy128]

I really enjoy how passionate and excited you are about not only music in general but piano specifically.

[@piesmuggler7268]

i was gonna recommend this to you lol. anyone working on a kendrick project is always amazing. also, i've always wanted to know more about the harmony of tracks off of to pimp a butterfly like wesley's theory, u, and mortal man. great video.

[@Dancarnate]

Yeah, this new Kendrick album is phenomenal, the musicality and the overall message of working on yourself through therapy after all of the things that happen in our lives is just so damned good. I think it is my fav album by him, up there with To Pimp a Butterfly for sure. So glad you covered it!

[@Iche630]

Only Kendrick can make music sound so unique and refreshing.

[@MajorG13]

Eh not only him but definitely unique and refreshing

[@lovenissy4029]

I absolutely love harmonies they sound like angels singing to me!🥺🥺🥺😜

[@RobinsMusic]

What

[@joshuakoppes3665]

Well yes the angels would most likely be signing harmonies

[@raist1er]

I believe Duval Timothy is the pianist on most of the album

[@johannsebastian6489]

I've been listening to this album for about 2 weeks now, and after watching this video, I've grown to form a new appreciation for it as a musician, from what you've pointed out. Really awesome video!

[@vanessaseymour2634]

I'm glad someone focused on the instrumentation of the album, because that's what I was drawn to on my first listen. Many people were disappointed because there wasn't enough club bangers or radio airplay. I love the piano work, it adds to the drama of the lyrics. Thank you for the breakdown.

[@ashtonwu3224]

I could feel the passion ooze through the screen from your analysis.... if there's one thing you're doing, all I know is that it's RIGHT.

[@patrickvalentino600]

The transitions and little turns also are peppered with the third relationships and the half-step motion from the initial 2 chords, which is what makes so much of it seem native to the piece even as varied as everything gets - a motif that gives unity

[@akimbojimbo8393]

I watched this entire video having absolutely no idea what he was talking about. Enjoyed it anyway

[@Javaboymk03]

I can feel Charles trying his hardest not to get demonetized during the "We Cry Together" section

[@josephedet8482]

This video, this pianist, this song, this chords, well done, this is one of the best I have watched

[@HexYan]

Man, i know this is something different. But, got me through some tough times. Listening to you explaining your love for these things made me focus when i had none. Fantastic channel, i love it :)

[@alexherman1659]

You allow me to bring my passion for music into real life, I was playing along this whole video and fell back into a trance when I first heard these chords!! Thank you

[@jakemckown7195]

I am so happy you made this video, please do more like this

[@dominicmoisant8393]

Love that C-7 to Dbmaj7#11 sound, Wayne Shorter used it a lot on tunes like Speak No Evil and Deluge. Really cool sound you get when you play the C minor pentatonic over the Db major, gives all the color tones, major 7, 9, 3, sharp 4 and 6

[@northofbrandon]

AMAZING video. Thank you for breaking down with theory why this song is so affecting to so many.

[@zacharyatticus9493]

amazing analysis! i think it’s thematically fascinating how the sample for “we cry together” is from a track called “valentine”, furthering the dramatic irony of samples throughout the album in comparison to the themes of the tracks. for “father time” the sample is “not there”, but i was not aware of the sample you showcased. again, great work!

[@federeeco3198]

I was so overwhelmed by the harmony and the rhythm in this album that i just can’t stop listening to it. anytime i play a mr morale song is like discovering new things… the music here is so fucking unpredictable man 🤯 he truly is an incredible artist with some amazing ideas 💡. Glad i found this video bro, i was so curious to study this! Thanks bro 😎

[@zachpeck374]

You might have just convinced me to learn the piano, I loved this breakdown! I’m a violinist but I can relate to your appreciation for the genius piano work on the album.

[@angeloquinto789]

This album is my favorite of this year. I was excited to see watch this video. Would love to see more analysis on classic hip hop albums who sampled jazz like Illmatic by Nas or Low-End Theory by A Tribe Called Quest and maybe how jazz players get inspired from hip hop rhythms and grooves.

[@euphoriasveryown]

This was amazing. I’m so obsessed with this album and I continue to learn more and more about it each day 😆

[@christianokami2220]

I appreciate the respect for the actual musicality required for putting together great samples. Sampling is actually what brought me to jazz as well as many styles across the world.

[@ARtorNot8]

This video is that much better bc of your passion and appreciation for the music!

[@pitpride1220]

Great video! I would've loved to see you break down Father Time. Some beautiful chords in that song.

[@Krullenbol010]

I really didn’t expect Charles to make a video on this album but boy I love that he did!

[@diegohuijbregtsgarcia5102]

I've been WAITING for this. Love man ❤️

[@dershope]

the passion you have to explain us the beauty of it ... thanks a loooooott for that

[@bongor628]

Really love the piano graphic at the bottom, it's super helpful. Thanks brother!

[@undergroundo]

Aweome piano visualization at eh bottomof the screen! Thank you for adding this!

[@finalbreath15]

Your channel is great, I love this kind of content/music analysis stuff, definitely subbed!

[@neilmenghani8848]

I’ve been waiting for this!

[@funcorner8522]

I love your videos they help me understand more about music

[@vatsulean]

I really want to learn the piano and this video sent chills. I don't know all the chords and transitions, complete beginner, but you explained things soooo well!

[@DojoOfCool]

Another great breakdown of a great album.

[@coreyshafarman8918]

I love Kendrick Lamar's music so much. TPAB is on my top 5 albums of all time, and this album is another incredible release from him

[@muayedalkhalifa3797]

As soon as I heard united in grief I was like "I hope Charles make a video about it" and you finally did it!!

[@dariusg7044]

2:20 I instantly thought of Joe Hisaishi with that chord haha

[@codykucharski3246]

My lord. This was such a great video to watch/listen while on lunch. Makes me want to run back home to my keys!!

[@LimitlessHipHop]

We love you brother ….you are amazing yourself ..thank you for taking time to break us off with these nuggets and jewels ..

[@jryce]

this is so cool, great video! love your advice for making the music more interesting

[@alan_5127]

really love your vids man, keep it up

[@cheetosguy7325]

I was hoping you'd make a Video on this album because of how many unique instrumentals there is for this album so happy😁😁

[@bee_whisper]

I feel like this album is so deep and from a place of progress mentally

[@erwanvaquet]

There's some track that reming me of the nujabes style. Something retro with a lot of nostalgic.

[@probablythefbi8230]

Didn’t expect to see you talking about Mr Morale im so happy now

[@prodbyluis7693]

Kendrick and his music team have mastered such a beautiful fusion of so many genres throughout all his albums, it honestly amazes me.

[@Nerdorkgeek]

I think I could recognize Duval Timothy’s music anywhere. Whenever I hear his work on big creator’s albums I can immediately tell, his style is just so intricate and full of artful character. It’s unmistakable to me. I love to see him collaborating with big names and getting some recognition for his talent.

[@tychonpreston4194]

Just Bought the Harmony 101 course, so excited!

[@thegrt.flootFash]

I loved how you dissected the music. I really payed attention, m very interesting too.

[@beinerthchitivamachado9892]

Crown is SO beautiful I had to learn it on the Piano IMMEDIATELY.

[@melvyn_ivy]

How Kendrick approaches collaboration alone should be given a Grammy, very much like a director he’s aware what colours he wants, encyclopaedically where to get them as well as who to cast in contemporary music that will get that thing. Not just musically but visually as well, see how the Element video references Gordon Parks imagery for example.

[@DjMiflyn]

Great explanation of the harmonies

[@loganuck1451]

I really like the layout with the midi and your fingers visible as well

[@LORENZOMILIND]

i could never play like this in my life, but i love learning from you and these videos!

[@jknock148]

This video needs to go viral!

[@viniciusc.8735]

I dont understand half of the things he says, but i love how he exolains how the melody gives you a sensation

[@Terra654]

This album really came out of nowhere for me but man am I happy it's here. Kendrick and the people who work with him are really genius with music and it's unreal. Appreciate the video!

[@siriusakari6729]

The sample for We Cry Together shows the genius of sampling in hip hop. How a few notes from a source you would never associate with hip hop can create a whole new song and vibe.

[@martincasadoblanco7799]

man, I needed this video

[@awkwardopus]

Honestly I had gotten into Duval a little before this album came out and I'd love for you to go through his work, really great pieces.