From the Ringer Podcast Network, this is Dissect, long-form musical analysis broken into short digestible episodes.

This is episode 13 of our season-long analysis of Kendrick Lamar's, Mr. Morrell, and The Big Stepers.

I'm your host, Cole Kushner. Last time on Dysect, we examined Savior Interlude, where baby Keem describes the imperfect

circumstances of his childhood while expressing astonishment at beating the odds and finding

success. This interlude is a mirror image of Kodak Black's rich interlude

from Disc 1, and we posited that Kendrick is using Keem, Kodak, and himself as reflections

or representatives of the big steppers all across America. Born into a ruthless environment

without reliable role models, born into a country and system designed to fail them. Both

Keem and Kodak expressed how they

still feel lost even after obtaining the American dream at such a young age. Like Kendrick himself

learned, the wealth did not save Keem and Kodak from the trauma of their youth. Thus, Savior Interlude

ends with Keem describing his reckless intuition and calling out for moral and spiritual guidance.

This nigga be fresh out suicide doors are suicide, suicide, Lambo body, who gonna stop me,

baby, Keem is too wild. Function at the temple, Jesus peace is in the luwile. Mr. Moral.

This plea to Mr. Moral is a cry for help. It's a young man seeking direction, looking for someone to look up to.

And often when children and teens don't have role models in their life, they look elsewhere for guidance.

They look to celebrities, to athletes, to politicians, to musicians.

This sets the thematic stage for Mr. Morales' next track, the subject of our episode today, Savior.

Kendrick made you think about it, but he is not your savior.

Cole made you feel in power, but he is not your savior.

Future said get a money counter, but he is not your savior. Future said get a money counter, but he is not your savior. Brian made you give his flowers, but he is not your savior. He is not your savior.

Scored by piano and the rhythmic big stepper stumps, Kendrick Lamar retakes the stage after

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