Kendrick Lamar First Used His ‘Oklama’ Name in 2021
Grammy-winning rapper Kendrick Lamar has released hit albums throughout his career, from his breakout album good kid, m.A.A.d. city to his acclaimed LPs To Pimp a Butterfly and DAMN. Now, Lamar is gearing up to release another new album, his first in five years.
Kendrick Lamar is releasing a new album
Kendrick Lama released his smash album DAMN. in 2017. In the five years since then, fans have been eager for K-Dot’s return to the world of hip-hop.
Lamar is returning with his highly-anticipated fifth album in 2022. The project, Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers, was announced on a special website by someone named Oklama — an alias used by Lamar.
The album will be released through “his company pgLang.” And while Lamar appears to be going by a new name and new persona in this album era, Oklama isn’t an entirely new concept.
Kendrick Lamar first used the Oklama name last year
According to the press release, “all factual information for this release will come directly from this source only.” Lamar’s Twitter account linked to the announcement while quoting another tweet from that read “Kendrick Lamar is officially retired.”
The Oklama website contains a landing page that shows a file folder labeled “nu thoughts.” Lamar first spoke as Oklama and shared his thoughts about his next album in an open letter posted to the site in August 2021.
He shared his reflections on the process of creating his new album as
As someone who famously remains off social media, Lamar only lets out information that we wants to release in small drops. In the letter to his fans, “Oklama” spoke openly about what he’s been up to.
“I spend most of my days with fleeting thoughts. Writing. Listening. And collecting old Beach cruisers. The morning rides keep me on a hill of silence,” he mused.
He revealed that he enjoys his privacy so much that he doesn’t even have a cell phone on him for months at a time. “I go months without a phone. Love, loss, and grief have disturbed my comfort zone, but the glimmers of God speak through my music and family,” he said.
“While the world around me evolves, I reflect on what matters the most. The life in which my words will land next,” he continued.
His upcoming album is slated to be his last under Top Dawg Entertainment, or TDE, the same record label that boasts big-name artists such as SZA, ScHoolboy Q, Isaiah Rashad, and Doechii. While he’s likely excited about the next chapter of his career, he reassured others that he treasures all of the time he spent on TDE’s roster.
“As I produce my final TDE album, I feel joy to have been a part of such a cultural imprint after 17 years. The Struggles. The Success. And most importantly, the Brotherhood,” he said honestly. “May the Most High continue to use Top Dawg as a vessel for candid creators. As I continue to pursue my life’s calling.”
“There’s beauty in completion. And always faith in the unknown, he concluded. “Thank you for keeping me in your thoughts. I’ve prayed for you all. See you soon enough.”
