Kendrick Lamar: new album release date, who is Oklama, when was Damn released - what did rapper say on Twitter

Rapper Kendrick Lamar has said his long-awaited new album will be released next month.

The musician shared to Instagram that his upcoming fifth studio album, titled ‘Mr Morale & The Big Steppers’, will be released in May.

Here is everything you need to know about it.

Who is Oklama?

The multiple Grammy winner revealed the news in a letter under his alter-ego moniker ‘Oklama’ shared on letterhead from his media company pgLang, which he founded with his business partner Dave Free in 2020.

He also shared the news on Twitter in a cryptic manner by sharing a tweet which said “Kendrick Lamar is officially retired” and adding a link to his website oklama.com.

The link goes to a white screen with two old-style file icons, with one containing the announcement.

The 34-year-old’s most recent studio album was 2017’s ‘Damn’, which won the Pulitzer Prize for music, becoming the first non-jazz or classical work to do so.

His other albums include 2011’s ‘Section.80’, 2012’s ‘Good Kid, M.A.A.D City’ and 2015’s ‘To Pimp A Butterfly’.

Is Lamar still with Top Dawg Entertainment?

Lamar previously announced that his next album will be his last with Top Dawg Entertainment, the label he has been signed to since the start of his career.

The rapper shared the news in August in a statement stored in the second file on the oklama.com website, where he said he felt “joy to have been a part of such a cultural imprint after 17 years”.

He also said he had been living a quiet life, spending most of his days with “fleeting thoughts. Writing. Listening. And collecting old Beach cruisers”.

“Love, loss, and grief have disturbed my comfort zone, but the glimmers of God speak through my music and family”, he added.

“While the world around me evolves, I reflect on what matters the most. The life in which my words will land next.”

What songs will be on the album?

As of the time of writing, the tracklisting for Lamar’s latest record is yet to be confirmed.

We’ll update this article as soon as we know more.

Is he headlining Glastonbury?

The rapper is due to make his Glastonbury Festival debut this summer as he headlines the closing proceedings on the Sunday.

The festival, which has been cancelled for the last two years, will make its return in June with Sir Paul McCartney as its Saturday night headliner – his second time topping the Pyramid stage after a performance in 2004.

Organisers previously revealed that Billie Eilish would headline Friday, becoming the festival’s youngest ever solo headliner at 20, while Diana Ross will play the legends slot.

Earlier this year, Lamar was part of a crew of all star rappers at a nostalgic Super Bowl half-time show led by Dr Dre, which threw back to their community hip-hip roots.

And at the recent Grammy Awards, Lamar and his cousin won the best rap performance award for their song ‘Family Ties’ - Lamar’s 14th Grammy.

When can I listen to it?

Kenrdrick Lamar’s upcoming fifth studio album will be released on 13 May.