Dissect
Dissect
The Ringer
S13E18 - Dissecting "Mirror" by Kendrick Lamar
44 minutes Posted Jul 15, 2025 at 9:30 am.
So Delicious
Intro / E17 Recap
"Mirror" Intro Analysis
Verse 1 Analysis
Chorus Analysis
Verse 2 Analysis
Verse 3 Analysis
Bridge Analysis
"I Choose Me" Numerology
Final Thoughts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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Show notes
Our season long analysis of Kendrick Lamar's Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers concludes with its final track "Mirror." Serving as a lyrical epilogue to the album’s emotional climax, “Mirror” delivers Kendrick Lamar’s final moral lesson: “I choose me.” With this mantra, Kendrick brings his morality play to a close, rejecting the performance of salvation in favor of spiritual freedom, radical acceptance, and personal peace.
Returning to the character of oklama — “my people” — Kendrick offers listeners the same mirror he used to confront ego, trauma, and public expectation. The result is a parting reflection on self-love, unconditional compassion, and the divine power of choosing yourself.
Dissect is part of The Ringer podcast network.
Host/Writer/EP: Cole Cuchna
Video/Audio Production: Kevin Pooler
Additional Video Editing: Jon Jones
Additional Production: Justin Sayles
Theme Music: Birocratic
38:16 Final Thoughts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices