Episodes
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📺 Watch this breakdown on YouTube
Dissect's Cole Cuchna breaks down Kendrick Lamar’s innovative 2025 Super Bowl Halftime Show — scene by scene, lyric by lyric, symbol by symbol — to reveal a powerful narrative about the Black American experience throughout history.
This is not a standard recap. This is a forensic analysis of every detail: the set design, the wardrobe, the major and minor characters, the color palette, the set list, and the cultural commentary embedded in Kendrick’s show. From the GNX to Uncle Sam, from the divided American flag to the four control button stage, we explore how Kendrick used his 13-minute performance to honor his artform, unite his community, and beat the Great American Game.
📍 Topics include:
• Kendrick Lamar’s use of the Hero’s Journey to structure his Super Bowl performance
• Significance of Kendrick’s wardrobe, from the pins on his hat to his flare bell-bottom jeans
• The layered symbolism of Uncle Sam played by Samuel L Jackson
• Four Levels of the “Great American Game”
• How Kendrick alluded to the timeline of Black American history, from slavery, segregation, great migrations, mass incarceration, and assassinations of Black leaders
• Kendrick’s tribute to his ancestors through the dead homies and guardian angels
• Meaning of recurring street light symbolism in Kendrick’s art
• Symbolism of each of the four control buttons, the gameboard, and playing field
🧠 This video is the result of weeks of meticulous research, providing a deep dive into Kendrick Lamar’s use of visual storytelling and symbolism.
Let’s Dissect.
👇 Chapters
00:00 Introduction
02:22 Superdome or Red Button?
04:42 Decoding the Gameboard and Controller
07:01 4 Levels of "Great American Game"
09:48 The Meaning of Uncle Sam
13:34 Main Character Energy
16:45 The Story Begins on "Square" One - Bodies
21:40 Powered by Angels - Squabble Up
29:19 Be Humble - Decoding the American Flag
31:44 The Great Migrations -DNA & Euphoria
37:12 Man at the Cemetery Garden
42:29 Deduct One Life - Peekaboo
49:04 Divine Feminine Counsel - Luther / All The Stars
54:59 Uncle Sam Gets Duped
56:06 They vs. Us - Not Like Us
01:04:55 Serena Williams Reclaims Crip Walk
01:07:35 Victory Lap - TV Off
01:11:13 Turn Your TV Off / Conclusions
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We're taking a few weeks off Dissect's Cole Cuchna is joined by The Ringer's Charles Holmes to discuss Kendrick Lamar's GNX and debate it's best song. There's GNX background and trivia, lyrical breakdowns, and best song nominations. They also discuss the Kendrick x Drake battle songs to see whether any of Kendrick's battle tracks make the cut.
Last Song Standing is an annual show on the Dissect podcast feed that attempts to crown an artist's greatest song of all time by debating their way through their entire discography. Past season can listened to for free on Spotify.
Dissect will resume its season on Mr. Morale and The Big Steppers in a few weeks.
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Missing episodes?
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Our season-long analysis of Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers continues with "Purple Hearts." As the final song of Disc 1, "Purple Hearts" represents a critical juncture in the album where Kendrick calls on God to guide him through the album's emotionally wrenching second half. Kendrick also receives guidance from Ghostface Killah, who plays a Saint-like role in the story.
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Host/Writer/EP: Cole Cuchna
Video/Audio Production: Kevin Pooler
Additional Production: Justin Sayles
Theme Music: Birocratic
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Our season-long analysis of Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers continues with its eighth track "We Cry Together." We interpret the song as a representation of Eckhart Tolle's concept of the pain-body, an energy field within the body comprised of accumulated, unconfronted trauma and pain.
Shop Dissect S13 Merch. Follow Dissect on Instagram, Twitter, or TikTok.
Host/Writer/EP: Cole Cuchna
Video/Audio Production: Kevin Pooler
Additional Production: Justin Sayles
Theme Music: Birocratic
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Our season-long examination of Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers continues with "Rich Spirit."
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Host/Writer/EP: Cole Cuchna
Video/Audio Production: Kevin Pooler
Additional Production: Justin Sayles
Theme Music: Birocratic
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Dissect's Cole Cuchna is joined by hip hop journalist Rob Markman to discuss the 10 year anniversary of Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp a Butterfly. Together they reflect on the album's release and reception, its enduring themes, and its legacy.
Watch Rob's iconic MTV interview with Kendrick here. Follow Rob Markman on YouTube.
Host: Cole Cuchna
Guest: Rob Markman
Video/Audio Producer: Kevin Pooler
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Our season-long analysis of Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers continues with "Rich - Interlude," a track given to controversial rapper Kodak Black. Why? Well, that's exactly the question we attempt to answer.
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Host/Writer/EP: Cole Cuchna
Video/Audio Production: Kevin Pooler
Additional Production: Justin Sayles
Theme Music: Birocratic
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Our season-long analysis of Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers continues with a lyrical dissection of "Father Time." Kendrick confronts the mask of masculinity he inherited from his father and realizes he must transcend the toxic elements or risk passing them on to his own children.
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Host/Writer/EP: Cole Cuchna
Video/Audio Production: Kevin Pooler
Additional Production: Justin Sayles
Theme Music: Birocratic
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Our season-long analysis of Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers continues with "Die Hard." After establishing the capacity for evil in all human beings on the previous song, "Die Hard" posits that the opposite must be true: that we all have the capacity for good, too.
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Host/Writer/EP: Cole Cuchna
Video/Audio Production: Kevin Pooler
Additional Production: Justin Sayles
Theme Music: Birocratic
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Our season-long dissection of Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers continues with a lyrical analysis of "Worldwide Steppers."
New episodes release every Tuesday.
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Host/Writer/EP: Cole Cuchna
Video/Audio Production: Kevin Pooler
Additional Production: Justin Sayles
Theme Music: Birocratic
Chapters
00:00 Intro
00:25 Episode 2 Recap
01:21 "Worldwide Steppers" Intro Analysis
03:33 Meaning of "oklama"
07:25 Significance of Name Order
10:13 "Worldwide Steppers" Breakdown & Significance
12:13 Chorus Breakdown
14:48 Eckhart Tolle's Egoic Unconsciousness Explained
16:50 Verse 1 Analysis
28:15 Verse 2 Analysis
35:14 Chorus Analysis Pt 2
38:56 Verse 3 Analysis
53:52 Conclusions / Episode Recap
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We continue our season-long analysis of Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers with its second track "N95." Kendrick critiques the various masks we wear to fabricate our identities in our performance of self on the world's stage.
New episodes of Dissect release every Tuesday.
Shop Dissect S13 Merch. Follow Dissect on Instagram, Twitter, or TikTok.
Host/Writer/EP: Cole Cuchna
Video/Audio Production: Kevin Pooler
Additional Production: Justin Sayles
Theme Music: Birocratic
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Dissect host Cole Cuchna shares his initial thoughts and analysis on Kendrick Lamar's Halftime performance at Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans.
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Dissect's first VIDEO season is an 18-episode analysis of Kendrick Lamar's Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers. After revisiting Kendrick's years-long public hiatus leading up to its 2022 release, today's episode dissects the album's opening track "United In Grief" - a song that sets up every major theme explored on the album.
New episodes every Tuesday.
Shop limited Dissect S13 Merch. Follow Dissect on Instagram, Twitter, or TikTok.
Host/Writer/EP: Cole Cuchna
Video/Audio Production: Kevin Pooler
Additional Production: Justin Sayles
Theme Music: Birocratic
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Season 13 of Dissect begins Tuesday, February 4th. A VIDEO version of the podcast will be available on Spotify and YouTube. However, Dissect remains an audio-first experience, and has not changed from its original format.
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Dissect's Cole Cuchna breaks down the title, themes, and sequencing of Mac Miller's Balloonerism - a surreal exploration of mortality, addiction, and purpose. Cole dissects each song, explores the psychedelic influences of The Beatles, and places special emphasis on the album's final song "Tomorrow Will Never Know."
Dissect Season 13 will premiere February 4th. Follow @dissectpodcast for clues leading up to the album reveal.
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Cole and Cam award their favorite music of the year across a number of categories, including Favorite Album, Favorite Song, Favorite Underground Album, Most Surprising Album, and many more.
Listen to the playlist of songs featured in this episode here.
Host: Cole Cuchna
Guest: Camden Ostrander
Audio Production: Kevin Pooler
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Dissect's Cole Cuchna is joined by Touré, King Green, and James Francis to reflect on the historic year in hip hop. They begin by revisiting the Drake and Kendrick battle, nominating their favorite song, lyrics, and quotable that came from the beef. Then they award and dissect their favorite rap lyrics of the year before closing out the show with their favorite song and album of 2024.
Follow Toure, King Green, and James Francis, and check out the Rap Latte podcast.
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Alongside Rhymesayers Entertainment, Dissect is honored to premiere an unreleased interview with MF DOOM as part of the 20th anniversary celebration of MM..FOOD. Recorded in 2004 just weeks before FOOD's release, the interview spanned DOOM's entire career, including his origins as Zev Love X, his approach to writing and production, and thriving as an independent artist.
Shop MM..FOOD (20th Anniversary Edition)
Listen to MM..FOOD (20th Anniversary Edition)
Interviewed by Kevin Beacham
Produced by Kevin Beacham & Rob Vanvranken
Mixed by Rob Vanvranken
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Cole and Femi discuss their first impressions of Kendrick Lamar's GNX. After sharing their first listen experience, they dissect the album's themes, concept, and provide extensive analysis on two key tracks: 'wacced out murals' and 'reincarnated.'
*Recorded 11/25/24. "Squabbled Up" video released during recording so it was not discussed.
Host: Cole Cuchna
Guest: Femi Olutade (Dissect S5 co-author)
Audio Producer: Kevin Pooler
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Cole and Cam share their first impressions of Tyler The Creator's CHROMAKOPIA. They discuss the album's themes and sound, share their favorite moments and features, and attempt to dissect the meaning of the project's title and concept.
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