We don’t really know what’s going on with all the very serious, very, very anti-cozy West Coast videos happening lately, but we aren’t mad. It makes everything Fellini-esque or like some square horror movie gone straight. We low-key expected Bella Lugosi or Frankenstein to come angling out behind that Chevy because why not? This is the Internet; anyone can do whatever the hell he or she chooses.
That doesn’t mean it’s all good, though. Things can feel a little hokey, nutty even when you see young Kendrick Tha God flying through like the orbit of an average sized man instead of way up in the sky somewhere. But why did it all remind me of an action movie version of City Of Angels?
Andre: Kendrick Lamar’s “Alright” video needed to exist. The most accessible song on the album comes right after “u” where you thought, “This dude is having a bout of the worst success-anxiety I’ve ever seen!” And then this one queues up and the roller coaster inches you back upward leaving you with both a feeling of relief and dread. Chances are he did that on purpose. Still, what was with all of the City of Angel’s like Nick Cage hanging from a wire stuff? Weird science.
AD LOADING...
Ural: Somewhere, Geraldo Rivera or someone on his team is studying the fuck out of the “Alright” video looking to blame Kendrick Lamar for even more perceived anti-police imagery. Then again, I’m just happy to see K.Dot, Schoolboy Q, Jay Rock and Ab-Soul in the same video together. And that opening verse needs to be released ASAP. Clearly, Lamar doesn’t hate law enforcement. Like anyone with common sense, cops who shoot unarmed fleeing suspects in the back numerous times are the enemy. The Bay-SoCal connection proves yet again why The West Coast remains so tightly connected. Why exactly is Kendrick hovering (not flying) above ground though?
Andre: Yo, I don’t even know. It comes off super-weird considering his status. Maybe he’s claiming to be an angel flying close to the ground, or a devil taking off? Or maybe I’ve just read too many C.S. Lewis novels? The imagery is pretty fantastic, though. The people under the freeway are clearly in their own type of hell. And Kendrick and his crew having their jalopy carried by cops like a chariot entering Rome is pretty fucking rad. That’s maybe the most rad thing I’ve seen in a video all year. More importantly, though, this is a very serious battle between good and evil. and what’s more serious for battles than black-and-white, right?
AD LOADING...
Ural: Well, leave it to Schoolboy Q, the media is trying to incite some race war by covering a racially motivated shooting. With that in mind, how exactly does a monochrome visual featuring mainly all white cops even help the situation? Am I thinking too much? Ah forget it, “Alright” isn’t my favorite black-and-white video this year (that’ll go to Vince Staples’ “Senorita”) but it’s still one of the year’s best so far.
Andre: Black-and-white videos or videos period because this is a good one. This is a really, really good one. And at the end where the cop shoots him off of his high horse with his fingers he really rubs it in that it’s easy for a black guy out here to get hit off his little throne. Even if that throne is on a light pole in the middle of downtown Los Angeles. I’d also like to take a leap for the T.S. Eliot “Wasteland” reference, since downtown L.A. used to be a wasteland, and I enjoy arguing off the cuff theories that feel right, you know? Still, another solid outing for one of the best artists of our generation.
Ural Garrett: The finger gun ending was interesting. One of the things that always intrigued me about Lamar’s last couple of videos is the homey vibe. There’s a sense of black unity that’s been really progressive when it comes to major label releases. Does the video make much sense outside of the surface? Not really but, this always connected generation will always find various theories and symbolisms to make the video more than it is.
AD LOADING...
Andre Grant is an NYC native turned L.A. transplant that has contributed to a few different properties on the web and is now the Features Editor for HipHopDX. He’s also trying to live it to the limit and love it a lot. Follow him on Twitter @drejones.
Ural Garrett is a Los Angeles-based journalist and HipHopDX’s Senior Features Writer. When not covering music, video games, films and the community at large, he’s in the kitchen baking like Anita. Follow him on Twitter @Uralg.
