BEHIND THE STITCH: ALANI
June 21, 2024
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The Music Video for “Squabble Up” Is Out!
Just four days ago, Kendrick Lamar surprised the world with the release of his sixth studio album, GNX, and now, after captivating our ears, he’s treating our eyes to a striking music video for the album’s lead single and its most-streamed track, “Squabble Up.” The single creatively samples Debbie Deb’s 1984 freestyle dance classic, “When I Hear Music.”
The video is best described as pure chaos, deliberately so. There’s just so much going on around Kendrick with random conflicts springing up at random, perfectly aligning with the song’s theme of noisy, often trivial quarrels. Amid the madness, Kendrick commands primary attention while some dancers drift in and out of frame, while others engage in signature Compton street gang walks.
Packed with references to Compton and Los Angeles, the video features a street sign for the 105 Freeway prominently displayed on a wall throughout, while a nod to the Compton Christmas Parade which is set to take place on the 14th of December, appears toward the end. In one standout moment, Kendrick holds up a sign declaring, “Jesus Saves Gangsters Too!” In another scene, he’s seen reading a cheekily titled book, “How to Be More Like Kendrick for Dummies,” a moment that fans are already dissecting as a possible subtle jab at Drake.
Directed by acclaimed American filmmaker Calmatic, the video marks the first visual release from GNX. It brims with cultural homages, including a nod to the late Nate Dogg’s G-Funk Classics, a tribute to the 1993 crime thriller Menace II Society, and a clever recreation of the iconic Scramble Board from the 1971 TV variety show, Soul Train.
In “Squabble Up,” Lamar not only reaffirms his storytelling genius but also underscores his ability to weave visual artistry into his music. The video is a whirlwind of vibrant imagery and layered meanings, proof that Kendrick Lamar remains a cultural force that is as dynamic as ever.
