“Not Like Us” video has THREE Endings? Kendrick Lamar and Dave Free analysis
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- Опубліковано 4 лип 2024
- So much to say about this video and I try to say some of it. @kendricklamar #notlikeus
Compton Court House video: • Compton Courthouse
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Whitney dancing while wearing a wife beater is just diabolically genius level trolling
Didn’t think of that!
Damn I didn’t even think about that 😂
Man blew me away in a good way !!!!😂💞
Absolutely 💯💯💯❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥
Exactly 😂😂😂
Tommy The Clown is LA Culture.... Tommy came to our schools, and brought joy at random. Imagine, being at lunch in middle school, and you hear loud music, and Tommy and a few of his dance students jump out and get everyone hyped. We all just started dancing, and singing the songs. Tommy The Clown unified us. You had to be from South Central, Compton, Inglewood, Long Beach and adjacent areas to understand
TO OAKLAND CALIFORNIA TOO SO THE WHOLE CALIFORNIA IS TOMMY THE CLOWN PERIOD F3OM SACRAMENTO TO L.A !!!!!
100% Agree. I am LA born and raised. Tommy The Clown is a hometown hero. Saves soo many kids from the street, acts as a surrogate father, brings joy. ❤
@@tyishawilder5275 For Sure. That is dope he reached y'all too
RIZE IS ESSENTIAL WATCHING FOR HIP HOP HEADS THAT ARENT FROM CALI
Tommy was everywhere. He came to NY alot of times to the schools and hoods. He have so much legendary love out here💯
Someone pointed out an interesting point. The bird did not see the cage from his perspective, however, you can see the cage on Kendrick's side. Drake has the big money and contracts but is now a slave to the industry.
❤
Ooooooh guys plz🙌😹😹😹 this 2 way beyond.❤
Someone said that but it doesn’t make sense because the owl literally isn’t in the cage in the shot. I love Kendrick but you guys really need to stop making connections that don’t exist. Not everything is a metaphor.
Sheesh 💯
@@starchillius So dimsissive of media open for interpretation. It's fair even if it doesn't fit, it's a creative space not a exam room
That last scene also highlights the excellence of the black family that Drake has been seeking to undermine. In juxtaposition to Drake's rabid disloyalty to friendship and boundaries, here, Kendrick's core is stability. No hidden children, no debasing of women by leaking sex video to build credibility. Just solid black love. Kudos to Kendrick.
💪🏿💪🏿🤌🏿
Facts💯
That's an iconic portrait called American Gothic ! Look it up! That's Why They weren't smiling, Kendrick is Next level. 💯
@@BarbieDoll-ih2fy i doubt Kendrick was referencing that. Everything he's done has been a reflection of LA culture.... a farmer and his wife painted by someone from the midwest......its a reach.
@@iluvdissheet But it is still American, so possibly a double entendre.
"I am sorry, my child. I must go...Kendrick dropped his music video" - Mr. Skye, probably
More like "we must go"
...Professor
ON GOD THO LOL
hahaha
Drake is from UK commonwealth. We fought agaist UK in1776.
The emergence of this channel is an additional cherry on top of this beef
Facts 🙏🏾
This channel is Pretty old. I think you mean the virality not emergence
Truly! I am so intrigued by his thoughts!
You late to the party! Welcome!
Word, we getting cultural analysis college classes after a rap beef.
Bro said he don’t even remember Drake dropping anything in this beef, I’m weak💀 😂
LoL 😂😂😂😂 Drake has no balls because I would have kept pushing my tracks
To be fair to Drake he probably thought The Heart Part 6 was going to be a haymaker, said "I don't want to diss you no more" and Kendrick responded with radio silence.
Drake put himself in a bad spot. Couldn't say nothing without invalidating the heart part 6. It would have been a good move if it wasn't a "liar liar pants on fire" ahh song lol
@@emperorarima3225 yeah that shhh was hot ass, he was better off leaving it at Family Matters
💯
@@emperorarima3225naw he was waving the flag
He def did a shoutout for Latinos with the piñata, latina crumper and homeboy lettering. King Kendrick forever. 🫶🏽
AAVE. Would Kendrick still be "King Kendrick forever" had he not had the shoutout to Latinos in his video? 👀🤔😐
I really liked this as a Latina. Hes being inclusive but not in a money-grab way or like he needs to use Latinos for leverage (like how Drake adopts all kinds of other ethnicities). Latinos make up a big part of Cali/Western USA and I really like how lowkey he reps that
YESSSS i thought about it (I have family in the USA im from Honduras and always lived here) but I understand how a lot of our latino family and friends bring that culture when they come back and I love when the way we can aknowledge the beauty of interculturality.
I can never clame (or want to) but I know for a lot of friends west coast it's a very important part of there life
I’m sorry but Black Americans were airbrushing shirts shortly after we started doing graffiti. In that font. They were called Graffiti Shirts in the 80s. U can see it in the fresh prince logo and so on. Now that Piñata 🪅?! We definitely pay homage to Mexican culture with that tradition and have incorporated it into our own celebrations ❤ Just like we share, all we ask is that we are clear that it is JUST THAT SHARING. We did not RENAME the piñata and take it as our own. That has been the messaging in these songs. Let’s respect each others heritage ❤
@@Gia_Anise yes the piñata resonated with me most, burpees are also super Latino jail culture too
Kendrick doesn’t need an icon, he is the icon
Perfect
Shot
Yup but bc what he represents, hes the champions of the ppl, of Hip-Hop and the ppl that love art...i was watching this series the other day about a guy that wanted to become the strongest in a certain organization but one girl from the town told him that he couldnt cause he was alone...Drake thinks that the whole 20vs1 thingy was smtg to be proud about when it actually speaks volumes about him, he said once that his funeral would be lit bc how treated ppl, and at the end he was right after all lol
FACTS
💯💯💯💯❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥
I may be looking too deep into it but the use of Tommy the clown and his dance crew is beyond significant. Drake always raps about wanting to be part of gang life, encouraging other young people that it’s more than okay to do drugs, party with promiscuous barely legal girls, disrespect women, and be gang affiliated even though the Canadian has never been in a gang his whole life. His music videos and lyrics are directly targeted towards young impressionable people who want that life style that Drake successfully colonized and encourages bad behavior and stereotypes the culture even more than the bling era of rap. Tommy the Clown on the other hand encourages black youth that’s struggling and gives young people the opportunity to not only be themselves both in and out of school but to be the person that they really want to be which is, in fact, the culture itself. Tommy the Clown is truly a savior to both Detroit and the west coast and Kenny deliberately puts him and his dance crew front and center, not showing off gang life but showing the culture itself is more than just that.
🎯🎯🎯
👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
♾Bring it Out👏🏾
Really glad he had Tommy and his crew in this video, they were a highlight of the pop out for me, and a lot of streamers that were streaming it also really exploded when they came out
Kdot thesis, I freaking love that!! 👏🏽 👏🏽 👏🏽
Another professor adding my cliff notes:
1. You're right about the Old English script. It's a very L.A. thing and it's very much a nod to the Latino community...specifically the Chicanos (because not all are the same). The pinata was another nod....because pinatas are a kids party staple courtesy of our local party supply, which are usually Latin-owned.
2. Spot on point about the reclamation of the Compton Courthouse. I've only ever had business there once, but it has never inspired positive memories. I saw a bunch of footage from people who were there filming the video and even the sheriffs were going bar for bar on the lyrics. Law enforcement in Compton is a whole other subject in and of itself, but just the image of men and women in uniform holding that "A minorrrrrrr" is a sight.
3. Demar has become such a powerful avatar because he played most of his career for the Toronto Raptors. But he's always been Compton to his core. My son used to play basketball for Compton High, so I saw DeRoze at games/tournaments quite a few times during his off-seasons. Even his dad still supported the team LONG after his son graduated.
4. When TC tells KDot, "You're late," I believe he means in pushing the red button. The culture has had to bear witness to all of Drake's foolishness for years - with a large chunk of us contributing to and entertaining the foolishness. It has long been time for this takedown.
This video is simply the perfect amalgamation of representation of our culture (West Coast but specifically L.A., which also includes Watts, Compton, Long Beach and everything in between) with THE CULTURE. And it was necessary for all the regional hate as well as the chit chat that NLU and The Pop-Out were ONlY about unity. Dot has given a masterclass on how more than one thing can be true at the same time.
Love that "You're late" point you made😊
@@RamonaLindsey excellent breakdown. And I agree about the “You’re late!” Analysis. 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
🎯🎯🎯
I know it obviously wasn’t, but it feels like this video was made for me. 😭
I’m a black woman born in Inglewood who went to an experimental film school & studied all of the films you’ve referenced here. I’ve never seen so many seemingly disparate areas of my interests & culture get brought together this way by someone else. It was amazing to witness!
I’m definitely biased, but I loved this video so much! Thank you for your analysis ❤
That's beautiful. I'm glad kendrick made something that means so much to people.
Awww
He wouldn’t hurt the owl, no OVHOES were harmed :P
I almost feel like as well as the "no animals were harmed during the making of this video" joke earlier being really funny, it was placed there to make sure you knew that that owl at the end was safe even as Kendrick was staring it down.
The fact that he even thought Kendrick would hurt the owl tells me he really doesn't understand where Kendrick is coming from.
@@IndomitableAdehe doesn't think Kendrick would really hurt an owl, just that he might show that theatrically (while the animal actor would be just fine)
@OP oh so you could actually read the fine print ;)
@@platedlizard you really didn't need to explain that, but I'll spell it out for you since you couldn't fill in the blanks for me like you did for the "professor". The fact that he thought Kendrick would even _show_ the owl being hurt tells me he really doesn't understand who Kendrick is or where he's coming from because that's not how Kendrick moves at all. Nothing he does is superfluous or gratuitous.
As a pothead, I’d like to think we’re smoking on that hitler pack in the most disrespectful way possible.
FACTS!!!! Exactly what I was thinking gangly… 💨🤝🏾
I've been sitting here as a pothead Jew like.... 😳 Oh 😂 should I not be doing this 😂
We smoked him then and we still smoking him now😂😂😂😂😂. But its 4/20 cause you use to get 4 fingers for $20 ... So the date can not change.. lets forget his birthday and celebrate hippie day 4/20😅
@user-MssMiE My sister or brother in Pot, that's genius 😂😂😂🙏 Let's all keep on smoking his a*s!
Gonna roll one now in all yalls honour 🎖
Drake crushed the Good Kid Mad City van, Kenny responded with pity and sympathy by not harming the owl.
I think the owl is more about perspective. The owl sees itself as free(no cage) and standing up against Kendrick, while Kendrick and everyone else sees a caged and almost submissive bird.
That type of owl is what gets me it just looks sad for some reason, and also that type of owl is known as not a true owl.
What? Or maybe the owl is Drakes logo? The caged owl is about Kendrick declaring victory.
I think that's a good observation
Because the camera switching sides could be the point of view.
@@5gonzp wtf, just googled and wow "Owls are divided into two families: True owls, and Barn owls."
@@awhi3765 yeaaaaa… we all get THAT part
An owl as iconography isn't necessarily wise
1) Owls spend their time in the dark trying to catch a meal by preying on "small animals" (reminds me of all the artists signed to OVO to only have their careers stunted)
2) Owls are known for taking nests other birds have built (colonizer energy)
3) Owls are known to be the least intelligent of songbirds (I'm not making this up)
4) Most owls are usually solitary and occasionally get together to hook up, mate, or what have you (family matters?)
5) When owls wings get wet, they can't take flight (they can be grounded or have their super powers neutralized)
6) Owls also spend their nights trying to establish and protect territory (a caged owl can't claim anything. Also, what territory does Drake have to claim in America?)
Maybe he didn’t research it but bought into the reputation created by Harry Potter and other movies of owls being smart and well loved. Drake doesn’t fully understand the icon he co-opted; he just used it’s reputation
Owls are also seen as a sign of victory but they also symbolize death...(he has been winning for so long which has led to his demise aka public image)
They also can't take flight with wet wings (not waterproof, thin-skinned if you will). And they can't give you a bombastic side eye or blink.
ooooo
That type of owl is known as not a true owl
67 years old black woman Gardena California woman living 10 minutes west of Compton. Really enjoyed your analysis. It was beautiful. That was a grandparent house for sure. Plastic covered couch lol and she was blood walking. Born and raised here. Went to high school five blocks south of the forum.
SHOUT OUT SHOUT OUT ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ BLACK QUEEN WEST COAST 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
@@idkwhybut...PLEASE SHUT UP ....DELETE YO COMMENT CAUSE YOUR EXTRA AF
64 yo yaya in San Antonio agrees👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥
Gardena stand up!
i love how everybody outside the city calls it crip walking no matter what hood you from 😂😂
The Whitney and kids part is the highest point to me
My favorite 💯💯💯❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥
its sooo damn WHOLESOME
Yeah me too, made me smile and have goosebumps
Sameeee! It's so cute
Also the lyrics at that moment
"The Family Matter and the truth is it was God's Plan to show y'all the liar"
I don't like it when people say he is "milking" the song. He's doing exactly what I expect. He CREATED, he PERFORMED, and he then made a VISUAL to a hit song. How is HE milking it?
Brain dead Drake fans are the ones saying this after consistently calling out Kendrick to drop a diss in response to Drake’s first track
Didnt Drake milk back 2 back 🤔
Thats my response...
I feel like I’m milking it with all the times I played it on repeat!
It makes 11:02 sense that he would make a video - putting the words into a visual perspective- is even more significant🫡 King Kendrick👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 well done
Thank you
That's like saying Taylor Swift's milking her tour 😂
The white containers kept me awake last night, and today as I was waking up I realized that that scene could be about White exportiation of Black Culture. At one point the video even shows the black dancers INSIDE the containers. So I think this section of the video could be about the commodification of hip hop as a product for white people... which is a big part of the idiosincratic confrontation between Kendick and Drake.
It could also be that I haven't drink enough coffee yet.
Thanks for the amazing takes on this beef, professor.
May have something to do with trafficking allegations against drake & his crew...
@@satya_satori Yeah, I also thought about that, but it was the fact that the containers are all white what kept me thinking. I've lived next to the harbor for 20 years, it's like Prof. Skye says, containers are multicolored and filthy. The white containers image is really powerful, and that also where DeRozan shows up for his cameo... again, exportation of Black talent to mostly white environments. Dunno... Kdot did promise the rabbit hole goes deep in this beef, I'm not smart enough for this XD
@@AmorinJuan oh fs. Wasn't disagreeing with your take. Just adding to it.
@@satya_satori Yeah, I got what you meant. :)
Calm down@@satya_satori
The white structure next to the courthouse where everyone is singing is actually a memorial to MLK
I’m black too man, I’m Black too.
WE are so great.
@@nickb839 I'm not black but ok. I do love MLK and what he did though
makes me think about Kendrick's unreleased track "Prayer", not sure if that's the intent tho
@nickb839 stop calling yourself Black, black means the absence of color, melanated people have color, color isn't absent.
The point of this video was never about destroying Drake. That has long since been done. This was a victory lap. And you know what really sets it apart? Yeah, Kendrick is in the whole thing, but it's also everyone else. Maybe I'm wrong, but if Drake had won and gotten to do this video, it would have been "Look at me, i'm so awesome!" The song is Not Like *Us*. Yeah, Kendrick is the artist, Kendrick is the one doing this, but everyone is involved. Dave Free gets top billing. DJ Mustard is there for one whole segment, TDE for another, Whitney another as well (which, god damn, probably the best moment of the video, hands down). The Tommy the Clown dancers get moments to be front and center for one of the best segments of the song. I keep watching it over and over too, and . . . it's just keeps getting better.
AVAA, I need a few months to get my poorly worded thoughts in order, well done for doing it in a day.
It's absolutely an amazing feeling just watching as I feel sympathy for Drake . I am hoping he will learn from this point and time in history!!!! Kendrick Lamar is definitely the wise teacher and Drake the entertainer. Kendrick @ this point has embodied both of these aspects.
@@MaSungoddess777sympathy for a chester and colonizer?
Well said... ✊🏿
He also centered his 2 dancers from juneteenth which I love SO much.
@@undrwtrbsktwvn1110 I mean, if someone did wrong, but they learn from their mistakes and try to make right by it, they deserve forgiveness. Not saying forget it (they need to learn from their mistakes) and not saying don't punish wrongdoings (they need to make right by it), but if they make up in kind, we should show forgiveness.
Sure as hell ain't easy, and I have plenty of people I can't forgive who have done the right thing after the fact i should. I'm sure there are KDot lyrics that say this better than I can, just can't remember at the moment.
At the same time, these last two months, Drake and contrition seem like they can't be in the same solar system together. So I won't hold my breath. Hope is good and important though.
"Colonizer" line wasn't missed. Slaves were cargo [represented by the white containers and the dancers in black]. It's literally in black and white. Prison is modern-day slavery. [Represented and determined by City hall/the courthouse]. That little shuffle after the line was a stylized callback to the "chain gang." [representing a slavery tactic of chaining slaves during transport, railroad construction by prisoners, incarceration, etc.] Great video by the way!
I also took the shipping containers for human trafficking.
This is an in depth breakdown for the word “colonizer” within the scope of this video. Thank you!
Slavery is trafficking. You're both correct.
It was a nod to a season on The Wire.. hence the lady on the right rope and Kendrick dressed like a detective
@@The_Neighborhood_Oasis she was also walking on the cord that kendrick struck,and her legs make an A right before it cuts
You are correct the double meaning for it is shipping containers represented the trafficking underage girls MINORS
within the context of "letting the kids do whatever they want" i found it especially endearing when Whitney was dancing alone and her daughter was trying to mirror her moves
i had to watch it several time it was so cute
💯
Best part of the video.....🥰
I saw that too ❤
He locked the owl on the golden perch behind some black bars. Poignant.
Wow, The Caged bird only sings…. “I like Drake with melodies” Thank you Maya A and Kendrick L.
And the owl bowed down
@AuntieNina68 😂😂😂 I missed that
Did you catch that the owl is black and white? No coincidences. Diabolical work 😂
@@Karlitosways so was the shot of him and Whitney. I dunno whose idea it was, but they were cooking.
I LOVE that it starts with "You're late" - taking away OVHO's most obvious talking point... 😅 avaa
You are so right!!!
Mind explaining that?
@@EnochDeanKhumbanyiwaDrake and his Stan’s make fun of how long it takes Kendrick to release music
@@ellieperez1716 Exactly!
@@ellieperez1716 Which explains the song snippet at the beginning.
I love the way this man’s mind works! 3 endings. The power and vulnerability of icons. Kendrick commandeering 2 holidays that represent freedom by caging the owl on 2 national stages. Comparing the owl watching the West Coast victory to Bruce Wayne watching Gotham fall in his prison. This is a dissertation 😩
Did you notice that when she passed the bible to Kendrick, the red and blue bloods and crips flag were joined at her hip, representing how he has brought them together for this
Her tattoos were symbolism too. The thing with Kendrick is you gotta almost freeze the frame every few seconds. Pure genius.
When you said "So, hey drake" after talking about what people would experience in their mind at the courthouse from now on, I experience in my mind "I hear you like them young" .
(Was intentional, but I was afraid no one would pick it up! 😀)
@@professorskye it was rather on the nose. 🙄
"We don't ever wanna get outta this moment" perfectly encapsulates my experience right now! Glad I'm not alone
FACTS
100% , we gotta keep this 'moment' and all it gave us, alive
The dancers you're talking about are: Storm DeBarge (girl in Tam's) and Kida the Great ( shipping containers). The young lady at the beginning (whose name escapes me) is also a well-known Cali dancer. Dot went out of his way to showcase local talent. Even with some of the people in the crowd. He also went out of his way to let the crowd shine over him while amongst the crowd... I believe his stoic expression throughout the video has a few meanings: he doesn't enjoy fame, so this is about his city; not him. This victory was effortless. And, there's a lack of need for animation because he is truly resolved to and stands on everything he said... Just my thoughts... I enjoyed your breakdown! Especially the examination of the layered ending
Her name is Nvy.
@@choc575 thank you!
Dancing invoke high energy, healing energy etc. you can see a young lady, not fair skin, not petit, she’s the start and the center of dancing. In the middle, at the take out spot you see another woman dancing and at the end you see his wife. It’s a cultural thing and someone pointed it out that darker skin women tends to have to aggressively defend themselves and if you don’t fit standard aesthetics you are disregarded. Drake calling k.dot’s wife loose in morals, making fun of Megan thee stallion’s abuse, disregarding Serena Williams and Rihanna like notches on his belt. I think many will miss it but iykyk 🥰 love ur videos
🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽
I feel like Tommy The Clown said “you’re late” refering to the fact that Kendrick should’ve been dismantled Drakes empire. That’s the beauty of this artist… he is an artist. His catalog of albums, videos, and performances are like walking into a museum. You can sit for hours and just appreciate it through analysis, speculation, feeling, and experiencing the phenomena that it is.
Omggggggoodness @QueensNative, you articulated this soooo well!!!!!
I like your take on Kendrick's late at dismantling drake! I saw it as Tommy-The-Teacher saying to a student, "You're late" but you gon' learn today!🤣
Yep
Only one reactor has pointed out, the scenes in the beginning are in a morgue, and it’s Kendrick singing as Drake in purgatory
Catalog like walking through a museum is wonderful. Cause now that I’m going back and re-listening, everything just clicks and fits together like puzzle pieces. It’s absolutely beautiful.
It never crossed my mind that Kendrick would hurt the owl. I dont think that was ever his goal.
Maya Angelou if the bird is caged all it can do is sing
@@yorkrothschild9922 True. However, there is a big difference between Maya’s bird and Drake’s. Maya’s bird sings of/for freedom. Drake sings for idolatry and other accolades. ❤
@@yorkrothschild9922"I like Drake with the melodies"
So while in the forefront of your mind we all logically would assume based on who Kendrick is he wouldn’t hurt the owl by any means but, the momentum of the video and unexpectedness of other parts (least I felt I couldn’t predict what was going to happen) subconsciously the moment the owl appears you SUBCONSCIOUSLY go “oh shit what he about to do to the owl now?!” Imean he literally violently wailed on the piñata. It was masterful subversion. Prof called it spot on. I definitely was worried briefly internally.
Not at all
The video is high-art for "the culture" as it stands in 2024. Kendrick's calm demeanor shows he's at peace with his career choices. He's well aware the public in general respects him as an artist. The movement is bigger than this moment or his persona.
Way bigger. Agree
Unity over industry. Culture over commercialism. Hearing the song with fireworks in the background on July 4th hit different.
🦉🔫🦅
💥💥💥💥That Part!
Facts
You can be ornate and minimalist. Thats poetry.
You are so right!!!
yes and K Dot executed this beautifully
I thought the first frame was the owl’s perspective thinking its free then it switched to Kendrick’s perspective of it being in the cage
Thought the same thing
Great take g
Me toooooo
Yessss. And the owl being Drake in his pompous mansion, thinking that he has freedom, but is not able to pursue it
Yeah, when I watched it I went back and made sure I wasn’t trippin’.
You can’t see the cage at all in the frame when it’s from the owl’s perspective.
This shine for Tommy the clown is inevitable. He’s been a legend in LA for a while. My mom booked him for one of my birthday parties as a kid.
Also, the dancers wearing the bandanas of different sect colors tied together as a belt...supreme unity and proof of K Dot's connection to the culture. Diabolical compilation indeed.
Kendrick believes he is of the people of Israel and there are prophecies surrounding the two tribal groups Judah and Ephraim being unified. Two sticks being placed in one hand was also pointed to the gentile times ending and God turning his attention back to his people who were blind to the advent of the Messiah by divine Providence for a fixed period of time.
I perceived Kendrick locking up the owl as simply saying I owned you, I dominated you and put you back in your place.
Possibly... but K-Dot is a deep thinker... and a man that Studies History! We think [it's] something to do with either B o h e m i a n G r o v e's symbology & or the late great Dr. Maya Angelou's famed book title.
honestly that wasn't my first impression, because you can use the action of locking up the owl for that
the static imagery gave me the impression of essence, like the owl IS in the cage, you might have not seen it but it's there
that's why i didn't think they'd hurt the owl either, kendricks most powerful tool is looking at the subject matter, looking at drake, describing him in detail and with accuracy, just like he stared down the owl and showing it to be in a cage
a counterexample is the family matters video where the action of destruction is front and centre: watch the van as it gets crushed crush crush crush 76 angles of the van being crushed
the piñata? now yes
but the owl in a cage i still feel like it's more of a 'look at yourself, look at where you are'
It means drake should be in jail for diddling a minorrrrrr
I love your take on the vulnerability of logos. Turns out Owls are predators; now when you are being accused of having untoward relationships with young girls I suspect you might regret having it as your logo.
The OVO symbol was so easy to deconstruct and turn on its head. It was once a symbol of power for Drake and now it symbolises something more sinister.
I had to look up the meaning because all i hear is Other V Option.
If he gotta rebrand....its game over.
I thought it was incredibly powerful to have Dave Free as the top billing on the director credits. It's very humble (no pun intended) of Kdot to do that, and it is something that I don't think Drake would do. "Not only are we united, let me show you just how united we actually are."
He was also a top listed producer of the Pop Out concert.
He is after all the visual guy, there's no reason Kendrick should want his name before his friend's on the video credits.
The white containers are from the wire and were used to transport kids. The guy dancing in the container is "KID the great" 😂😂
Oh damn
😂😂😂😂damnnnnnnnnnnnnnn!
But for real. I also see how the shipping containers represent Drake "trafficking" black culture and shipping it off to white people.
*Kida
Omg I KNEW it was Kida!!!!!
In the Wire, the containers were used to traff1ck Eastern European women.
AVAA, you got me cackling over here Prof Skye!! "Remember Family Matters? Oh you don't??"😂
@@carolynr796 I remember, that was one of my favorite shows growing up.
@@magnus0017😂😂😂😂
Literally didn't watch it 🤷🏻♂️ knowing he got the wrong model on the GKMC van, I was just like 🤦🏻♂️
Sick burn 😂😂😂
A very intentional music video. People wonders why the video took so long, but it’s because the drop date, like everything else, has meaning and is intentional
I have literally never seen a music video before where the entire time I just kept thinking... Every frame is just so clean, beautiful, and tasteful.
Art! It reminded me a lil bit of Janelle Monae’s Q.U.E.E.N
13:52 Kendrick is reflecting our reality back to us with compassion. As someone not involved in gang culture, I understand your perspective. Many people mistakenly called it a crip walk, but it's likely a blood walk or a local variation. This shows how those of us outside that life, even within the Black community, often miss the nuances. We need to respect and learn more about the details and history of this culture. By not doing so, we allowed someone like Drake to dilute our heritage. Kendrick is gently reminding us to take pride in and preserve the rich history we’ve created.
The idea of Kendrick being Bane was touched on by someone else too, (Edit: it was the comedian Godfrey)
"You merely adopted the darkness, I was born in it, moulded by it"
Substitute darkness for culture and it's a spot on analogy
I mean Kendrick had spoken about the dark times in his youth and how he ran with some people he shouldn't also he was there when one of his friends got merked. So kdot been deep in the darkness
Also the meme that's been going around with Bane with his hand on the guys neck "You think the bay is gonna let you disrespect Pac?
Yeah but... Batman wins in the end?
Yeah, by the comedian Godfrey.
I love that you did a 40 min break down and didn't play the video ever lol. I really like when people are so into what they like that they can actually just TALK about it. GG
The kids running around without a care is my favorite part, cause if this was Drake he'd have his kid rapping in the video front and center. lol Anyone notice Dave and Kendrick's "secret handshake" a callback to that line in Meet the Grahams.
They were just locking P’s, it’s just a Piru handshake
I watched several times and still didnt see the shake 😢 And at what point is it?
@@Destinyback2me It’s a quick shot during the containers scene. They don’t go out of their way to highlight it.
I actually agree with your assessment of the nod to West Coast Chicano culture. I've seen it in his fashion before. he actually does it here. the white track suit jacket he wears is from a gay Latino fashion designer, Willy Chavarria, which notoriously only puts POC models into his shows and advertising. he does a lot of politics and culture in his work.
I think while it's about Black Excellence and Black Culture first and foremost in the message around Not Like Us. Kendrick does important things to indicate it's not just about race but the culture. he indicates that its more complex. that there's a right way for someone not black to be in the culture and a wrong way for someone who is black to be in the culture.
he recognizes Drake's son's blackness while rejecting Drake's in meet the grahams. he put on non-black artists from the area during the Pop Out concert.
this all while tying in a message of unity. it's about unity of Compton, of the West Coast but also about rap and to a smaller degree about race granted "you with us" where Drake and people (aka culture vultures) like him are "Not Like Us".
This is one of the crazy things about this song. Even if this is not your culture, you get invited, with a front row seat, right into it! And we love every second of it.
Real talk....Hiphop is for everyone.
Just dont code switch. 😉
Represent your city, your family. We ❤ to see it. The music coming out of the UK is 🔥🔥🔥 but i had to look up some of the slang used cause "what did he say" 😂
But we value authencity. I think Snoop said this beef is gonna make everyone rap again.... i agree. I think some are rethinking cause Em dropped too. Now is not the time for fake or 👻bars....
I hope come fall/winter we get the music we deserve and not what the labels want.
Kendrick did 3 switches
😮!
What does that mean?
There's a line in "Like That" where he says he hopes they (Drake and J. Cole) came with three switches..Some ideas are that a glock needs three to be fully auto, then there's the idea that they'll need more than one gun? I have trouble with it, but I know it's a call back to that...
@@meilei8716 Euphoria was the 3 switches.
@@meilei8716a switch is something that makes a glock fully automatic… “I hope they came with 3 switches” is just rap “slang” or “tough talk” for saying it’s gonna take a lot to take me down
The courthhouse... the scene of him doing prison pushups... the owl in a cage... hes showing drake what his future is looking like.
The bird was never out of the cage. The first camera view was from within the cage through the bars… it’s a matter of perspective.
Now we are able to see that the owl is caged.
Please comment on Kendrick being in the center of the crowd and watching the vidro even nobody notices. Huge message to me.
Noticed that too. I watched that video multiple times now and still find it hard to find Kendrick in certain shots. Very intentional
@rosemarydreams fr real boogeyman type energy
Just regular folks, he never wanted the fame in the way fame is available to artists. That is significant.
It's a message of just such subtle humbleness and yet power. It takes an artist with 100% trust in their audience to be in there with them, trust their audience respects them as a person and won't swarm them in the way most celebrities seem to see worship.
Also a very brave move to do as a public figure in a crowd of unknowns. Very much some "untouchables" energy to know if someone wanted you harm they'd have to go through every single person surrounding you.
Kendrick doesnt gaf cuz in his eyes he's bearing witness to history just as much as us, sees himself on the same level as his community. Rather be in with the crowd than on stage being idolized. Drake could never in a fuggin million years
Literally a man of the people, for the people, by the people
From the owls point of view as he is looking at Kendrick he is “free” but from Kendrick’s view he is a cage locked up. Hinting that Drake is in a cage and he don’t even know it
As for the "pushups" scene it was a drake troll. The obvious being kendrick "dropping and giving 50". It is said by kendricks friends that all he does is workout and make music. So the workout setting, bed and speakers. In pushups Drake said "I know my picture on the wall you cook up" that's what i think the backwards picture is about
the MJ album too off the wall could also be a link.
Heard someone say Kendrick did 17 pushups in that scene as well lol
maybe a nod to Drake stopping before they turn 18...
7:08 saw this on tik tok and went to verify it. Kendrick is not holding the owl. It is shot from the perspective of the owl looking at Kendrick. The owl does not see the bars that are always there. From Kendrick’s view point the bars are visible. Implying Drake has been trapped and Kendrick is just revealing that to him
Just because that THEORY makes you think you’re smart doesn’t make it real. The owl clearly isn’t in a cage in that shot. The song and video are brilliant enough on their own, why make up stuff
@@starchillius interesting that you took offense. Whenever you look at art you should look at all the elements since they were intentionally created. He could have been depicted as holding the owl. The owl could have been on his arm or in his hands, but that is not in the scene. He clearly could have had his hands behind his back in both scenes. Why depict it that way if you didn’t want that inference in the video. Fun fact: 90% of what we think we know is theory. We tend to remove facts from our mind that contradict the theory about the world we have in our minds so as not to disturb our view of reality. When ignoring facts get to a certain level we call it cognitive dissonance.
It’s art. It’s supposed to be thought provoking. Ain’t nothing wrong with theories. Classes break down works all the time, and the will probably never be a definitive answer on what an artwork means, and it doesn’t have to be.
@@starchillius just because YOU CAN'T 👀 the bars, doesnt mean they AREN'T there.
You dont have to agree.... but conidering other PERSPECTIVES is part of the conversation so dont disrespect....makes you look bad.
I think this take is great but in my head thinking of Tommy telling him youre late and the fact this beef goes back a decade,I think he was holding the owl and its his way of saying I coulda put you away at any point ,you had your fun now stay inside you FAN
Dude its not cultural appropriation to learn a dance, its appreciation. If you make that dance your whole personality it becomes a problem. Dont even stress about it. Its not even only associated with the crypts anymore it moved passed that. Its more a west coast dance.
Someone on another reaction says there were many dances from different sets. Whitney was B walking
Crips*
But there were multiple dances represented throughout the video
Regardless, respect ppls cultural boundaries
If you're alone, go ahead and get your dance on. Out in public? Careful with that, gangsters may take it as offensive if you're c-walkin, b-walkin, Hoover stompin in their presence.
Lmao 😂 I can visualize you trying to crip walk behind closed doors…! I love it!!! It is a universal hit that anyone and everyone can dance to.
The owl was always in a cage. It's a matter of perspective.
"The owl represents Drake. Kendrick represents the people." DAAAAMN
This guy has the best analytical takes on the is beef.
Amazing work.
What’s The Dirt and iusedtobepay also deserve honorable mentions for their coverage.
And I like how humble he is. He understands he is an outsider, but for me, a welcomed outsider. I really like and respect his perspective
The "A minor" part he sampled for the video is actually the viral video of little kids singing it 😭
Omg
Wait ain't no way
@@Met-one Its not... Its the Crowd in the video. That they show saying they not like us. Yall gotta stop reaching
Or the Pop Out?
@@BeautifulEarthJaI thought it was the crowd at the Popout
This isn't a beating at this point. It's a Mortal Kombat FATALITY
Kenny killed Drake again with the video after having properly murdered him with the disses.
Merciless indeed.
My heart filled with love and joy when you said “I’m not gonna front”, Professor 😂. You’re one of us ❤
He’s NOT one of us, but he’s certainly a welcome guest!
Crazy how art invokes thought and discussion that adds to the culture!
Tommy is saying "You're late". I think he's talking to both Kendrick and Drake (note the empty chair).
I've been thinking about that damn empty chair since it dropped.😮💨🧐
Kendrick gets a foul from Tommy for throwing up the middle fingers and has to dance in the corner.
EDIT: nvm, I just noticed the other empty chair.
I think the empty seat is for Us.
That sculpture is the MLK memorial in front of the Compton Courthouse, which is also an important element to why it’s filmed from there
Printing out your list of patreon supporters is so wholesomely low-tech. Appreciate the commentary and analysis, as always. :)
Let's look at the red and blue bandanas that are tied together around the girls pants
That dark part seems to be a reference to Eleven from Stranger Things who's played by Millie Bobby Brown, i think at this point we all know why she's relevant to this whole thing
Thank you. Finally, somebody noticed that reference 😊
Drake also drives in the dark in the family matters video. The dude who gets knocked back is wearing a shiesty mask, which Drake wears in the Toosie Slide video. He also mentions shiestys in Wa Gwen Delilah when talking about his boy needing to lay low and not be seen in public, so that could be connected to the “you better walk around like Daft Punk” line in Euphoria.
One thing I really like about the prison scene is that he does 17 push ups before doing a burpee ending his set and then going back to start again and if he’s representing drake in that scene it means drake goes for 17 over and over again enforcing the predator angle
Drake doesn’t like to go over 18
I'd like to quote Mason Verger from Thomas Harris' Hannibal. 'Does that look like a wave goodbye or hello to you?'
Deep cut!
Man I love your appreciation and respect for our culture. I watch all of your videos for that reason ❤
Yes. I can't wait for this analysis. Prof Skye is so unbiased and interesting
I agree. I love his take on this beef! It's so refreshing to get a take on all this from an English professor.
@@ahmadaustin *French
That hand wave? "Keep making me dance and wave my hand and it won't be no threat"
This not about the video, but I think what makes the song special is that it doesn’t try to be catchy. Songs like that tend to have a catchy phrase that everyone remembers and clings to, and it does with the they not like us repetition, but when you hold a poll or survey on what lyrics you randomly say, people gon say “they not like us” “a minorrrr” “you not a colleague you a fucking colonizer” etc. the song has good lyrics throughout instead of a catchy beat with a small phrase carrying the lyrics.
My history nerd heart is living for all of this!!! Yo, Hector - dawg, you dead. This was the dragging around town behind the carriage. Big ups to you Prof, love from Italy.
FACTS
Same. I am a film student so I have to go watch the historical films too.
Kendrick waving is my favorite as well
The "Not Like Us" video was incredible can't wait for the album coming any day now I'm sure lol
From the owl’s perspective, Kendrick is free, from Kendrick’s perspective, the owl is caged/trapped/enslaved even. This whole battle Kendrick was trying to get Drake to grow up and start thinking about the path he’s on. Because the money and fame Drake flaunts is nothing compared to the peace Kendrick found through self reflection. And when you’re imprisoned all you have is time to reflect. Doubt Drake will understand though and that’s what’s really sad.
Prof. Skye,
I want to express my appreciation for your videos. Growing up in the Bronx during the mid-70s, Hip-Hop has always been my culture, more so than any ethnicity I possess. I worked hard to put myself through college, earning a degree in philosophy and a minor in religion, both inspired by KRS-ONE and Rakim.
I've always felt that there was no one who could analyze and break down our culture and art with a strong intellectual approach, placing it within a broader global cultural context. You do this extremely well without being a culture vulture. You're not like DJ Vlad or Adam22. Your work feels anthropological and sincere.
The first video of yours I saw was about Aesop Rock, who isn't widely embraced by Black culture. However, he is absolutely part of Hip-Hop culture and is invaluable to those who truly understand Hip-Hop as a multicultural catalyst for social change and unity among people from all backgrounds.
I want to make sure you know your work is deeply and viscerally appreciated by some of us out here.
Thank you.
A counter-reading to the premise of the courthouse as Kendrick's critique of Black men being imprisoned in the prison industrial complex. That's an expected reading, I'd say. Because it's very common as a hip hop theme, of course.
But if you go back to 616 in LA: Kendrick prays like a knight going into battle, to be an instrument of justice, to go into this battle and have the courage to tell the truth. He isn't oppressed by the justice system here, as would be that initial reading. He IS justice. A sword of justice.
The courthouse: justice is coming, Drake
The prison cell: also coming for you, Drake
The giant shipping containers: because you are a human trafficker, Drake
The owl in the cage: you're going to end up in prison, Drake
Maybe.
I think the courthouse is more of a full circle moment of Kendrick's music, 14 years ago Kendrick released a video with TDE called "Compton state of mind" that was recorded in the same place. That was when Kendrick changed his rap name from KDOT to his government name and it was one of the first videos where people could see where Kendrick was going with his music and it was more than just bars.
The professor is the KDOT of reactions. Walking us down the path of the song, holding our hand and opening our minds to thoughts that are there that we didn’t know how to communicate. And the ability to be transparent about your shortcomings understanding everything in the culture, the vulnerability of being able to allow ya thoughts to stray and not edit them out and just giving us your truth! Thanks for these videos 🫱🏾🫲🏻🫱🏾🫲🏻🫱🏾🫲🏻
Keep going, I love your take on hip-hop. It’s refreshing and honest. The vulnerability you brought to not knowing “the building” inspired a thoughtful investigation of the psychosocial dynamics of the courthouse. Thank you for understanding the power of reframing such a miserable space into one of optimistic defiance. 💯 ❤😊
Take a shot everytime he says "front"
It begins on a courthouse and ends on an owl locked in a cage...
Also, the owl ending references our beloved maya angelou , “I KNOW WHY THE CAGED BIRD SINGS”. All a caged bird can do is sing, saying Drake shouldn’t rap, he’s exposed as a culture vulture who steals flows, songs, and styles. Drake should have stayed true to his being as a singer
36:50 you so casually destroy a man based on how that man has portrayed himself to the world. Possibly the absolute best display of "Weird flex, but alright" I'll ever see in my life. ❤ Thank you.
One of my fav parts of this beef has been taking this ride with you prof!
This channel is so needed for the couture. The level of knowledge I get from it and entertainment is crazy keep doing you bro
Enslave not slaves. It wasn’t an occupation but an act of oppression committed..
Great video. Please don't suggest what we should/shouldnt do on April 20th because it happens to be someone's birthday that we didn't even know about until watching this video. Our relatives picked up rifles & glocks, jumped on boats and planes to go over there and help, only to come back home to disrespect, no love nor honor....and not one country picked up anything to help us here. Meanwhile we have to watch our own fellow countrymen celebrate Columbus day every year, which is a direct insult to us, or independence day when that independence didn't apply to us. I respectfully ask you not to do that, but instead think about the suggestion of ending the celebration of Columbus day. Keep up the phenomenal work, sir.
Profesor your videos are so refreshing i swear just bc of the way u present your points it feels like im just listening to a friend talk! Thank you for the amazing content❤
I've seen alot of people make videos about this beef, what I respect about you is the passion..
You love what you do and you've done your homework..
“It’s love, not luxury” 🔥🔥🔥
I love that Kendrick is bringing art back and the appreciation of it. Truly a pivotal hip-hop moment. There's gonna be college discourses about this🤣.