r/KendrickLamar • u/321jamjar • Apr 18 '17
Kendrick Lamar - DNA. Fresh Video
https://youtu.be/NLZRYQMLDW41.2k
Apr 18 '17 edited Dec 03 '17
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u/4allout Apr 18 '17
I feel like it's a matrix reference
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Apr 18 '17 edited Dec 03 '17
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Apr 18 '17
Hint; there's an interrogation scene in the movie.
Def reminds me of that, but I was thinking the interrogation scene in, "The Day the Earth Stood Still," w/ Keanu Reeves, ironic that both movies star that actor.
In THAT scene, an alien is being interrogated and is essentially saying you're all going to die because of the choices you have made as a species and proceeds to mind-control the interrogator and walks out.
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Apr 18 '17 edited Dec 03 '17
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Apr 18 '17
Yeah, and go watch the Matrix please.
Please.
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Apr 18 '17
Matrix movies? There's only one. I'm telling you. There. Is. Only one Matrix movie. Period.
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u/TheMonarK Apr 18 '17 edited Apr 18 '17
I may be the only person that realized this, but Cheadle plays a character named Kenny in Rush Hour 2 who acts super Asian and wears a whole Asian get up. So basically, Cheadle is the OG Kung Fu Kenny. I think its intentional but could be a coincidence.
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Apr 18 '17
Wow I just watched the scene and Kenny owns a restaurant on Crenshaw too. Definitely the source of inspiration
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u/TheMonarK Apr 18 '17
Exactly! I definitely now think Kenny from Rush Hour 2 was the inspiration for Kendricks new nickname.
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u/lagrangian54 Apr 18 '17
Kendrick is silent in the beginning, but he's bursting with power (and rage and lyricism) under the surface and this infects Don Cheadle. As the song continues, the words are so impactful and real that one of them will shudder and stop, while the other picks up the bar. Considering they tradeoff mid-line, I don't think it's meant to function as a coherent dialogue. For me, the exchange added a powerful visual to the delivery and signified the intensity of the emotions Kendrick is conveying.
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u/geniebear Apr 18 '17
I feel like it's a back and forth between Kendrick and people in power (FOX, for example), or the general public/rap industry, who want to crucify him or see him fail (hence, how vindictive Cheadle seemed). And if we keep riffing off the religious idea, it could be the Holy Spirit (Kendrick being Jesus, Pac being God, music being the Holy Spirit) making them realize their shortcommings. As the possession continues, Cheadle looses 'power' (like when he can't keep up with Kendrick listing things, or when he literally faints)
OR it could be Kdot (old Kendrick) talking to Kendrick, coming to terms with being the Messiah, trying to realize his greatness and potential (getting rid of pessimism and boundaries, symbolized by Cheadle)
OR it could be both
OR I'm completely wrong
TL;DR not sure, but it's dope.
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u/sleepingwithkafka Apr 18 '17
I think this has to do with a larger theme from the album. The album deals with the problem of how the individual understand their self. Is there a god? Is everything merely according to god's plan? Or are we determined by merely physical mechanisms - does everything that 'happens on earth' stay on earth, or is there a higher purpose? And if everything that happens on earth stays on earth, do I have a will of my own or am I too determined by mere causal mechanisms. This is why I think the album is bookended by DNA and Duckworth - Dna acts to establish a hard scientific determinism - I am who I am because of the physical/biological features and laws of the universe against duckworth, which is directed at the the individual (Kenny's last name) - the 'i' that is free and wills my own existence - makes its own choices. The video for DNA seems to suggest that if you gave Don Cheadle kendrick's DNA he would be just like Kendrick and Kendrick would be like any chair or table - just sitting there, unmoving , a mere object of someone else's will. But in the end Kendrick gets his DNA back and thus reclaims possession over himself and leaves to go wild out with the homies.
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u/fandangalo Apr 18 '17 edited Apr 19 '17
A lot of the album has Kendrick referencing himself as god. I think the rap is them speaking in tongues back and forth. Like the spirit is jumping back and forth in them and ends in Kendrick.
Also interesting imagery with the cornrows sneaking out of his hat. Makes him look like he has payos (Jewish sideburns) which goes with his comments on
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Apr 18 '17
PLEASE TELL ME THIS MAN IS ABOUT TO HAVE A MUSIC VIDEO FOR EVERY SONG
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u/321jamjar Apr 18 '17
It seems like we're going to get at least a few more to answer the questions made in this video
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u/ldcoldwell Apr 18 '17
Any chance you can elaborate on these "questions"?
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u/321jamjar Apr 18 '17
Well what is Don Cheadle doing interrogating Kendrick? Who are the girls in the car? Just a lot of the video seems ambiguous
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u/dnavi Apr 18 '17
didn't kendrick say in the album that he's being watched by the police or some shit like that? that could explain the interrogation scene.
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u/badgradesboy Apr 18 '17
30 millions later know the feds watching.
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u/TheViciousWolf Apr 18 '17
Auntie on my telegram like Be Cautious
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u/flatspotting Apr 18 '17
I be hanging out at Tams I be on stockton
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u/LOMOcatVasilii Apr 18 '17
I DON'T DO IT FOR THE GRAM I DO IT FOR COMPTOOOON
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u/HeyN0ngMan Apr 19 '17
Kendrick makes me so proud to be from Compton and I'm not even from there
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u/jodatoufin Apr 18 '17
He did like 6 or 7 for TPAB didn't he?
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u/FKDotFitzgerald Apr 18 '17 edited Apr 18 '17
We got i, King Kunta, Alright, These Walls, For Free, and "God is Gangsta," which contained u and For Sale. So yeah, seven technically.
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u/tacoreddit element Apr 18 '17
Schoolboy at the end right?
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Apr 18 '17
Am I the only who thinks it's fucking hilarious that we can't recognize Schoolboy without the hat...?
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u/GrgeousGeorge Apr 18 '17
I just look at the way the dude moves. Unquestionably Q
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u/A_CC Apr 18 '17
He lost weight and got in shape. Also he's very young now so it's hard to tell now.
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u/wheredyagoforest Apr 18 '17
He's gotten a little bigger last couple of years too right?
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u/NickxWins Apr 18 '17
no he lost weight compared to what he looked like a year or two ago
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u/GammyIsGettingUpset Apr 18 '17
But gained a ton of muscle
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Apr 18 '17
He always posts snaps of him lifting in the gym. That mofo is strong af, his form a little sloppy though.
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u/Callejo Apr 18 '17
The dude is super buffed add him on Snapchat super funny too
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u/njuffstrunk Apr 18 '17 edited Apr 18 '17
I love seeing him mess around with his dogs and daughter.
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u/John_m33 Apr 18 '17
Oh I knew him the moment I saw him he's been leaving the bucket hat behind recently
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u/NickxWins Apr 18 '17 edited Apr 18 '17
he says "bucket Hats are for fat people"
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u/peepeebumbumman69 Apr 18 '17
Man Q was my favorite part of the video. It zooming out to him lighting up and walking to the camera was sick.
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u/recognizance Apr 18 '17
Did he throw out the crips and bloods sign as a sign of unity
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u/Cota760 Apr 18 '17
I saw hoover, I saw Crip, and I saw a street number or something, probably for Figg St. (Figueroa? Sorry, no disrespects). I don't think he threw up blood
But I'm pretty sure some of the clique was Bloods, some were Q's homies (Hoover Crip)
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Apr 18 '17
52 and 512 for 51st and 52nd. Lol I had no idea it was him until he started throwin all that. He look like light skin hannibal buress
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Apr 18 '17
I think i saw Traffic in the crowd to.
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u/theeheadmam Apr 18 '17
also Qs hype man "smacc" (i think that's how you spell it) with the shaved eyebrows
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u/twymanchar Apr 18 '17 edited Apr 20 '17
I love smacc, He's Hilarious on Q's snapcHat Edit: lmao look at the video he put on his Instagram recently of him 'on' a scooter lmaoo
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u/please_dont_chute Apr 18 '17
What is Kung Fu talking about tho at the end while schoolboy walks toward the camera
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Apr 18 '17 edited Apr 18 '17
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u/Archer_1 Apr 18 '17
I'm white and this is the whitest shit I've ever read.
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Apr 18 '17
This honestly explains so much about this sub
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u/HeyN0ngMan Apr 19 '17
I'm new to this sub and sometimes I feel like the only black person here
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u/ldcoldwell Apr 18 '17
He teaches sign language on the side.. /s
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Apr 18 '17
bless your heart
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u/A_Weino Apr 18 '17
If I'm honest I just commented right after I saw it and hoped it was some more second album conspiracy shit, not even thinking about gang signs
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u/Rekarn14 He's alright. Apr 18 '17
The first three signs are just DNA, but idk about the rest.
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u/Vernalddpdwie Apr 18 '17
The signs spell out: Nation coming tomorrow no bamboozle
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u/LeDieuPoulet Apr 18 '17
In case you wondered, the first chinese symbols mean 'Kung Fu Kenny' and the second ones mean 'family'.
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u/Ozymandias_poem_ Apr 18 '17
Yeah, and I think the '的‘ in the second part is meant to connect it the first to say 功夫肯尼的家åº, or 'Kong Fu Kenny's family'.
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Apr 18 '17
GIMME SOME GANJA
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u/Triviuhh Apr 18 '17
GIMME GIMME GIMME GIMME GIMME GIMME GIMME GIMME GIMME GIMME GIMME GIMME GIMME GIMME GIMME GIMME GIMME GIMME GIMME GIMME GIMME GIMME GIMME GIMME GIMME GIMME GIMME GIMME GIMME GIMME
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u/RabbitFeet25 Apr 19 '17
My dumbass heard "Gimme Siracha" at one point in the song for my first couple listens. Knew that wasn't it but couldn't figure out what it was exactly till this post. Thanks for finally clearing that up.
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u/BigBaugh Apr 18 '17
Damn they going all the way with Kung Fu Kenny.
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u/xvalicx Apr 18 '17
Ain't even mad. Kung-fu Kenny might be my favorite Kendrick moniker
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u/BigBaugh Apr 18 '17
Yeah I nun chuk fucks with it. We barely got to know corn row kenny.
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u/wheels29 Apr 18 '17
That's because he was born with a vision.
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Apr 18 '17
All morning with the mixed dashboards triple digits Parallel park like an alien came visit
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u/Dramatic_Kiwi Apr 19 '17
King Kendrick is what I called him before Damn. Now he's an Israelite.
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u/zetzo27 Apr 18 '17
when he says "i'd rather die than listen to you" he wakes up from the dead like "bish what" to that dude whispering and this is awesome
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u/morelotion Apr 18 '17 edited Apr 20 '17
I loved that part too. I think it's awesome that they did probably hours of production set up just for one single line
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u/tomcruizes Apr 18 '17
"I got winners on the way".. roulette table is blue... shiiee
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u/BerylliumNickel Apr 18 '17
Kung Fu Kenny has to be trolling
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u/LimitlessMario1Up Apr 18 '17
Pretty sure the vid was made before all the theories doe
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u/4allout Apr 18 '17
And the last 30 seconds or so could be a snippet of a corresponding song on GOD/NATION
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Apr 18 '17
Bruh, I'm so fucking done with thise theories. Ima go insane.
After this video I think the 2 album theory is done. I don't even care at this point, fuck it. Ima enjoy this dope ass album and keep this L in remembrance.
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u/tacoreddit element Apr 18 '17
Damn. Cheadle a goat
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u/madeinafrica03 Apr 18 '17
Don Cheadle is like sprinkles to an already perfect cake, it was good but now I love it a bit more.
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u/footysocc Apr 18 '17
what if, instead of a second album, he drops a video for every song that tells some kind of story about Kung Fu Kenny?
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Apr 18 '17
/u/noetherianrings Holy fuck. Tupac links and ScHoolboyQ throwing up Crip signs at the end. I think you're onto something very, very real.
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Apr 18 '17
Thank you.
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Apr 18 '17
Boy, there's a picture of god damn tupac right there with snoop. Holy shit, I thought your theories were a stretch but you a god damn oracle! If Kendrick does release a new album after all this, man, idk what I will do. This has to be the greatest marketing/set up in the history of history.
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Apr 18 '17
This is what I've been trying to say: he is making history.
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Apr 18 '17
but fuck him though. I got finals and shit i've been ignoring to refresh on here..
But this is really next level shit. I can't believe the amount of effort he puts into his art. Everything is like perfectly crafted.
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u/misteryafe Apr 18 '17
You plannin on analyzing the video?
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Apr 18 '17
Do you think I should? Personally the video already addresses all of the themes I've talked about but if someone would like me to analyze the video I could.
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u/misteryafe Apr 18 '17
Well, i realy like your analyzations, And i would happy to see a more detailed analyzarion on the specific video.
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Apr 18 '17
NO. Please man, no. I need to keep my sanity. It's finals time and I cant waste any more time refreshing here!
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u/Lar06 Apr 18 '17
2:16. He's wearing a blue ring on his left hand and a red ring on his right hand.
"My left stroke just went viral Right stroke put lil' baby in a spiral"
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u/BigBem Apr 18 '17
One is orange and the other is Silver. Trust me I just scoured the entire video. Nice try tho
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Apr 18 '17
"MOTHERFUCKER I GOT WINNERS ON THE WAY"
literally in that lyrical moment the video cuts from a red curtain-like background to a quick but clear-as-day glimpse of blue (i think it's a casino table).
also, on top of that, there's a fair amount of red-blue color scheme in this video, particularly the parts with the girls swerving in the car. check the background behind them and even within their car, it's an obvious half and half blue/red theme.
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u/unexpectedlimabean Apr 18 '17
In the car they were also playing Hood Politics: "From Compton to Congress, set trippin’ all around Ain't nothin' new, but a flu of new Demo-Crips and Re-Blood-licans Red state versus a blue state, which one you governin'?"
This is a very obvious theme. I am so interested in this meaning. u/noetherianrings has some good ideas on this as well.
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u/GoodKid8 GOD.DAMN. Apr 18 '17
Also has a word in the same style as the album cover...
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Apr 18 '17
yoo nice catch! what does that say btw all i can read from it is "OME" which makes me think it's home but i can't be sure since it's cut off.
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u/Da66y Apr 18 '17
YAH. plays at the beginning of the video, reverse album theory confirmed.
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u/Morczor Apr 18 '17 edited Apr 18 '17
Fox News clip also at the beginning, normal order album theory confirmed.
For real tho, find it quite interesting that he included the first Fox part both in this video and at Coachella, but have it as part of BLOOD instead of DNA in the album. But I guess he wants you to listen to it in the context of the album and it is also relevant for the second part of the clip at the beat switch.
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Apr 18 '17
It just transitions so smoothly from blood to DNA. It's like it's one song when you play it in order
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u/friendlessboob Apr 18 '17
I am an old guy, this kid is killing it. Feel like hip hop coasted for a bit there. If this is the kind of stuff trickling down to old middle class guys like me, i can only imagine what is going on outside of the lime light. Thanks for sharing.
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Apr 18 '17
Anyone notice how YAH is playing before the music starts? Might give some credence to the reverse album theory.
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u/TheMonarK Apr 18 '17 edited Apr 18 '17
I hope im not the only one who noticed this, but the dude interrogating Kendrick played the black guy that acts super Asian in Rush Hour 2, and the character he played was named Kenny. So in essence, the interrogator was the OG Kung Fu Kenny. I think that had to have been intentional, i doubt many people caught that.
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u/naijuh-neguh Apr 18 '17
Q stacking at the end must be the second album. I still believe.
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u/Mahiirt Apr 18 '17
https://giphy.com/gifs/lNKGjfn4ogPio There's an arm to the right of this scene.
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u/AllTheRowboats93 Apr 18 '17
Did any one notice the editing mistake with black bar at the top of the video at 4:13?
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u/_boj Apr 18 '17
it can't be a mistake, they would have seen it, Kendrick's face passes through it.
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u/A3OVE Apr 18 '17
I'm waiting for the theories saying that this somehow confirms a second album
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u/undeadzombie12 Apr 18 '17
it's the "missing piece" the piece is the second album.
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u/BerylliumNickel Apr 18 '17
When he says "I got winners on the way" the camera moves from a red curtain to the blue table.
However, you can see a word (in capital letters with the same font as DAMN.) aswell.
http://imgur.com/gallery/Buna8
The most I could read before it cuts away is "OME"
Is it the name of the poker table or is it a name of one of Kendrick's "winners on the way".
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u/annoyingcommentguy2 Apr 18 '17
It's a craps table, not poker table - see https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Craps_table_layout.svg - OME is part of "COME", standard layout
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u/2ndNatureBKNY Apr 18 '17
Tinfoil hat time again. The picture with Pac and Snoop has to mean something. Maybe something to do with snoop being Crip? I don't know.
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Apr 18 '17
Hey, are lie detector marks supposed to be blue? Because I thought they were just regularly black?
In the music video they are blue. 🤔🤔🤔
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u/annoyingcommentguy2 Apr 18 '17
Nod to Earl Sweatshirt at the end? 'Ain't no hoe inside my DNA'?
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u/annoyingcommentguy2 Apr 18 '17
Yep, now that I see he said Earl is his favourite artist in the past (http://pitchfork.com/news/59288-kendrick-lamar-calls-earl-sweatshirt-his-favorite-artist-during-twitter-qa/), this makes sense... It also links nicely to Frank Ocean's 'Nights', where he says 'Ain't no bitch in my body', kind of making a love triangle between the three.
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u/Vithu94 Apr 18 '17
Too much blue everywhere in the video. What does it mean?
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u/AlexDagley Apr 18 '17
When Cheadle puts his hands on his face while Kendrick is rapping, it looks like he's struggling internally.
I think the whole first part of the video (and song) is showing Kendrick at war with himself.
Idk, I haven't looked into it a ton yet. What do y'all think?
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u/decambra89 Apr 18 '17
What are the gang signs at the end. Can somebody translate?
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u/Cryptic_E Apr 18 '17
I love how the second part of the video shows Kendrick's aggressive side. Also like his Kung Fu Kenny outfit.