Kendrick Lamar has once again sent the music world into a frenzy. Today, he finally released the highly anticipated music video for “Not Like Us.” While there are many obvious and not so obvious Easter eggs hidden throughout the video, one of the undeniable ones comes right at the beginning. In fact, he gives listeners a taste of an unreleased track and announces new music within the first 20 seconds of the video. Audiences couldn’t be happier to hear that he does indeed have new music on the way.
The music video begins with Lamar’s signature introspection. The beat is backed by Mustard’s distinctive sound, which has become synonymous with the West Coast sound. The video begins with a still shot of the Compton Courthouse. We then see a black and white flashing image of Kendrick in a hallway, followed by him rapping the lyrics: “I’m born again, I’ve been watching stars/Life goes on, I need all my babies. Woke up looking for the broccoli/hotkey, stop me, this is Kamasi/IP property, the blueprint is mine/Mister Get-off, I’m getting off at my feet.”
Hear Kendrick announce the new song
Lamar’s lyrics paint a vivid picture of his evolution as an artist and a person. “I’m reborn, I’ve been watching the stars / Life goes on, I need all my babies” seems to represent the beginning of a new era for him. He combines themes of rebirth and family with his typical mix of introspective commentary and social critique. Fans are eagerly awaiting what could be another groundbreaking addition to his discography. Beyond the music itself, “Not Like Us” serves as a reunion of sorts for the West Coast hip-hop scene. Lamar’s ability to bring together different elements of the genre is showcased brilliantly in the video, which features familiar faces and new talent alike.
“This is going to be awesome,” one person wrote about the teased song. “We need the album!” wrote another. “I don’t think he could make a better hit than Not Like Us…” said another. Moreover, the visuals for “Not Like Us” are a testament to Lamar’s artistic vision. Have you had a chance to check it out yet? What do you think? Are you ready for new music from Kendrick? Let us know on HNHH!
