This past Friday, Kendrick Lamar, dropped his surprise new latest critically-acclaimed album, GFX. That is 12 new tracks from the Compton emcee and caps off a stellar 2024 for the former TDE signee that included his very high-profile beef with Drake, a small little record you may have heard called, Not Like Us, his sold-out celebration at the Kia Forum after undoubtedly winning the beef. Not to mention his numerous GRAMMYs awards nominations, several streaming records, and being announced to perform the Super Bowl LIX next February 9th. That is also Kendrick’s first album not under his longtime label home of Top Dawg Entertainment and instead being released by his own pgLang label.
Continuing his promotion of the album and not looking to slow down anytime soon. Kendrick earlier today debuted through Vevo. His very hilarious and fun new Calmatic-directed video for one of the album’s most standout sure-to-be hit tracks, squabble up. That finds Kendrick giving several nods and/or homages to both his homes of the Westcoast and Compton. Such as the video opening with a chandler over the middle of a room that Kendrick is standing in the middle of with a street sign display of the 105 Freeway to Compton on the wall in back of him before several dancers start performing gang walks, a scene from the classic film, Menace II Society being replayed, Ice-T’s classic Power album cover being recreated and the late great Nate Dogg’s G Funk Classics being recreated in an homage to the late great crooner and rapper. Known for his countless hit hooks on so many Westcoast classics.
Kendrick also pays homage to the Bay and Latinos with his recreation of the hyphy scene and lowriders from the Eses. One of the most hilarious parts being nearly a minute into the video Kendrick just sitting down reading a book cleverly entitled, How To Be More Like Kendrick for Dummies. Also while the video has mostly homages to the Westcoast and Compton, including the Compton Christmas Parade sign suddenly flanking down from the wall at the end of the video. As well as several others throughout the video I didn’t mention and wanted to see if anyone else caught. It is also a recreation of sorts to legendary Hip-Hop group, crew and band The Roots classic video, The Next Movement.