Kendrick Lamar Drops ‘Squabble Up’ Music Video From Surprise Album 'GNX'
After the surprise release of his sixth studio album GNX, the Grammy and Pulitzer Prize-winning artist released a visually rich music video for “Squabble Up."
Kendrick Lamar is on a roll. The artist dropped a surprise album last Friday. GNX marks his sixth studio album, and the music immediately catapulted to the heights of cultural conversation for being the latest display of his genius, a continuation of beef with Drake, and incorporating Mariachi star Deyra Barrera. Monday afternoon, he dropped the music video for "Squabble Up," which is full of references.
The visuals, directed by South Central Los Angeles-based filmmaker Calmatic, are brimming with homages to Lamar’s native Compton and Los Angeles. “Squabble Up” is the second track on GNX, and it's the first track from the album to have accompanying visuals. Fans may recall a snippet of the video was initially teased in the beginning of Lamar’s music video for “Not Like Us.” With over a million views and counting hours after its release, it’s reasonable to say this one's already a smash hit.
“Squabble Up” interposes Debbie Deb’s 1984 hit dance bop single “When I Hear Music,” and has already been hailed as a standout from the album. On the track, Lamar channels his West Coast rap heritage and fuses elements of G-Funk (gangsta funk), hyphy (hyperactive), and mariachi as well. In the video, Lamar commands attention as he dances in a blue hoodie (styled by his longtime collaborator Taylor McNeill), flanked by characters and dancers executing intricate choreography by the renowned Charm La’Donna (all styled by Jessica Willis). A street sign reading “105 Freeway” is pinned in the background. There are additional visuals references to Nate Dogg’s G-Funk Classics and Isaac Hayes’ Black Moses and moments inspired by Menace II Society and Ice-T’s Power album cover.
The video's visuals are rich with storytelling, boasting layered scenes of Compton pride with nods to mainstream entertainment. One playful moment sees Lamar sitting with a hilariously self-aware book, How to Be More Like Kendrick for Dummies, before holding up a sign that reads, “Jesus Saves Gangsters Too!” The humor adds levity to the visual’s deeper themes, inviting fans to uncover the meaning behind every detail. Lamar pays homage to his hometown’s culture, including a sign for the Compton Christmas Parade and dancers performing local street gang walks. A retro photo booth scene adds nostalgic flair, while the Soul Train Scramble Board makes a surprise appearance, tying together past and present influences with finesse.
The music video and GNX is just the latest in what has been an eventful year for Lamar, following the back-to-back releases of three singles amid an ongoing feud with Drake. Lamar released “Euphoria,” “Meet The Grahams,” and lastly “Not Like Us” earlier in 2024. The latter has gone on to become the biggest hit of the three, debuting at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 back in May. Lamar scored seven Grammy nominations for the hit track last month, including for the highly coveted Record of the Year and Song of the Year categories. As for next year, he'll be performing at the Super Bowl Halftime Show in New Orleans.
Watch the video for "Squabble Up" below.
