Kendrick's Not Like Us Video is Different: BREAKDOWN

[@Eniggma39]

17 is also a reference is to the 17 Grammys Kendrick Lamar has off hard work and discipline.

[@Kirvirul]

and the video cuts before he does an 18th push-up symbolizing the grammy he might win for not like us

[@BMFRecords]

Its 12 grammy MJ has 14

[@Fun.y]

​@@BMFRecordshe has 17

[@paulsus914]

It took him 17 days to respond to Taylor Made Freestyle and Push Ups, right?

[@Youmissedme_00]

@@BMFRecordsdefinitely has 17 Grammies and the only rapper to win the Pulitzer 🏆

[@proton6475]

the fact that kendrick dissed drake through hand gestures, exercising, paintings and SEATS is down right diabolical

[@lolarodriguez426]

Down to his dancing 💯

[@Before-GTA6]

Down to his vocals😮

[@rockhills]

What’s SEATS mean?

[@shortstorysforall]

​@@rockhillsI think he's js trying to emphasize seats

[@rockhills]

@@shortstorysforall I’m thinking maybe seats meaning receipts?

[@pinkcupcake4717]

You didn't even mention Kendrick flipping the bird, and then Tommy makes him stand in the corner like he's in time out. It's a really funny detail.

[@KhairiHamed]

“Show my ass and take you out of class. I can multitask like Megan, brother 🤠”

[@nobirdsnomasters]

The dance crew has rules to be in. Good grades, no cursing etc.

[@Nokluse]

Damn nice catch

[@AngieSargent]

I noticed Tommy the clown put both his hands up when Kendrick was cursing like he was shocked 😂😊

[@RebecaMitchell-ob7sx]

Great observation about what time mark does it happen @?!‽

[@mishasarahwhiteman8360]

Whit is a licensed esthetician and she’s keeping his skin glowing!!

[@Misssteelcity412]

Facts

[@StranglerSix]

Damn, where do I get my own Whitney? 😔

[@Artvibesmatter]

​@@StranglerSix Compton 👀

[@MelaninCosplay]

​​@@StranglerSix Aww. Hope you get her. 😊

[@42neddy]

We love to see it

[@OttersExist]

That painting is 100000% an invite you can see the same style in the lines over the edge. Wild.

[@cit0110]

that theory is way more fitting, i don't think kenny would combat a weak ass bar. it's 100000% the invite, then the wave of him in all way. that's crazy😂

[@alexamerri2]

@@cit0110 Yeah and he's waving wearing all white... waving at the party when he's with his community instead.

[@Hakasedess]

Yeah. He's turned it away because, well, They Not Like Us.

[@Zinras]

Regarding the containers, Baka was charged with human trafficking but couldn't be prosecuted because the victim refused to testify. That's most likely where the theory comes from and what his "weird case" is about.

[@BobbySteels__]

Yea, they figured that out 2 months ago

[@targetbuddy5]

It's more than that they refused, the victim suddenly became uncontactable by authorities. This is very common in suspected witness tampering.

[@brandonlawrence55]

they “silenced” that poor victim, its fkin obvious

[@BraidenMalette]

Y'all miss the "CB1" on the containers? (Cell block 1)

[@Ciervo78]

People on X/Twitter said Kendrick gave Drake rap beef CTE so bad that he wore cream color to an all white party and were saying he looked old/stressed and this might be the first rap beef we watched somebody age in real time.😂

[@shawnmcgoogin2882]

😂😂😂

[@HarleyQuinn-mb2de]

ITS TRUE 😂DRAKE LOOKS JUST LIKE HIS DAD NOW THATS CRAZY

[@MelaninCosplay]

Also, some people speculated that people were probably watching the video while at the party with him there. Talk about the awkwardness.

[@neruneri]

That was a really bad look yeah. It didn't help that his pupils were so big you couldn't even see the iris. He looks so messed up there.

[@Bdavis2475]

He's absolutely got the cte 😂

[@dariusbowen3271]

The picture frame is a reference to drake push up line where he says i bet my picture on the wall when yall cook up .Kendricks put dat shit on the floor and turned his freaky ass around 😂

[@ypeezy228]

Facts

[@Ketamin_Kemal]

The owl at the end is half brown half white….. bruh 😂😂😂

[@walterwhite3189]

Mans said "whitney was hitting that shit like crazy" had me dead💀

[@GoogleAccount00]

And she was!!! 🔥😮‍💨🔥

[@jay2thaudy]

I'm also obsessed with that dance Kendrick and mustard do. Goes perfectly with the beat lmao

[@GoogleAccount00]

Duh were they supposed to be dancing off beat? Lol

[@jay2thaudy]

@@GoogleAccount00 you must from outside the club lmao

[@TheBrothersBlue]

You are the first person that I’ve heard mention that dots skin was literally glowing - I couldn’t quite put my finger on what it was but I thought the same thing lol

[@pinkcupcake4717]

I swear he's found the fountain of youth by hating Drake.

[@SuperMiIk]

Kendrick is so moe

[@frogloti6319]

Nah he's literally absorbing Drakes life energy throughout this entire beef

[@neruneri]

@@frogloti6319 Geminis thriving on hatred 😭

[@judeking3145]

That nigga thrives on hating drake 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@vtuberdoodles]

19:32 might be me reaching but as an art student, every time i watch the music video, this part just reminds me so much of the "american gothic" painting, which is a very iconic american painting that represents traditional american family values

[@pinkcupcake4717]

I've seen someone call it "Compton Gothic" and I agree completely.

[@cheetah219]

So spot on. It reminds me of the farmers with the pitchfork patient. And Kendrick sits down with his kid while Whitney is taking centerstage and dancing on drake. He's showing drake, she's my queen and I'm willing to let her shine. Unlike drake who needs to be the center of attention...who knows, I love thinking about all the messages whether true or not...its hard to believe there isn't some truth to all of it

[@094176]

I don't think thats a reach at all.

[@thatkidwiththehoodie]

@@cheetah219for what it’s worth, the woman in American Gothic is supposed to be Pitchfork Guy’s daughter, not his wife.

[@cheetah219]

@@thatkidwiththehoodie nice! Thank you for clarifying

[@AShiftingofFate]

Shout out to some of the dancers: Nvy (5:55) Lady Bang ( 7:10 passes the bible), Storm DeBarge (15:31), Kida the Great and Taiwan Williams (16:43).

[@MarLoria]

Rightfully so, every performer in that video deserves their flowers

[@pulluponkhaleeq]

Been tapped in to storm since the jerking days with her and b qewl i was tripping when i seen her in the video 😭

[@HarleyQuinn-mb2de]

FACTS 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@WTMR-FM]

Storm DeBarge is such a cool name holy crap

[@HarleyQuinn-mb2de]

@@WTMR-FM FACTS AND HER FAMILY IS THE FAMOUS DEBARGE FAMILY

[@StranglerSix]

People assumed Kendrick locked the owl up, but Kendrick literally never touched it. He only stared it down. This brings home the idea that this really was not a rap battle but a "life long battle with yourself," which you then bring up all the problems and shackles Drake brought to himself.

[@DREMONEYSNIPERYT]

The fact that even if it was intended or not that every shot in the video can be some sort of message to dissing Drake is insane. That is true art.

[@GoogleAccount00]

🎯🎯🎯 it’s brilliant

[@cheetah219]

This is what we should have been taught in class when thinking about reading comprehension and breaking down poetry. I've never seen this many breakdowns for a single song and music video on KZbin, and many, many theories are plausible since kdot executed so consistently...its all possible. Kendrick opens up the song with a knock on a door...opening the door up for what will be drakes truth and Kendrick truth. We can go as far as we want down to how Kendrick is using natural hair that isn't styled whole drake has a new hairstyle every time people see him (locks, brades, shaved, etc etc) but telling drake - yeah my hair is natural cause I'm black. What about you?

[@omararojo]

You are the first to mention the possible reference of the piñata and connection to hispanic/latino community!! I would agree to that! (As a Mexican-American born in Compton :))

[@RonStewee]

The white outfit and the ghetto rodeo hat when in the scene wearing the leather jacket both hispanic designers.

[@Tony500x1]

Kendrick and Dave dressing up like Metro and Future isn't a reach if u consider that album is where "Like That" dropped with the Kendrick verse that started this beef.

[@DarleneMunizVO]

The cage alludes that Drake is a prisoner of himself and doesn't even know it. He thinks he's free because he has money, fame, power, etc. but those things don't mean shit - family, friends, staying true to yourself and your values..those are the things that matter, and Kendrick knows it... Kendrick is free from being controlled by greed, desire, etc... Kendrick has a free conscience and free will.

[@Acro_YT]

This whole thing reminds me of the message of DAMN. somewhat.

[@AntiMatterSSIR]

And a prisoner for assault of a minor

[@smashingairguitars]

Bruh dissing through door knocks is insane! Kendrick is sending bars through Morse Code now 😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣💀💀💀

[@shaneikaj.8711]

In 6:16 in LA Kendrick says: Know the wires in your circle should puzzle you If you were street smart, then you woulda caught that your entourage is only to hustle you The girl walking "the wire" which could directly reference those lyrics Also "the wire" is a HBO series where season 2 there were 14 females trafficked in a shipping container

[@Ang-ang-]

The wire was set and filmed in Baltimore, so I don’t think that would be something Kendrick highlighted in a Compton - west coast themed video/ track. But i do think your first explanation hit the nail on the head

[@fs4836]

The Wire reference is a reach

[@アオインク-k6v]

@@fs4836not really

[@SpideySensei72]

@@アオインク-k6v Reached so hard it might've dislocated a shoulder.

[@HarleyQuinn-mb2de]

I LIKE THE WAY YOU THINK 🤔

[@aintnocapinhere]

i love that the owl has no cage at first. i was confused at first as well, but its kendrick saying that drake really thinks he's "free" from this

[@trash.pandaaa]

I was confused too, at first I thought it was a chicken wing lmao but when they zoomed out that was 🔥

[@mukamiwamboraofficial]

Kendrick on Meet The Grahams says "you lied about the only artist that who could offer you some help" Maybe the last scene was Kendrick implying that he was between Drake and the cage and since he lied about him he is no longer willing to offer him help. He'll just leave him locked in the cage.

[@legends7603]

I’m just going to assume that Kendrick is saying that OVO belongs in a jail… so he put an owl in a cage. An Owl (OVO) behind bars.

[@Ketamin_Kemal]

My guess is that means that this time the colonizer gets locked in a cage….

[@thatkidwiththehoodie]

Dave Free, but Drake ain’t ;)

[@XLMRX]

A Londoner being this enamored by KDoTs work is a brat testament to his contribution to the culture. Thanks for putting this out man.

[@MyratheDunmer]

Scotland here, we love him too. Can’t argue with talent, creativity, and authenticity.

[@thelisters3]

I agreee. Awesome inferences made, backed by some solid research. Kendrick is so thoughtful and intentional, I've watched 5 or so of these videos and I swear I see something new every time. Drake has died a death by a thousand cuts and several major stab wounds... he better call a truce before it does get real.

[@Dezzo0721]

Ayo this just made the connection for me when kendrick said “i know you probably thinking i wanted to crash your party” in meet the grahams

[@jaydee5638]

He would have had to plan that since euphoria. Know not like us would blow up and that he could get a video out by the fourth. I believe when he said it he meant crashing drakes party with meet the grahams (referring to him dropping within 30 mins of family matters) thats always what i thought at least

[@youdidntask]

​@jaydee5638 Yeah, i low-key think Kendrick may have had an idea.

[@jaydee5638]

@@youdidntask about which part?

[@youdidntask]

@@jaydee5638 all of it. To me, it seems Kendrick thinks Drake is dumb. Drake has literally fallen for every trap set for him.

[@jaydee5638]

@@youdidntask oh for SURE! i just wasn’t sure if you were agreeing with crash your party being about the all white party or crashing his “party” when meet the grahams came out right after family matters

[@user9o777laont]

One of the dancers is Kida the Great! I think he’s from Sacramento but he was also part of Tommy the Clown’s dance crew. The song also united north cali & south cali. The beat is definitely from the Bay Area even though DJ Mustard came up with it

[@DevoteAcceptRelax]

The push up room was an exact replica of a movie with Mila Jovovich about human trafficking.

[@PandaK551]

The 17 push ups and the seperate 18th one might be alluring to Kendricks 17 Grammy wins, and the 18th hes getting ready for

[@michellewilliams5533]

I see dead people is also linked to the Games song One Blood. He starts it with "Dre, I see dead people". And Kendrick also had the 'psst' at the end of Euphoria.

[@IWannatalkpodcast]

I thought I was the only person who noticed that. Very true

[@RobBassCame2GetDown]

The scene where “Drake” gets pushed back into the shadow also looked like a Stranger Things reference to me

[@rahbeeuh]

Same here

[@Nathi98]

Yeah due to MBB's character's superpowers POTENTIAL REACH: Shot in the dark as she has gone on record to say that their "connection" was a dark time in her life

[@rahbeeuh]

@@Nathi98 who's connection? When and where'd she say that? /gen

[@smokeybowls187]

​​@@rahbeeuh Drake & Millie. They used to/may still text each other. But they definitely texted when she was 14 years old. I don't know about her saying their connection was a dark time in her life. But it's verified they hung out & texted when she was a minor.

[@TheUnstableThinker]

One thing I did notice as well is that "i see dead people" could also refer to Drake's use of Ghost Writers.

[@SizzlingSoca]

The white shipping containers has 'Bridgetown Barbados' on them. That has to be a reference to Rihanna, who is from Barbados.

[@rahbeeuh]

I thought those were referring to the trafficking case (Baka gotta weird case. Why's he around?)

[@Linda-j5y]

​@@rahbeeuhyep! And they all have a number on them that starts with CB1 (Cell Block 1)

[@rahbeeuh]

@@Linda-j5y so is the initial comment not accurate?

[@QuiAnteS.Anderson]

@@rahbeeuhNo… it is as well, as all others. MULTIPLE ideas and meanings can and are true. Let’s keep in mind Kendrick is a multidimensional artist, and creator.

[@rahbeeuh]

@@QuiAnteS.Anderson I'm aware I was just asking for clarification

[@DirtGang100]

The Painting thoery is just 👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿

[@technosage2370]

Kendrick makes cultural anthems, Drake makes songs

[@MaynardsSpaceship]

Steals* songs. 😅

[@tyenitty313]

That's YG dancing in all black he not just a dancer sir

[@nightshade3782]

And Drake called YG his friend on Family Matters 😂

[@MissXHiem]

im sure someone pointed out before but the hopscotch part is so layered, when you play hopscotch the top part is called heaven and the bottom is called hell , kendrick, sliding up the board, is literally saying he is easily going to heaven over drake who will be stuck in hell

[@BeautifulEarthJa]

Dang

[@toonnaobi-okoye2949]

Bruuuuh 😮😮😮

[@Corwin19]

Looks like he also skips over the 6

[@michellewilliams5533]

Tightrope walking in the clouds, looks like the Nothing Was the Same album cover (thank you internet for that link 😂).

[@chunkoid]

DAMN. kendrick is a genius also quick edit 9:44 the painting is also a reference to drake saying “i know my picture on the wall when yall cooking up”

[@zay0113]

just like the album damn

[@magnus0017]

Oh, that is a dang good catch, I completely forgot about that drake line, but it makes more sense as something taken down, turned away, in the corner, behind the audio equipment.

[@thegamer7537]

I think Kendrick Lamar chose a black Ferrari to show that he was "what the culture feeling" while Drake drove a yellow one; a lighter shade.

[@randuminstagata8292]

The dancer's in the shipping containers shows how white America has been shipping out Foundational Black Americans culture to the world!

[@burninsherman1037]

That's just as good a theory as the idea they're a reference to bakas case. Goddamn, now i don't know which possibility is more wild.

[@cheveronLI]

@@burninsherman1037it’s yet another double entendre, one of the many throughout this historical event

[@Dovah_Jay]

I have heardbmany brakedowns about the painting, all saying its about Drake's bar about Kendrick having his picture on his wall... but you presented an angle with just as much weight. I'm alomst covinced that's a invite to that stupid party.

[@sirdogith3783]

I wouldn't put it past Kdot to somehow reference both at this point lol

[@mickey4125]

abd even if Kendrick didn't actually receive an invite, the reference would still be valid. If that is an actual invite, prominently featuring it in the biggest rap track of the decade is a BIG fuck you to the 'powers that be'.

[@thelisters3]

All of this right here.☝🏾☝🏾

[@worstresolution]

bro imagine being drake at the party and then kim kardashian just OH SHIT KENDRICK JUST DROPPP

[@Bdavis2475]

I'm sure he wanted to go home so bad but they were still refueling his private jet 😅

[@thelisters3]

I know he was sick. And you know people were trying to slick listen to it right then!!!!

[@demitasse22]

@@thelisters3Michael Rubin made sure the DJ didn’t play it after drake got there

[@user9o777laont]

The Ferrari has a V12 engine. V12 is also the name of the machine plastic surgeons use to etch out abs in a male BBL “Let your CORE audience STOMACH that, tell ‘em where you get your abs from, V12 is a fast one”

[@finnalexmejia9179]

THATS CRAZY MAN

[@mukamiwamboraofficial]

Nice catch. And "baow baow baow last one, headshot for the year." The first three diss tracks are the three shots and Not Like Us which is the last track is the headshot for the year. He's an absolute Genius.

[@user9o777laont]

@@mukamiwamboraofficial yeah but I didn’t realize k dot will never take his foot off his neck. Apparently he was wearing white because at the time the video dropped, Drake was at Rubin’s all white party. Drake apparently tried to drop a self-reflective track sampling MJ, TDE member Ab-Soul tweeted something out for the first time in years thwarting that. Headshots for the year means he is not getting a chance at redemption in hip hop. Not unless he’s like Kanye and releases a MBDTWF type album. But he can’t lmaoooo. You need some sort of depth for that.

[@habeebideemashayish2750]

The chick on the slack line (tightrope) has a perfect blue sky with clouds behind her. Like the cover for one of Drake's albums. She's literally on his mind. (Once you see the album, it makes more sense.)

[@chicomac8450]

The painting Off the wall was a reference to Drake calling himself Michael Jackson and Drakes claims that MJ was better than Prince. Also saying He is better than Kdot. MJ has an album called “Off The Wall”. Kdot on the track “Like that” said “Prince outlived Mike Jack.”

[@Arielsfork]

The party invite is much stronger

[@galaxyvictoriano9999]

"They be streamlining victims all inside of they home & calling them tender" is 10000% a reference to trafficking. two notable meanings of the word tender, "young, immature, vulnerable," and, "offer as payment," or more specifically, "an offer to carry out work or buy an asset at a stated or fixed price." i know everyone is drawing a line from tender to tinder, but this is what i heard from that line. young, vulnerable, merchandise currency

[@mickey4125]

THIS. Like yeah, Tinder is only one letter different, but it really doesn't make sense contextually. You're about the only person i seen online saying this.

[@galaxyvictoriano9999]

@@mickey4125 i wish more people were making this connection, but i admit it took me a minute to zero in on it even though i know that use of the word. knowing what we know about how r kelly operated, and specifics of lil wayne's story about being SA'd in the studio at the age of 11, and things like diddy's parties, i believe that this sort of trafficking is way more common in the music industry than people realize. people focus on the main perpetrators, but forget that so many people in the industry knew, or saw it with their own eyes (or even participated) and none of them said anything. the line about how women playing these albums are also playing their sisters and nieces etc also hits hard in the same way, and lowkey draws a parallel to r kelly and the ongoing debate about whether one can separate the art from the crimes of the artist. in this case, drake being one of the biggest active artists, the line drives home the idea that to support his music is to directly fund a trafficking operation.

[@Mindset2Millionz]

The painting turned around on the floor can be in reference to drake saying " I know my picture on ya wall when you cook up "

[@Jefe730]

Toosie slide was a Kendrick sneak diss.. and Kendrick was well aware of it

[@gregorysmith3209]

Ay dog i wasnt tripping then right? I heard that shit the first few hours it came out and i was like hold the fuck up, this a fuckin sneak diss 😂😂😂👌🏾💯

[@jaywallin]

I love how it’s become a da Vinci code style decoding of this video. Every single thing is somehow a diss 😂

[@_artcookies]

First off, amazing video essay! Watched this one and the last one and instantly subscribed. 11:58 I’m not sure if this is exactly what Kendrick used in his music video but as a black filmmaker I can tell you that body/skin oil works best for achieving that ‘glowing’ skin effect on black actors and actresses as opposed to regular powder. A prime example of this being used is in the film ‘Moonlight’ (2016). Hope this helps!

[@MarLoria]

This is legitimately really helpful, I genuinely didn’t know so thank you! (And Moonlight is a perfect movie 🙏)

[@afrobutterfly]

The tightrope shot is her walking all over his cover art for Nothing Was The Same

[@AdorzAaliyahSince94]

It's just not enough people talking about Sis (Charm LaDonna) flawlessly dancing on the tightrope!! I just love how this video has created so much dialogue around it!! #NotLikeUs isn't just a song, it's an anthem at this point! ❤💚🖤💛💪🏾

[@brooklynqueen7089]

Rize is a good documentary to learn more about Tommy the Clown, clowning, and krumping

[@magnus0017]

My new favorite game: Is Kendrick dissing Drake through the medium of ____? Just fantastic breakdown, thank you for pulling this together. Edit: So, a couple things I've thought of after the fact; I think you idea that the owl becoming caged is a representation of Drake's vices caging him, while from Drake's perspective he is "free." Another thought, though similar, is the first is the animal's perspective: an enemy, someone else, is looming, and he (Drake) is getting ready to fight. But Kendrick see's a bird in a cage, and feels no threat whatsoever, and, eventually, just walks off. "Reincarnated" could also mean this is a prelude for the real "Heart Pt 6" as if I remember correctly Heart pt 5 ends with Kendrick dead and leaving everyone his love; part six, he comes back? The crowd shots, though, what's really important is Kendrick is there, in the midst of everyone, but not separated out. He's lost in the crowd, and the camera never focuses on him (except maybe at the end of the last crowd shot, to make sure viewers do notice that he is there). But even in this moment, one of the most public facing moments of his career after the beef and this hyped music video and record smashing single, Kendrick is just there, part of the crowd. He didn't feel the need to stand out.

[@deewils381]

💯 ❤

[@nottrevorallen]

12:34 doing the crip walk here is super significant, cant believe it got missed in this, both its origin in the LA bloods vs crips things, the fact that its used to signify a kill, the fact that it was one of the first hip hop dances with underlying gang meaning to hit the mainstream culture at the time ect

[@LMMinty]

I love this video the song the concert was amazing, i ended up in hospital cos of this song! i danced so much i ended up damaging the tendons in my feet and hips 🤣🤣its the most fun with music we had in YEARS! 2024 BEEN A FIRE YEAR FOR HIPHOP!! Great video

[@jonathanh2o621]

18:20 pointing out the obvious - the core values of this shot represent CLARITY, BALANCE, FOCUS, CONCENTRATION, EFFICIENCY, ADAPTATION and HARMONY! I think this scene made the final cut because it shows the will to grow, elevate and expand one’s ability to try new things despite the risk of falling! It’s REFRESHING to see a high degree of creativity, confidence and excellence fused into the culture!

[@tazzuchiha3412]

I believe Mustard, he’s been wearing a lot of different team hats with “FAITH” written on them, as a way to promote his upcoming album faith of a mustard seed

[@mattmilliken1510]

19:25 the 2 women circling around each other is my satisfying dance moment along with ken in the suit at the end

[@alexking148]

Been watching your channel since 2019 bro so cool to see you do these videos and congrats on the views since the last one

[@lina5979]

The prison cell layout seems to be a direct reference to an infamous photo of a young Milla Jovovich. The whole image, from the bed to the speakers and the canvas against the wall, very closely resembles the original photo. At the time the photo was taken, Milla was 18 years old and she has since talked about how she was taken advantage of when she was young and starting out in the industry, especially being overly sexualized in her teens in modeling and in movies. The imagery is so similar, I have a hard time believing it is a coincidence. The brilliance to use that kind of reference for the video, it is one of many reasons this whole video is a masterpiece.

[@holdmyteaimbusyscreeching6135]

people have also pointed out when kendrick plays hop scotch he touches each number but hops over 6,,, he won’t touch the 6 god

[@Linda-j5y]

Also there is another theory that Kendrick has The Heart Parts 1 thru 5 and Drake did Part 6; so Kendrick intentionally skips over 6 for that reason.

[@alcorgarcia619]

You are very talented in producing documentary/commentary type content. Keep up the great work. I appreciate you. 🙏

[@Tresies]

Does anyone else see the connection between the song Rich Spirit and KDot in the classroom scene of the NotLikeUs video?? In the Martine Rose SO FINE scarf?? “Stop playin' with me 'fore I turn you to a song. Ayy, bitch, I'm attractive”

[@CARATMom]

I am so glad you broke this down. I literally just watched your previous video wishing you would break down the video. A lot of folks attempted and left a lot of details on the cutting room floor.

[@bobbyjrp]

i died when you did the american accent at 7:10 😭😂

[@CreationSGame01]

Valiant effort wasn’t it lol😅

[@camibeard3223]

Me too😂

[@lucygp7379]

I watched your video essay and I was hoping you would do a breakdown of the music video! So happy to see this on my fyp.

[@RAT-elina]

Don't like how you referred to the girls as "women" at 8:45 . They are still children.

[@genericyoutubename123]

Glad someone else said something about this.

[@pinkcupcake4717]

He is playing under UK defamation and libel laws, which are stronger than in the US. Him emphasizing that he's being cautious about what he says adds to that hypothesis.

[@SirZubo]

Harry Potter coming through with the narration 😮‍💨

[@acemccannis302]

💀chillll

[@franciscopadilla6875]

😂

[@MamaJayde]

Cheeky li-ool wave 😩

[@rileypat20187]

this is like a brit hearing someone with a boston accent and calling him John Wayne, dude sounds nothing like Harry Potter 😭😭😭

[@MamaJayde]

@@rileypat20187 it’s across the water, close enough 🤣 what would you call that? How off am I if I call it English?

[@suenzhong7891]

You deserve a million subs dude

[@TimDigitalMusic]

13:13 In "Sticky" from Drake's "Honestly, Nevermind" album, Drake mentions the Ferrari SF90, symbolising luxury and success, consistent with his usual high-end car and lavish lifestyle references. In this imagery, Kendrick is (really, really) cleverly contrasting (laughing at) Drake's surface-level focus on wealth, with his emphasis on substance. Dope 🔥

[@barbeej12]

I'm a school teacher from LA, I remember Tommy the Clown and his crew coming to our school to perform for the students.

[@juanita-dark]

The video for ELEMENT is based on the work of Gordon Parks, a civil right photographer and artist.

[@thizzclinton]

I like your breakdown but I think it's more than Compton. it think its all of LA. cuz all those gangs aren't in Compton their in LA of course kendrick reps cpt. but this song brought ALL of Los Angeles together and shit maybe even the whole west coast

[@Eniggma39]

WOKE UP LOOKING FOR THE BROCCOLI

[@ypeezy228]

10:52 the painting off the wall was a response to a bar drake said about Kendrick

[@Hakasedess]

My 2 cents is the caged owl essentially says "Fuck around and find out." Drake was free, but now he's caught. There's no escape from this one.

[@hiroshi1046]

Both this video and the original video are so high quality in their background and research. It’s not like the other ones Ives seen that are like 25 minutes long with little explanation or actual depth. Looking forward to the new stuff!

[@MarLoria]

Thank you so much!! Next video is in the edit right now in fact 👀

[@SziontificMystic]

but who caught the Lauryn Hill, if i ruled the world, reference in the intro? LOL

[@MarkMcD84]

Happy the algorithm brought your channel to my feed. Subscribed

[@Kirvirul]

also it said that roddy rich n sza are in the background while kendrick walks by (i can't confirm 100% take it w a grain of salt) n the owl in the cage may be a reference to "i know why the caged bird sings" by maya angelou, where kendrick is the free bird n drake is... yk. there's SO many layers to this

[@cheetah219]

Youre spot on. I thought about the caged bird sings as well and a owl is a symbol of truth seeking. So, drake thinks he is fighting with drake through truths and finding the truth. But from Kendricks perspective, he hasn't even moved an inch. He's still in a cage and drake only makes up lies. He's showing drake that drake hasn't even accepted himself yet (half black, half white)...."the truth will set you free"

[@lleldridge1]

Terrific breakdown/analysis!

[@simonnoble2345]

About the room with the painting and the speakers, look for the short about milla jovovich, its uncanny, makes more sense than the white party theory

[@valeon7303]

One thing about the A-Minor bar: its the only piano chord that has no black keys

[@avondaledyer8837]

Cakewalk.....FACTS. You see it right homie!!!! CakeWalk....and all the other "gang"- "walks" of life......

[@MizoletteTV]

So the Crip walk is the new cake walk? Aka C Walk.

[@NandiJohnston-p6f]

@14:39 or near there... liken to what another great #Gemini lyricist said-in-song *"... I can do what do, easily, but frontin' niggaz give me tha heebeegeebees... "* ~ #MsLaurynHill #ReadyorNot! ♊♊♊

[@Rwastooshort]

The knock is also famously used by Narduwar, the guy who knows EVERYTHING when it comes to rappers

[@jennerally_correct]

He is not relaxing and walking across the hopscotch he is doing the Crip Walk in the hopscotch squares

[@memegazer]

I think the shave and a haircut two bits is a nardwuar reference...it is often used as a secret knock, nardwuar knows really obscure things about artist and at the end of his interviews he does the shave and a haircut part then has them do the two bits part

[@MagixxDOPE]

love these breakdowns! the beat and song are just FIRE thanks

[@cheveronLI]

Regarding the containers, I heard this on the JBP from Melissa. The white shipping containers with the black dancers inside of them can represent the exportation of black culture, specifically black American culture and whitewashing it. Tying into drake’s imposter syndrome of stealing cultures he’s not from

[@Bayyyro]

13:17 love the background music here, Vince is so underrated

[@bernieheartdragon1888]

I just assumed the unseen painting was to reference he has more art we haven’t gotten to see yet! Woah! Thanks for breaking that down. I’m low key sad it isn’t an Easter egg for more amazing unreleased songs.

[@momanmirul]

the afro comb is also a diss symbol remember these lines from Pusha T - The Story of Adidon "Confused, always felt you weren't Black enough Afraid to grow it 'cause your 'fro wouldn't nap enough"

[@spellegren]

17 push-ups = 17 Grammy's. Plus he started another, meaning more is on the way. The painting has multiple meanings. It's a response to Drake's bar that they have his picture on the wall while they are cooking. The speakers are vintage studio speakers. It's also a reference to Michael Jackson Off the Wall album, TDE knowing that Drake was planning a Man in the Mirror sampled track. Not sure about the white party business.

[@royalbroadsword]

lol my cat got confused during the part explaining the owl bc she was hearing the owl sounds and freaking out

[@PaperRouteBoogie]

Don’t think nobody didn’t hear that Drakeo instrumental in the beginning! Great video!

[@votron128]

Blue Jays hat has been worn in LA for a long time. Gang affiliation

[@lemonlazer5687]

Brand new to the channel man. Props on the video!!! Love from Manchester

[@CassandraRelynn]

I stumbled upon your page...Sir, I tip my hat to you!! You've really done your research!! This is one of the best breakdowns I've seen to date!❤

[@logix6649]

The picture frame on the floor turned around is a reference to when Drake says “I know my picture on the wall when yall cook up”