Photo: Pitchfork
Apart from the launch of his latest album, Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers, Kendrick Lamar has released a music video for the song “N95.”
In the clip, the rapper, co-directing with Dave Free, is seen floating in the water as he imitates the crucifixion of Jesus pose, fleeing from a group of men who were chasing him and doing donuts in a car with Baby Keem, who co-produced the song.
“N95” is the second new video presented by Lamar this month, following “The Heart Part 5.” Lamar is still the showrunner for his latest music video with pgLang colleague Dave Free.
Furthermore, the rapper is morphed into the deep fakes of OJ Simpson, Kanye West, Kobe Bryant, Nipsey Hussle, Jussie Smollett, and Will Smith. Trey Parker and Matt Stone, co-creators of a comedy film with Lamar, are responsible for the video creation using their studio, Deep Voodoo.
Lamar announced the album last August and published a site called Oklama, announcing that it would be his last post on Top Dawg Entertainment.
“I feel joy to have been a part of such a cultural imprint after 17 years,” he said. His promotional statement is like what Michael Jordan said of his legendary comeback fax.
Mr. Morale is the first album the rapper brought after Damn in 2017. He has won the Pulitzer Prize and several Grammys for his 2017 album. He has spent his years doing LPs and has done a lot of work and collaborative efforts, appearing in the tracks of Busta Rhymes, Terrace Martin, Sir, and Anderson.
Following his appearance in front of an audience during the Super Bowl halftime show in February, Lamar is booked to feature at Glastonbury and Rolling Loud Miami this year.
Lamar is often dubbed one of the most influential rappers of his generation. Apart from his solo career, he is also a part of the hip hop group Black Hippy together with his former Top Dawg Entertainment labelmates Ab-Soul, Jay Rock, and Schoolboy Q.
He was raised in Compton, California, and started his musical career in his teenage years under the stage name K.Dot, releasing a mixtape called Y.H.N.I.C. (Hub City Threat Minor of the Year) that gathered local attention, resulting in his contract with indie record label TDE.
Overly Dedicated earned him the beginning of his recognition in 2010. A year later, he independently released his first studio album, Section.80, which contained his debut single, “HiiiPoWeR.”
Since that release, he has garnered many online following and teamed up with numerous famous rappers. Later, he had a record deal with Dr. Dre’s Aftermath Entertainment under Interscope Records. In 2012, Lamar made his major-label debut with Good Kid, M.A.A.D. City, gaining mass recognition and mainstream success.
