In a return to his SoCal, low-rider rap roots, experiential time traveler Kendrick Lamar released his music video for “Humble” last night. Whereas the Compton, California rapper spent his previous album cycle collaborating with genre legends on jazz-tinged live tracks, he’s back to making the kind of bleed-for-this hip-hop he drone-bombed on the world circa “Cartoon and Cereal.”
Oh, and the video is dynamic and arresting, starring the self-proclaimed “best rapper alive” as a young pope.
The piano sampled on “Humble” comes courtesy of jet-setting Atlanta producer Mike Will Made-It. Here Lamar wants you humbled by his deft lyrics; the “sit down bitch, be humble” chorus also rings personal for black America in a time when Colin Kaepernick can’t get a job backing up frickin’ Alex Smith.
For its part, the video is a mashup of Last Supper cosplay, Grey Poupon advertising homages, golf clubs, beautiful women without makeup, and plenty more. (Lamar is so self-important that his music can be a slog, but you can’t say that he isn’t going full-on kitchen sink every time out.)
“Humble” is the second new song from Lamar in a week, after Friday’s barreling “The Heart Part 4.” His undisclosed new project is rumored to arrive early next month. Stay tuned.