Kendrick Lamar’s first GNX visual arrived on Monday (Nov. 25), and the Compton rhymer is repping for his city in the “Squabble Up” video.
Interpolating Debbie Deb’s 1984 “When I Hear Music” dance bop, “Squabble Up” has been crowned an early standout from Lamar’s GNX album, and he didn’t waste much time delivering the Calmatic-directed music video days later.
In the visual, K. Dot dances in a blue hoodie and fitted cap accompanied by a 105 Freeway traffic sign taken from the road. He’s joined by dancers hitting intricate routines choreographed by Charm La’Donna and Blood gang members in an open pickle green room repping their sets throughout.
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There’s even humor thrown into the clip when Kendrick takes a second to sit down and read a How to Be More Like Kendrick for Dummies book, and then he holds a “Jesus Saves Gangsters Too” sign.
Fans were attempting to dissect the hidden meaning behind Kendrick promoting the Compton Christmas Parade, while others pointed out imagery that appeared to be inspired by Menace II Society and Ice-T’s 1988 Power album.
“Squabble Up” — which landed in Billboard‘s ranking of the album tracks at No. 3 — was initially previewed by Lamar over the summer as fans ran with the snippet tentatively titled “Broccoli.” Sounwave and Jack Antonoff are credited as co-producers of the infectious track, which is expected to make a lofty debut on next week’s Billboard Hot 100.
GNX caps off what’s been a rap MVP campaign for Kendrick, who already added a pair of No. 1 hits to his name in 2024 thanks to Future and Metro Boomin’s “Like That” as well as “Not Like Us.”
