Kendrick Lamar isn’t playing any games following the arrival of his surprise album, GNX. Just days after the unexpected drop, K. Dot returns with the visual for “squabble up.”
The Calmatic-directed visual shows the rapper dressed aptly in “dodger blue” as he, once again, brings together rival gangs and spotlights elements of Compton culture. He also trolls by reading a book titled, “How To Be More Like Kendrick For Dummies.” Men also get into an actual squabble and there’s a nostalgic nod to Soul Train and early 2000s mall photoshoots.
The visual, which is under three minutes long, closes out Kendrick dancing with Black Jesus, a Black panther statue, $40 artwork, and a banner that reads, “Compton Christmas Parade.”
“squabble up” was first teased at the beginning of the “Not Like Us” music video, which dropped on July 4. The record samples Debbie Deb’s “When I Hear Music.”
The video came on the heels of Kendrick’s reaction to being “dissed” on Drake’s recent livestream. An associate of the Compton rapper sent him a text that read, “You done turned blood into a streamer on Phillies.” Lamar replied with a series of laughing emojis before asking, “He trippin??!”
Drizzy and Kung Fu Kenny’s beef dominated 2024 with the latter being declared winner after “Not Like Us” took over mainstream in every way possible. Drake has tried to bounce back by shading Steve Lacy with fellow Canadian xQc and declaring that “You need facts to take me out” in response to Kendrick’s GNX.