Over the years, rapper Kendrick Lamar has become known for his visually intriguing music videos. With the release of “HUMBLE.” he not only teased his upcoming album but created his most stylized and complex music video to date – the one stipulation being the lack of story, something that is often lacking in his video. This same theme is seen in his newest release of the “DNA.” music video.

The song “DNA.” is presented almost as a response to FOX News personality Geraldo Rivera’s comment that, “hip-hop has done more damage to young African-Americans than racism.” Similarly to the ending of the song “I,” in which Lamar raps on the letter “N E G U S,” which references the African word for king or ruler, meaning that he has royalty inside his DNA which shapes him as man and an artist.

The music video depicts Lamar chained to a table being interrogated by actor Don Cheadle, who, little known fact, was not just the guy from “Ironman.” Their interaction seems to coincide with the story of the song as it ends with Lamar overpowering the corporate and straight edge Cheadle to return to the streets to embrace his DNA.
That’s about as far as the story goes in this video but we continue to be shown complex and interesting images of Lamar rapping and other shenanigans. The video does explain lines like “new Kung-Fu Kenny,” which references “Rush Hour 2” where Cheadle plays a character who is named Kenny and knows Kung-Fu.

The end of the video does leave us wondering about the meaning behind ScHoolBoy Q’s jab at the camera. Maybe Lamar is hinting that Q is next up? That remains to be seen.

Regardless of story and Easter eggs it’s obvious that Kendrick Lamar knows how to make a stunning music video.

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