Photo credit: Sharon Alagna
There is little room for light, the location looks to be some sort of bus station or bank. There is a ray of light beaming from a window near the ceiling revealing the only easy thing to see. The camera holds on this image and within seconds we find out who this man in the light is, it is Kendrick Lamar, who reveals hisself right after the ferocious Mike Will Made It produced song begins to play. “Humble” acts as the second preview that fans are getting of his upcoming not yet titled album which will be released on April 7th via PITCHFORK.
“Humble” is a departure from the sound that Lamar relied upon on his previous singles for his recent album To Pimp A Butterfly. The jazz influenced To Pimp A Butterfly featured “i”, a positive song promoting self love, a concept that anyone can understand. Featuring an Isley Brothers sample the song was not one that many would consider a banger. Following “i” up with “Alright” a socially conscious high energy record that seem to come at a perfect time in the eyes of many who felt affected by what was going on in America at the time.
Directed by Dave Myers and The Little Homies, the new visual for “Humble” shows Kendrick Lamar covered in a white and gold cape as he screams up to the sky to shortly after stare at the ground and begins to rap “Aye I remember syrup sandwiches and crime allowances”. The next shot show Kendrick in an all black crewneck sweater laying on a table covered in money as he points a cash cannon at the camera firing 100 dollar bills. Long time fans of the TDE spitter may be surprised to see this type of visual from Lamar who has not been known to feature money in his videos. The shots continue to come at a fast pace as Lamar can be seen reenacting the image of the last supper demanding his friend “be humble, sit down”.
In perhaps the most interesting part of the song, Lamar spits “Im so fucken sick and tired of the photoshop, show me something natural like afro on Richard Pryor, show me something natural like ass wit some stretch marks” a definite lyric that sticks out to fans of his who often are affected negatively in a mental way by the constant photoshop perfect girls put on the forefront.
“Humble” is the second song released, coming after “The Heart Part 4“, which was released in the previous week. Kendrick Lamar’s not yet titled new album comes out April 7th. Until then, enjoy the video to “Humble” below and be on the lookout for more announcements from Cornrow Kenny.