Hot off a headlining set at Coachella, Kendrick Lamar unleashes the cinematic video for his latest DAMN. single, “DNA.”
Directed by Nabil and The Little Homies, the clip opens with K-Dot hooked up to a polygraph in front of a cocky character played by actor Don Cheadle.
“Kendrick Lamar,” says a suited Cheadle. “Two first names, huh? What the fuck is up with that? You know what DNA stands for? Dead Ni**er Association.”
But when Kendrick’s “DNA.” begins, it blares a shock through Cheadle’s body as the polygraph needle shakes. Then, Don and Dot begin rapping along to the Mike WiLL Made-It-produced banger.
Eventually, Cheadle is left weary from the performance. He unlocks Kendrick’s handcuffs and is left in shock. “Another Dead Ni**a Association,” K-Dot says, as Don falls to his knees.
When Kendrick leaves the room, he is greeted by a group of friends. That’s when the viewer goes on a fast-paced visual journey through Kendrick’s life. This includes fighting off paparazzi, playing pool below a framed photo of 2Pac and Snoop Dogg and his seven Grammys, and having lunch with A&R Brocky Marciano.
In between scenes, K-Dot raps along with the fiery track and a group of women are seen joyriding recklessly through the city. The video ends with K-Dot and his homies, including ScHoolboy Q, Smacc the Boss, Traffic, and T.F. That’s when Groovy Tony steps up to the camera and punches its light out.
Kung Fu Kenny is attacking the charts with his new album, which is expected to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with 475,000 equivalent album units.