'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
In an unexpected yet exciting twist, Kendrick Lamar’s latest music video for Squabble Up has sparked a wave of speculation and admiration across the hip-hop community.
On November 22, 2024, Lamar released the second track Squabble Up from his surprise release of the sixth studio album GNX. The music video for the track, released on Tuesday, November 26, 2024, features breathtaking scenes that captivate viewers from start to finish.
The approximately three-minute video includes a subtle yet powerful reference to The Roots, offering a shoutout to the legendary hip-hop collective. This gesture did not go unnoticed by Questlove, the iconic drummer and co-founder of The Roots, who publicly expressed his gratitude to Kendrick Lamar for the acknowledgment
Trending
Kendrick Lamar's Squabble Up music video references The Roots and Questlove responds:
On November 26, 2024, Questlove took to his Instagram account, initially posting on his Instagram Story.
In the post, he shared a tweet from a fan who had drawn a comparison between a scene from Kendrick Lamar’s new song and The Roots’ 1999 track The Next Movement from their fourth album Things Fall Apart. Questlove captioned the post as —
"Damn now we GOTTA FINISH THIS LP huh? We back BABY!" Questlove wrote.
In addition to his Instagram Story, Questlove also shared a dedicated Instagram post on Tuesday, where he created a collage featuring similar scenes from both Kendrick Lamar’s song and The Roots' track.
In the accompanying lengthy caption, Questlove reflected on his decades-long career, which has led to unexpected and surprising moments.
He also expressed his gratitude to Kendrick Lamar for the acknowledgment, specifically highlighting the reference to The Roots' music —
"My number one love is the music I create in @TheRoots —that is the fuel to my fire & sometimes if you love something you must set it free. Then if it returns to you it’s real. That said I wanna thank @kendricklamar for acknowledging something I thought noone saw or cared about. Feeling seen is a great feeling and I dont take it for granted," Questlove wrote.
According to Uproxx, Kendrick Lamar may have included a scene in his video resembling The Roots' The Next Movement as a gesture to show there are no hard feelings toward Questlove or The Roots. The context stems from an earlier lyrical feud between Lamar and Drake, which lasted from March to May 2024.
During this time, Questlove voiced his concerns about the intensity of the conflict, drawing criticism from some hip-hop fans who viewed his comments as overly dramatic or out of touch. However, the inclusion of the reference in Lamar’s video suggests a sense of mutual respect and no lingering issues with Questlove.
The similarity between the two songs lies in the backdrop featured in their music videos. Both videos were filmed in a room painted in a pistachio green color, adorned with a chandelier, and showcasing walls with a similar pattern of rectangular and square frame details.
The setting is further enhanced by the presence of artists performing, singing, and dancing within the space, creating a visually striking parallel between the two productions.
According to Variety, Squabble Up is the first track from Kendrick Lamar's album GNX to receive a music video. Directed by Calmatic, the video features Lamar as the focal point, performing as a dancer in a blue hoodie.
The publication also highlighted several notable references in the video, including a tribute to Nate Dogg, elements from Menace II Society, the Compton Christmas Parade, and Ice-T’s Power album cover.
GNX, released on November 22, 2024, boasts an impressive lineup of guest contributors, including SZA, Jack Antonoff, Sounwave, Mustard, Kamasi Washington, Terrace Martin, Lefty Gunplay, and Dody6.
As of now, Kendrick Lamar has not responded to Questlove’s remarks or commented on his new release.
