Playboi Carti and Kendrick Lamar has gone viral among hip-hop enthusiasts. According to reports, the two artists are preparing to shoot a music video in Compton.
The pairing is particularly interesting because of the unlikeliness of it, given that their styles are polar opposites. Carti has this avant-garde, mostly provocative aesthetic in his material, while Lamar is critically applauded for his socially conscious style and deep roots with Compton. Since the details of the collaboration remain at large, there’s heavy speculation from the fans on how the two artists will come together.
This collaboration comes at a very pivotal point in the life of Playboi Carti, who is in preparation for his highly-anticipated third studio album entitled I Am Music. Young fans have been waiting for this project, said to host what Carti and his team refer to as a “burnt music” sound-a new and inventive sonic path. This music video featuring Kendrick might be part of the promotional hype for the album that’s sure to keep the anticipation hot.
Kendrick Lamar is one of the artists that have remained really active in the music industry despite having very low social media presence. Since releasing the critically acclaimed 2022 album Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers, Kendrick has kept himself working on multiple projects, pretty much all being filmed across Compton. Most notably, he’s been filming the music video for his track “Not Like Us,” a process that has called for tight security measures-mostly from the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department.
The fact that Kendrick is still in Compton says volumes.
An artiste de rap that never lost contact with the roots, filming in his hometown gives his videos layers of meaning: his narratives are deeply rooted in the cultural and historical weight carried on by West Coast hip-hop.
Though Kendrick has been more known to be a leader in the conscious style of hip-hop, this would indeed show his collaboration with only one artist in Playboi Carti, but others too, may indicate that he’s willing to experiment with new trends while still staying true to his powerful, socially aware style. But, of course, another layer of curiosity is added by the fact that Compton was chosen as a location for this collaboration. Compton is dear to hip-hop history as the birthplace of iconic artists like Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, and Kendrick himself. The fact that shooting found ground in Compton will render this project as boundlessly leveraging off of the cultural significance of the area, which means far more than just a visual backdrop but a statement on the living legacy of West Coast rap.
