DNA. Music Video | Kendrick Lamar Explained

Pearl Fountain

18 Apr 201704:14

Summary

TLDRThe video explores Kendrick Lamar's 'DNA.' music video, delving into the symbolism and deeper meanings behind the visuals and lyrics. It discusses how Kendrick uses the DNA metaphor to highlight the impact of environment and circumstance on identity, particularly within African American communities. The video features a lie detector scene symbolizing racial stereotypes and how society pre-judges African Americans. The analysis interprets Kendrick's message of breaking free from these stereotypes through hip hop, which helped him establish his individuality and rise above societal constraints.

Takeaways

🎶 Kendrick Lamar's music video for 'DNA' is a visual extension of the themes in his song.
🧬 The song compares DNA to circumstances, suggesting that both are deterministic and unchangeable.
🔍 The video's interrogation scene symbolizes the immediate assumptions and stereotypes faced by African Americans.
🗣️ The lie detector's activation before speech begins represents the preemptive judgements in racial profiling.
🎵 The chorus of 'DNA' is performed by both the accused and the accuser, indicating that racism affects all.
👥 The term 'DNA' is reinterpreted to mean 'Dead N-words, association', highlighting the deadly impact of racial stereotypes.
💡 The music video suggests that hip hop culture is a means of escape from the confines of racial stereotypes.
🌐 The switch in the song's beat signifies a shift from confinement to freedom, symbolized by Kendrick's escape.
📺 A Fox News clip is used to criticize the misconceptions about hip hop's influence on African Americans.
🌟 The lyrics after the escape emphasize individuality and the influence of hip hop on Kendrick's life journey.

Q & A

What is the central theme of Kendrick Lamar's song 'DNA.'?
-The central theme of 'DNA.' is the idea that a person's circumstances and identity are shaped by their environment and genetics. Kendrick Lamar explores how societal influences and racial stereotypes are imposed on African Americans, suggesting that much of a person's life is predetermined by these factors, similar to how DNA determines biological traits.
How does the music video for 'DNA.' relate to the song's theme?
-The music video visually represents the themes of the song by depicting Kendrick Lamar being interrogated, symbolizing how African Americans are stereotyped and judged based on race. The lie detector starting before Kendrick speaks illustrates how society forms assumptions before hearing the individual's side. The video highlights the notion that racism and stereotypes confine African Americans, similar to how DNA determines their fate.
What does the lie detector symbolize in the music video?
-The lie detector symbolizes how African Americans are judged by society without even speaking or defending themselves. It represents the assumptions and stereotypes imposed on them, particularly in situations of racial profiling and systemic racism.
What is the significance of the phrase 'Dead N-words Association' in the video?
-The phrase 'Dead N-words Association' is used by the interrogator to link African Americans to negative stereotypes, such as crime and violence. It reinforces the idea that these assumptions and stereotypes can be deadly, contributing to the oppression and marginalization of African Americans.
Why do both the interrogator and Kendrick sing the same song in the video?
-Both the interrogator and Kendrick sing the same song to highlight the universality of racism and stereotypes. Despite their different roles in society—one being a law enforcer and the other a suspect—they are both subject to the same assumptions about African Americans and their DNA.
What does Kendrick Lamar escaping the interrogation room symbolize?
-Kendrick's escape from the interrogation room symbolizes breaking free from the stereotypes and societal constraints that African Americans are often subjected to. It represents his ability to rise above the prejudices and claim his own identity, aided by his success in hip hop.
How does hip hop play a role in Kendrick Lamar's journey, according to the video?
-Hip hop is depicted as a tool that helped Kendrick Lamar escape the confines of racial stereotypes. It allowed him to create an identity outside of societal norms, giving him a voice and a path to success, which is why he is greeted by people in Top Dawg Entertainment gear after his escape.
What is the significance of the Fox News clip in the video?
-The Fox News clip, played as Kendrick escapes, is used to critique the narrative that hip hop is harmful to African Americans. Kendrick juxtaposes this with the idea that hip hop, in fact, helps many African Americans escape the systemic challenges they face, providing them with an outlet for self-expression and success.
What does the line 'My DNA not for imitation' mean in the context of the song?
-The line 'My DNA not for imitation' asserts Kendrick Lamar's individuality and refusal to conform to societal stereotypes. He distinguishes himself from others by embracing his uniqueness, signaling that he won't be defined by the prejudices attached to his race or background.
Why does Kendrick Lamar reference Kurtis Blow’s song 'The Breaks' in the lyrics?
-Kendrick references Kurtis Blow’s song 'The Breaks' to pay homage to one of hip hop’s pioneers and to reflect on the challenges of life, such as crime and violence, that African Americans face. The reference also ties into the broader theme of how hip hop serves as a means of survival and self-expression for African Americans.

Outlines

00:00

🎬 Kendrick Lamar's 'DNA.' Music Video - Initial Reactions

The speaker discusses Kendrick Lamar's newly released music video for the song 'DNA.' from the album 'Damn.' Upon the first viewing, they were confused but after rewatching, they began to understand how the video deepens the meaning of the song. The speaker also refers to their initial analysis of the song from a previous video and invites viewers to check it out for more context.

🧬 DNA and the Concept of Fate

The speaker delves into Kendrick's song 'DNA,' explaining how it explores the idea that DNA dictates a person's traits and circumstances. Kendrick compares DNA to the environment he was born into, stating that it decides his fate—whether to be a killer due to his surroundings or a star due to his talent. The overarching theme is that, like DNA, circumstances are inescapable and predetermine one’s actions and path in life.

🕵️‍♂️ Interrogation Scene - The Start of the Video

The speaker begins analyzing the music video itself, starting with a scene where Kendrick is handcuffed and hooked to a lie detector in an interrogation room. A man mocks Kendrick, equating 'DNA' to 'Dead N-words Association,' and then experiences a spasm when the lie detector starts. This, the speaker says, symbolizes how African Americans are stereotyped and judged even before they can speak or defend themselves.

📊 Stereotypes and Racial Profiling

The speaker explains that the interrogation scene represents the societal 'box' of stereotypes African Americans are forced into. The lie detector starting before Kendrick speaks suggests that racism causes immediate assumptions about guilt. Kendrick's song critiques how elements like drugs, crime, and wealth are linked to Black DNA, reflecting a racist belief rooted in 20th-century eugenics that Black people are biologically inclined towards crime.

🔗 DNA - The Connection Between Law and Crime

The speaker highlights the irony in both the law enforcer and Kendrick singing the same song about DNA, suggesting that no matter who you are—criminal or enforcer—racist assumptions about DNA affect everyone. The interrogator's earlier statement about DNA standing for 'association' is interpreted as a reference to the cooperative link between people and the stereotypes that lead to the premature deaths of African Americans.

💥 The Beat Switch and Kendrick's Escape

When the beat of the song switches, the interrogator is left to die in the trap of stereotypes, while Kendrick escapes to a group of people in Top Dawg Entertainment gear. The speaker interprets this as Kendrick's message that hip-hop, rather than being destructive as critics claim, is a way out of systemic oppression. Kendrick also mocks a Fox News clip criticizing hip-hop, using it to highlight the hypocrisy of their argument.

🎤 Hip-Hop and Kendrick's Identity

As Kendrick escapes, the lyrics shift to describe his success and identity, particularly with the line 'My DNA not for imitation,' signifying his individuality. The speaker suggests Kendrick is drawing a line between himself and societal expectations. He also references how hip-hop shaped his journey, with a nod to Kurtis Blow's song 'The Breaks,' highlighting its influence on him.

👍 Final Thoughts and Call to Action

The speaker concludes by offering their interpretation of the music video and asking viewers to like the video, subscribe, and follow them on Instagram. They also invite feedback to improve their understanding of the video and engage with the audience.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡DNA

DNA, in the context of the song and video, represents both the genetic makeup of an individual and the inescapable circumstances that shape a person's life. Kendrick Lamar uses DNA to compare his personal experiences and the traits he's inherited with the environment he was born into, emphasizing how certain aspects of a person’s life and behavior are predetermined, like their biological traits. The video emphasizes this with scenes of interrogation and assumptions made about Kendrick due to his identity.

💡Circumstances

Circumstances refer to the social and environmental factors that Kendrick Lamar sees as determining his life, much like his DNA. The video explores how external conditions, such as growing up in a violent or oppressed community, shape a person’s identity and actions. Kendrick presents the idea that, for many African Americans, their fate is heavily influenced by the conditions they were born into, making it difficult to break free from systemic racism and stereotypes.

💡Stereotypes

Stereotypes are a key theme in the video, representing the prejudices and assumptions placed on African Americans. Kendrick is shown in a room that represents the metaphorical box these stereotypes place people in. The lie detector test begins before Kendrick even speaks, symbolizing how society often judges African Americans guilty or inferior before they are given a chance to explain or defend themselves, based on preconceived ideas about race.

💡Lie Detector

The lie detector in the video is a metaphor for how African Americans are subjected to judgments and accusations based on stereotypes, without fair treatment. Kendrick is strapped to the device even though he hasn’t spoken, symbolizing how society assumes guilt or criminality before hearing the truth. This imagery reinforces the theme of racial profiling and systemic injustice.

💡Racism

Racism is a central theme in both the song and the video, highlighting how African Americans are treated unfairly because of their race. The video explores the idea that societal racism affects all aspects of life, from criminal justice to everyday interactions. Kendrick shows how racism is ingrained in society, using the lie detector scene to depict how African Americans are often presumed guilty based on their race alone.

💡Dead N-words Association

This phrase is introduced by the interrogator in the video as a derogatory and racist re-interpretation of the acronym 'DNA.' It highlights the connection between stereotypes and the violence African Americans often face. Kendrick uses this term to show how these toxic associations can lead to the literal and figurative deaths of Black people, trapping them within a cycle of violence and systemic oppression.

💡Hip Hop

Hip Hop is portrayed as Kendrick’s way of breaking free from the stereotypes and negative assumptions placed on him. In the video, Kendrick escapes the interrogation and is greeted by people wearing Top Dawg Entertainment gear, symbolizing how his identity as a hip hop artist gave him a way to define himself outside of the racial biases imposed on him. He suggests that while society claims hip hop harms African Americans, it is actually a form of empowerment and liberation.

💡Beat Switch

The beat switch in the song represents a shift in tone and perspective. In the video, it aligns with the moment when the interrogator dies and Kendrick escapes, symbolizing his transcendence over the stereotypes and circumstances that once confined him. The beat switch also reflects a change in the lyrics, where Kendrick begins to celebrate his own success and individuality, distancing himself from the expectations placed on him.

💡Kurtis Blow's 'The Breaks'

This reference in the song 'DNA.' is significant because it connects Kendrick Lamar to the history of hip hop, paying homage to one of the genre's pioneers, Kurtis Blow. By quoting 'The Breaks,' Kendrick acknowledges the influence of hip hop culture on his life and career. This reference emphasizes the role of hip hop in giving him a voice and a way to escape societal limitations, while also honoring the genre's roots.

💡Fox News Clip

The inclusion of a Fox News clip in the video is used to criticize mainstream media's portrayal of hip hop and African Americans. In the video, the clip plays as Kendrick escapes, highlighting the hypocrisy of media outlets that blame hip hop for societal issues while ignoring the systemic racism and oppression that African Americans face. This scene reinforces Kendrick’s argument that hip hop is a tool for liberation, not destruction.

Highlights

Kendrick Lamar dropped a music video for the popular song 'DNA.' from his newest album 'Damn.'

The initial confusion in understanding the video gradually turns into a deeper analysis upon rewatching.

The song 'DNA.' compares Kendrick's circumstances and lifestyle to his DNA, claiming both are predetermined and unavoidable.

Kendrick proposes that a person's environment and natural talent are as binding as their DNA, dictating their path in life.

The music video starts with Kendrick in an interrogation room, symbolizing the stereotypes and assumptions placed on African Americans.

The lie detector starts before Kendrick speaks, representing how assumptions and racism work against African Americans from the start.

The video suggests that stereotypes about African Americans' DNA lead to unfair assumptions and systemic oppression.

Both the criminal (Kendrick) and the law enforcer in the video sing the same song, implying that everyone is subjected to racism regardless of their role.

The term 'DNA' is used to symbolize 'Dead N-words Association,' linking stereotypes to the deaths of African Americans.

The beat switch signifies a shift in the narrative as the interrogator is left to die under the weight of these assumptions, while Kendrick escapes.

Kendrick is greeted by a group wearing Top Dawg Entertainment gear, symbolizing how hip-hop helped him break free from societal stereotypes.

The Fox News clip in the video contrasts Kendrick’s message by claiming hip-hop harms African Americans, while Kendrick argues it's their way out.

Kendrick emphasizes his individuality with the line 'My DNA not for imitation,' distinguishing himself from societal expectations.

The reference to 'Sex, Money, Murder: These are the breaks' pays homage to Kurtis Blow’s song 'The Breaks,' further reflecting Kendrick's journey.

The video and song together illustrate how Kendrick used hip-hop to escape stereotypes and claim his own identity.