Just picked up on the SZA cameo at the end. So much to unpack with this video. First time a music video ever made me shout out loud "HOLY SHIT" (when he shoots the first guy).
After the disappointment (for me anyway) of the last album, Donald has pulled me right back in. God damn, that beat is something else.
Wow This is America is very complex. I need some time to digest it. I enjoyed the two new songs though; I can't wait for this album.
It’s been a good year for music videos but i think this is the best video of the past several years. The song is also very good in its own right and I’d probably call it his best song without actually digging through the discog. Last album had some real accomplishments on it (like Redbone) but was dragged down by a considerable amount of dog shit (like California)
I keep seeing people bring up Kanye and I don't like it, I feel like what's being done here, in terms of the elements it combines and the nuanced message, and the symbolism, and really just the care put into the details, is so very much its own thing. I don't want to compare it to anyone else, especially a guy only currently in the news for not understand white supremacist false equivalencies. I do want to say that this is easily the best video he's ever made, and might be the best song in his catalogue. Really glad this is having a significant cultural impact.
Reading stuff about this video, this is an interesting point a Forbes article points out: “Every time someone is shot, the gun is taken away carefully and cradled. Meanwhile, the person shot is either left there or dragged away on the ground, not picked up. Also, the guy who collects the guns is dressed in a polo shirt and ironed khaki pants. Quite respectable.”
The only song on AML I consider outright bad is California, and even then it’s mostly because of the strange vocal inflections. Overall I still think that album is a really great achievement. Hearing Me and Your Mama for the first time will always stand out to me as one of those musical moments that absolutely floored me.