Reblog to give prev a hug. The type of hug where you’re squeezed extra tight and all of your negative feelings drain away and you put your head on their shoulder and everything feels better 🫂
Also. Kendrick opened with an unapologetically loud performance focused on Black America with a ton of political messaging. And the women sang “someone better squabble” in almost a mocking tone?? Because so many white Americans only know Kendrick from the Drake beef, and they’re there to see two black men fight, not a celebration of Black Culture.
The american flag literally dissolved into depictions of violence and shooting. And then, once the performers were united in sync again, the audience flashed “WARNING, WRONG WAY”
That has so many meanings, both in the context of the performance being about politics and the path America as a whole is going down—the wrong way.
But also in that specific moment, when black men were working together as a whole, America would rather see them fighting. After that section is over, Uncle Sam mocks Kendrick.
Once the performance turns into a pop song and , Uncle Sam says, “yeah, that’s what I’m talking about! That’s what America wants—nice and calm! You’re almost there. Don’t mess this-“ and he is cut off by Not Like Us starting. White America is content to watch Black artists as long as the art is palatable to them, but Kendrick disrupted that with the Drake beef, and white America watched because it glorifies violence between black men.
But Kendrick emphasizes that this is not what this performance is about. When asked if he’s really about to do this, he says “It’s a cultural divide, Imma get it on the floor.” And “40 acres and a mule, this is bigger than the music.” He is doing this for Black America. Not Like Us has brought folks together when America has tried its hardest to divide and conquer. Hell, Kendrick had Crips and Bloods dancing on stage together at a concert. He’s managed to work through centuries of oppression and trauma to bring Black America together in this moment. This is bigger than the music.
And he brings it back to politics with “yeah, they tried to rig the game, but you can’t fake influence.” There’s a reason he said that with the president in the audience. Kendrick had the biggest stage in the world and he used it to say “They Not Like Us” with the president, a known child predator, in the audience. And the rest of the crowd was screaming the lyrics along with Kendrick.
Kendrick Lamar the man you are
BACK INTO THE BREACH AGAIN ARE WE
“Hey, hypothetical scenario, but if you could either meet your favorite character, or live in the world of your favorite book, what would you-“
“MEET THE CHARACTERS.”
“Wha-“
“DID I STUTTER?”
AND HE CRAWLS LIKE A WORM
HE CRAWLS LIKE A WORM
HE CRAWLS LIKE A WORM
CRAWLS LIKE A…
What the hell is going on in the arcane fandom right now
I feel like I'm sitting in a bubble watching everyone fight to death right outside
So glad I'm in my bubble Jesus
Some of y'all are acting like twitter
WAIT THIS CAME OUT TODAY?!
SINCE WHEN?????
Learning to delete/mute/block before a negative comment takes root in your mind is a modern survival skill.
If you're going to wander the overgrown countryside of the internet, you need to develop a quick eye for ticks.
It's deeply tempting to respond to the "well, actually," to the cruel assumption, to the unjust accusation, to the odious viewpoint. It's tempting because you're defaulting to the etiquette of dinner conversation.
This isn't a dinner conversation. Someone is shouting at you from a moving car. Turn away.
istfg if one more person at this dorkass school tells me to throw my coffee away while hAVING A COFFEE IN THEIR HAND IMMA LOSE IT
100 posts