Poetic Justice - Kendrick Lamar Featuring Drake (the meaning behind the video)

Living my life in the margin & that metaphor was proof.

Evidently, I wasn't the only person confused by Kendrick Lamar's video to Poetic Justice. It wasn't what I was expecting and that's exactly how Kendrick Lamar had planned it: to be unexpected. In an interview with MissInfo.tv, Kendrick said, "I hate giving people the expected. I'm sure that's a soft song. People wanted me to be lovey dovey. I had other ideas I just wanted to do something a little bit different. Something within the concept and reach but its a little bit more of a thriller." 

There isn't a very clear concept behind the video but I'm sharing what I believe had happened in the video. The video opens with a disclaimer stating, "All characters in this visual are entirely fictional. The events that occur are purely symbolic and should not be taken literal." Let's keep that in mind. A little after the disclaimer is shown, we see people standing on the sidelines as a car (don't ask me what kind) passes through. This is actually foreshadowing what's going to happen. That's when the song begins. 

All the action takes place outside of the "Liquor Bank" at what seems to be a block party. That's when we see Kendrick eyeing Brittany as she walks through the crowd of people with a friend. By 1:48, you see Brittany and Kendrick talking. Now I don't think Brittany and Kendrick are already dating. I think they met at this party and were just flirting. At 1:55, you see a guy in a black crewneck with a burgundy hat, watching and slowly approaching Kendrick and Brittany (or so it seems). He's pretty much the killer or in connection with the murderer.

Enemigo means enemy or foe in Spanish. It could also mean hostile if used as an adjective. After this appears in white letters on a black screen, you see the crowd of people ducking and running away from the scene like gun shots were fired. Kendrick is seen pushing through the crowd to find the girl as the black car pulls out and drives away from the scene.

1 missed call later: a phone is shown in a hand while Drake is calling it. The hand is of Brittany's, who we learn is Drake's girl. During Drake's verse, he's in a hotel room and behind him is a half, naked woman, sleeping. He's leaving his verse a message on Brittany's voicemail, Maybe as an apology for the "cheating" he has been doing. Anyway, the whole neighborhood (maybe) is standing on the sidelines like the beginning of the video. The car is gone and the ambulance is on its way and everyone is silent about the matter. They're just watching.

Love hurts appears on the screen in white letters with a black backdrop. Next, Brittany and Kendrick are shown, dead on the scene. Kendrick has several gunshot wounds through his back. How Kendrick and Brittany are laying makes you wonder how they got shot. At first, I thought Brittany could have been shot back when everyone was running away from the scene and Kendrick was running towards the scene (her). When he got there, he may have tried to help her and got shot himself by the people or person in the black car. 

After I watch the video again, I realized that wasn't the case. At 5:19, you see Kendrick had reached Brittany. They were smiling and talking. Brittany moves in to give Kendrick a hug and the screen goes back to end the video. So I came up with the scenario that Kendrick had reached Brittany before she got hurt and while he had had his back turned, the shooter shot Kendrick several times in his back and the bullets went straight through him and into Brittany. Causing them both to be shot to death.

That's the only scenario I can think of. It was set up to make you think. If everything was in place you'd be bored with the video. That's why I love Kendrick Lamar. & Brittany Sky is beautiful. She was originally supposed to be an extra in the video but Kendrick decided on the set of the video to change his main girl. Kendrick told MissInfo that, "It’s almost like a color blind industry where there’s only one type of appeal to the camera." He also added, "you don’t ever see this tone of a woman in videos. No disrespect, I love all women, period. But at the same time, I still feels like it needs that balance." You can check out the video to Poetic Justice and the interview with MissInfo.tv below:

Poetic Justice Official Video

Interview with MissInfo.tv

Purchase the song below:

Disclaimer: The idea(s) stated in this post are of my own. Others may interpret this video differently.