Kendrick Lamar released a new music video for his song “N95" on Saturday and music fans got an eyeful of Fort Worth landmarks. With nine million views and climbing, the video splices out-of-body aerial shots with monochromatic clips of famous FunkyTown features.
Hang on, who’s this?
For those who might be unfamiliar, Kendrick Lamar is a rapper, songwriter, and record producer from Compton, CA. with numerous accolades including 14 GRAMMY Awards and a Pulitzer Prize. He is often referred to as one of the most influential rappers of his generation.
Where’s Kendrick?
🎹 Fifty-three seconds in the video cuts to a stark view of the Piano Pavilion Auditorium at the Kimbell Art Museum (3333 Camp Bowie Blvd.) where Kendrick sits at a piano on stage. Sun streams through the angled plate glass windows as two women approach with cocktails.
The Piano Pavilion Auditorium. | Photo via giphy
💧 Then at 1:23, the iconic (but oh so slippery) platforms of the Fort Worth Water Gardens (1502 Commerce St.) jam into focus with K-Dot cruising down the steps while water courses down the walls behind him. The water gardens were also featured in the 1975 film Logan’s Run.
The Fort Worth Water Gardens. | Photo via giphy
Wait, when did this happen?
🎥 According to an Instagram post from the Fort Worth Film Commission, an organization that coordinates and permits filmography in town, the footage was shot in August of 2020. It was produced by Nathan Scherrer and local video company Red Productions (329 S. Main St.).
What’s it about?
Part of the artist’s fifth album entitled Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers, “N95” uses a COVID-19 protective mask as a metaphor for fake inauthenticity in society. The song, along with the rest of the record, will be performed in Kendrick’s “Big Steppers Tour” that will stop by the American Airlines Center on Sat., July 23. Tickets will go on sale on Fri., May 20 at 12 p.m.
