42eb2765e66dc32991daa6fb1e267f85767dc9f6Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, King Los. Yes, there are prominent rappers who value substance. King Los, who released his major label debut,God, Money, War, on Tuesday sparks deep thought with a new short film named after the album.

Though the video is only 2 minutes and 19 seconds long, it manages to address God, money, and war with separate storylines all depicted in black and white footage. Using lyrics from his song “Lil Black Boy,” “God” is a father’s endearing message of hope to his newborn son. The visual simply follows a maternal figure pampering a precious infant before laying him down in his crib.

For “Money,” the story finds two young males in a car, enthusiastically rapping and beatboxing. Moments after rhyming about repping their city and dismissing their detractors, a hooded figure approaches the vehicle, the screen turns black, and a series of gunshots fire off.

1429584590_8973e4a3c98d057168657f3060a000bfOn the surface, “War” appears to be about the violence. King Los, now back inside of the house with the mother and child, sits on the coach reflecting as images of protests play on the television. But his concluding lyric alludes to a deeper issue. He raps, “Not the war with the bombs and the helicopter swarming / But the war for your soul / That’s what everyone’s ignoring.”

The album is just as good.

-Via Yahoo Music

 

About The Author

Bianca Alysse is a creatively driven Bronx-born writer and editor. Before becoming The Knockturnal‘s music editor she served as Latina‘s creative coordinator and was a contributor at Billboard. The Boricua scribe has a lengthy resume in the music industry and has penned for Universal Music Publishing Group, Epic Records, G.O.O.D. Music, Compound Entertainment, Artistry & Récords, and Arcade Creative Group. Her work has been seen on platforms like VIBE, mitú, TIDAL, Remezcla, and behind the scenes at New York Fashion Week. As an independent contractor, she has written for Sony Music Entertainment’s global business affairs department, Warner Music Group, and currently Roc Nation.

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