From its opening moments, itâs clear that Kendrick Lamarâs new âNot Like Usâ music video serves as more than just as Lamarâs victory lap in his culture-twisting diatribe against Drake. Itâs also a reaffirmation of a claim he madeâor, perhaps, a goal he set for himselfâlast summer: that he, KDot, is the best-dressed MC in rap.
Following a strobing black-and-white interlude, the âNot Like Usâ visualâdirected by Lamar and his pgLang co-founder Dave Freeâkicks off with the rapper in a crisp white Willy Chavarria track jacket, matching below-the-knee shorts by British design duo Stefan Cooke, hiked-up white tube socks, and white Chuck Taylor lows, with a sporty scarf by the British designer Martine Rose knotted around his usual blue Dodgers cap. From there, the video devolves into a gleeful parade of choice luxury labels and contemporary haute streetwear.
In the clip, KDot leads the charge of a rollicking crowd wearing a distressed Ghetto Rodeo x Kaló Soil baseball cap, Loewe biker boots, and leather moto bomber and tailored cargo pants from Martine Rose; he later changes into the designerâs boxy green field jacket and Velcro-strapped loafers. He smashes an owl-shaped piñata wearing a white tee and a pair of silver sequined Loewe shorts. He hopscotches, to the unfortunately catchy trill of âA minorrrrrrrr,â in a Kaló Soil zip-up hoodie and a Martine Rose monkey graphic tee. He peacocks, triumphantly, in front of a wall of shipping containers wearing a sleek Prada suit.
The result is a video that feels like Kendrick flexing his âbest-dressed moving forwardâ credentialsâwhile also anointing his own personal âinâ crowd of vibey menswear designers. Rose, Chavarria, and Loeweâs Jonathan Anderson et al are his friends, and they are locked in. Itâs relevant, too, that the overall âNot Like Usâ style frenzy was crafted by a cogent fashion hivemind: Kendrick worked again with his go-to stylist Taylor McNeill, the videoâs wardrobe was coordinated by Complex alum Karizza Sanchez, and The Cutâs Jessica Willis styled Free and the dancers.