Stars Shining Brighter - Music Video Review

Image from www.weedworldmagazine.org

Though it wasn’t a chart topper, Kendrick Lamar’s All the Stars has definitely been a staple track in my YouTube playlist since its release on 4th January. Based on and accompanying the end credits of the big-screen movie sensation Black Panther, the All the Stars music video is a spectacular depiction of the Marvel blockbuster.

There has been much grumbling about the song itself in the media, with persons claiming they expected much more from Kendrick. Hinting at “huge budgets to create mismatched team-ups no one asked for” in songs for comic book movies, Pitchfork.com said. They cotinued “If  All the Stars, the soundtrack’s first single featuring Kendrick and SZA, is an early indicator, Black Panther [The Album] is doomed to the same fate as its predecessors.”

Image from thatgrapejuice.net

Nonetheless, I found this video to be impactful in relation to the Afro-mystical theme portrayed by the Black Panther movie. SZA’s hook that goes “This may be the night that my dreams might let me know. All the stars are closer, all the stars are closer” speaks to the mystical plane that Tchalla visits during the ritual of his initiation as king of Wakanda. The imagery at these points were well constructed and placed to show a vast galactic plain, which emphasized the lyrics very nicely. The visuals in this feature, produced by Dave Meyers & the little homies, were exceptional in emphasizing the rich, colorful nature of African culture depicted in the movie. The most gripping part, for me, was when Kendrick was walking through the wilderness among the black panthers, dressed in a classic black leather jacket and head tie like a 1966 Black Panther organization member. Those who know of the Black Panthers from Oakland, what they stood for and witnessing the amount of ‘black power’ that emanates from the Black Panther movie, could definitely appreciate that segment.

(c) YouTube

I especially enjoyed their creative use of green screen, superb lighting and vivid computer-generated graphics to create stunning imagery. This combination, along with realistic setting and props really brought out the essence of a rural African village. The movie-like appearance and sleek camera work provided by rigs and dollies used, gives me the impression that no expense was spared. The production team really deserves a solid round of applause. In terms of visual effects, I don't see anything that could've been done better nor have I noticed any flaws.

It would be amiss of me to exclude the fact that there was no lawless behaviour or nudity displayed throughout the duration of the video. In my opinion, this important detail does good work to help dismiss the notion of Africans being savage and lude. Being a jumpstreet fan of the Black Panther movie and enjoying that three minute and fifty-four second exceptional mixture of traditional and fantasy worlds, I give Kendrick Lamar’s All the Stars music video three thumbs up and I recommend it to any pop, hip hop, culture or fantasy fan.