Kendrick Lamar Morph’s Into O.J., Kanye, Kobe, Nipsey Hussle In New Video

Leave it to Kendrick Lamar to drop visuals for his new song on Mother’s Day and break the internet.

The Compton-bred MC dropped “The Heart Part 5” on Sunday, a week before the release of his long-awaited new LP, “Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers,” which is due Friday. The single recalls that of “The Heart Part 4,” a non-album cut that came out shortly before 2017’s “Damn.”

Built atop an interpolation of Marvin Gaye’s “I Want You,” “The Heart Part 5” opens with a quote that reads “I am all of us.”

The 34-year-old stands against a red backdrop wearing a white t-shirt and black bandana around his neck. He looks off camera and says “As I get a little older, I realize life is about perspective” before rapping about gang violence, mental health, religion and the murder of Nipsey Hussle, who was shot to death in 2019 outside his clothing store in South Los Angeles.

Nipsey is one of several public figures Lamar morphs into using deepfake technology in the music video. At various points he also resembles O.J. Simpson, Kanye West, Will Smith, Jussie Smollett and Kobe Bryant.

On YouTube, the video has already racked up more than 5.5 million views. Meanwhile on Twitter folks were buzzing about the deeply lyrical track.

Some of K Dot’s fellow rappers and celebrities alike also took to social media to hail the return of King Kendrick.

Kendrick that was a masterpiece, I don’t think the tweet does justice

— NLE Choppa (@Nlechoppa1) May 9, 2022

I hope Kendrick Lamar hopefully triggers a cultural reset in Rap. Too many guys think they’re good, They aren’t. Too many guys think they run this shit, they don’t.

— Looking For R&B? (@rnbtomi) May 9, 2022

https://twitter.com/smuckersbytyler/status/1523456517852213249?s=20&t=4eM4AriwRpIBCCIJjZCjwQ

Ain’t nobody harder then @kendricklamar he gave yall five years yall still couldn’t come with it now it’s game time the bar has been raised once again

— P WORTHY (@jayworthy142) May 9, 2022

Kendrick Lamar is the one artist I know who won't ignore the issues that are going on in the world.

It's not just about entertaining people with him, if he sees something going on he speaks on it through his music.

— Old Head Energy (@Cheamane) May 9, 2022

Kendrick Lamar is the goat

— G Perico (@BGPerico) May 9, 2022