When I used to be a child within the ’80s and ’90s – you realize, the ’00s – while you did something amazing, someone would all the time say, “He must have eaten his Wheaties today!” referring to breakfast cereals which have long been advertised as “breakfast of champions” Famous athletes often got here across boxes of Wheaties, a lot in order that the physical, unopened boxes became collectors’ items in their very own right.

Kendrick Lamar ate his Wheaties. It’s not only the e-streets which have decided that 2024 can be the 12 months of Kendrick Lamar; apparently Kendrick has taken up the mantle and has been on our necks since March. On Friday, November 22, he dropped his album “GNX,” which has literally been the talk of the world because it hit the web. And then, to proceed his wave of artistic domination, he dropped the album’s first visual, “Squabble Up,” a song that was first teased at the start of the music video for the undisputed song of the 12 months 2024, “Not like us.”

“Squabble Up” continues where “Not Like Us” left off; the music video is full of West Coast – mainly Los Angeles – imagery and popular culture references, culture and homages, and Kendrick Lamar doing that little Kendrick Lamar dance. Seriously, as of this writing, I’ve watched this movie no less than 10 times because I used to be attempting to put some of the references within the background.

I imagine the people of Los Angeles have been feeling extra cool recently considering the way in which Kendrick has been gaining a lot weight for Los Angeles. This video takes some of them to the following level. For example, it is a nod to Ice-T’s “Power” album cover where a lady in a showering suit may be seen holding a sawed-off shotgun. On the Big Wheel is a child wearing the identical outfit as Anthony, Ronnie’s son, Jada Pinkett-Smith’s character in Menace II Society final scenes of the filmright before Caine was shot by the one person missing on this movie, Samuel Monroe, Jr.a villain so thorough that if I met him in real life today, I’d cross the road. There is a bow cover of Isaac Hayes’ 1971 work “Black Moses.” Is “Soul Train” game board. scene i David Hammons African American Flag. Rest in peace Nate Dogg.

And truthfully, “Squabble Up” has so much of references to things I do not even find out about because I’m not conversant in all of the cultural hotspots of Los Angeles and California. The most vital thing is the book Kendrick is reading called “How to Be Kendrick Lamar for Dummies” and I swear I hope it gets published, at the same time as a joke. I’m sure some enterprising soul will print some of these joints and sell them before the shutdown comes; that is how I got my Snoop-On-A-Stoop doll!

I’m sure some enterprising soul will create a TikTok that points out every reference utilized in the video, which I am unable to wait to see. For now, though, I’m still impressed by Kendrick Lamar’s mission. While his feud over being related to Drake has been the catalyst for the last nine months of Kendrickpalooza, it’s admirable to see how his focus seems to have shifted to uplifting and (to the extent it really works) uniting the West Coast. Kendrick could be very introverted, and this music video for “Squabble Up” is further proof of that. Similarly, it makes me interested in what is going to occur next; this sort of unpredictability from an artist hasn’t existed in hip-hop for an extended time. I’m glad we’re here now.

West, west, everyone.

NEW YORK (AP) – Eminem, Boy George, George Clinton, Sheryl Wrona, Janet Jackson, Doobie Brothers, NWA and Alanis Morissette are among the many nominees within the competition’s 2025 category Songwriters Hall of Fame, an eclectic group of rap, rock, hip-hop and pop pioneers.

Bryan Adams joins them with such radio hits as “Summer of ’69” and “Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman?” and Mike Love of the Beach Boys, who hopes to get in 25 years after band founder Brian Wilson. David Gates, co-leader of the pop group Bread, can be applying for admission.

Each yr, each performers and non-performers are invited to the Hall, and this yr’s category of the latter includes Walter Afanasieff, who helped Mariah Carey together with his hit “All I Want for Christmas Is You”; Mike Chapman, co-writer of Pat Benatar’s “Love Is a Battlefield”; and Narada Michael Walden, architect of Whitney Houston’s “How Will I Know” and Aretha Franklin’s “Freeway of Love.”

Eligible voting members have until December 22 to solid ballots to pick three nominees within the lyricist category and three within the performance songwriter category. The Associated Press obtained an early copy of the list.

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Several acts have one other probability to make an entry, including Clinton, whose Parliament-Funkadelic collective made a big impact with hits like “Atomic Dog” and “Give Up the Funk,” and The Doobie Brothers — Tom Johnston, Patrick Simmons and Michael McDonald — with classics like “Listen to the Music” and “Long Train Runnin.” Steve Winwood, whose hits include “Higher Love” and “Roll With It”, also participated within the voting earlier.

Hip-hop this yr is represented by Eminem – whose hits include “Lose Yourself” and “Stan” – and NWA members Dr. Dre, Eazy E, Ice Cube, MC Ren and DJ Yella. Hip-hop stars similar to Jay-Z, Snoop Dogg and Missy Elliot are already within the Hall. Tommy James, with hits like “Mony Mony,” “Crimson and Clover” and “I Think We’re Alone Now,” also earned a nod.

If Jackson, whose 1989 album “Rhythm Nation” was a breakthrough, gets into the Hall, it’ll be greater than 20 years after her late brother Michael. Canadian songwriter Morissette, whose influential song “Jagged Little Pill” won Grammy, Tony, Junos and MTV awards, would also join the ladies of rock within the Hall. (Glen Ballard, who helped produce and write the album, is already present.)

Like Crow, the “All I Wanna Do” and “Everyday Is a Winding Road” singer-songwriter is experiencing a renaissance after being introduced to the band Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2023. Boy George raises the flag for ’80s New Wave with Culture Club’s hits “Karma Chameleon” and “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me.”

Other nominees within the unperformed category include Franne Golde, co-writer of Selena’s “Dreaming of You”; Tom Douglas, who wrote country hits for Tim McGraw, Lady Antebellum and Miranda Lambert; Ashley Gorley, fresh off her co-written hit “I Had Some Help” with Post Malone and Morgan Wallen; and Roger Nichols, who co-wrote The Carpenters’ “We Only Just Begun.”

They join Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins, who contributed to Brandy and Monica’s hit “The Boy Is Mine”; Sonny Curtis, former member of The Crickets, who wrote and performed the theme song to “The Mary Tyler Moore Show”, “Love is All Around”, and British composer Tony Macaulay, who wrote “Build Me Up Buttercup”.

The Songwriters Hall of Fame was established in 1969 to honor creators of popular music. A songwriter with a big catalog of songs is eligible for induction 20 years after the song’s first business release.

Some already in attendance include Carole King, Paul Simon, Billy Joel, Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora, Elton John and Bernie Taupin, Brian Wilson, James Taylor, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, Lionel Richie, Bill Withers, Neil Diamond and Phil Collins. Last yr we saw REM, Steely Dan, Dean Pitchford, Hillary Lindsey and Timbaland introduced.