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Clipse and Kendrick Lamar Release “Chains & Whips” Music Video With Powerful Visuals

BBG News

Summary

  • Surreal yet grounded, the video explores how systemic oppression weaves itself into the quiet routines of everyday life
  • Children, rituals, and symbols of survival are shown alongside flashes of incarceration, pursuit, and grief — blurring the line between normalcy and trauma
  • Rather than glorify wealth, the video challenges it — asking whether success is freedom, or just a more polished form of captivity

More recently, Clipse has unveiled the music video for their highly anticipated hit “Chains & Whips” from their latest album, “Let God Sort ‘Em Out“. This track boasts a powerful verse by Kendrick Lamar, exploring intricate themes such as systemic oppression, inherited pain, and the challenging connection between survival and wealth accumulation.

The title cleverly combines luxury symbols with a hidden reference to oppressive systems. At first glance, it suggests items like necklaces and car whips, implying opulence. However, beneath this shiny exterior lies a deeper meaning about slavery, imprisonment, and long-term control. This contrast is central to the song’s message: how wealth and prestige can be worn as protective gear, despite being forged from the same chains that once bound you.

Under the guidance of Gabriel Moses, the video is vividly expressive, employing somber, dreamlike imagery. From the opening scene where a woman holds a guitar in quiet contemplation, you can sense the heaviness. It’s not about performance; it’s about tension. The woman’s stillness carries more impact than any lyrics, establishing the emotional mood for the entire piece that unfolds afterward.

A prominent theme running throughout is the frequent appearance of children. Despite not being placed in settings typically associated with adulthood, their subtle yet profound expressions of watchfulness, reserve, and caution convey more than any backdrop could. These children aren’t playing or posing for the camera; instead, they are soaking up their surroundings. The visual style suggests that the system’s influence starts very early, even before people comprehend it. Before they ever don chains as a fashion trend, they have already been given invisible ones: silence, expectation, and inherited burdens.

Simultaneously, snippets of daily activities can be seen – kids playing, a person checking a lottery machine, adults following their usual paths – all momentarily disrupted by disharmony. This illustrates that beneath the surface, the system hums rather than explodes, woven into the very essence of the ordinary.

Kendrick Lamar isn’t seen in the video, but his influence is palpable. His lyrics conclude the track with a firm rejection of shallow compliments. He mentions Rakim and ponders over the society’s fixation on status, popularity, and internet fame. This serves as a poignant reminder that while people are pursuing trends, authentic narratives and origins are being lost.

In the closing scene, everything is stripped bare. Two individuals, under the porch, perform a simple acoustic rendition of their first hit “Grindin'”. There’s no backing track, no sound effects. Instead, pure, unadulterated voices resonate, paying tribute to the legacy of Clipse. It’s a poignant moment, a journey back to origins.

Check out the “Chains & Whips” music video above.

Read more at TopMob

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2025-07-15 12:56

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