EBONY continues its weekly focus on the visual moments in popular culture that influence how we consume music today. This week’s Music Video of The Week pick is Drake’s “NOKIA” which made its digital debut, a single from the collaboration album with PARTYNEXTDOOR entitled $ome $exy $ongs 4 U.
In a world both futuristic and nostalgic, from its pixelated screens to the semi-future-forward wardrobe and appearance to old-school ringtones, it gave us a visually appealing experience.
I mean what wasn’t going on in this video? First, Drake went cinematic on us, shooting in IMAX. That alone confirmed this would be a step above today’s modern music videos…*chef’s kiss for the effort*.
The black-and-white video was directed by Theo Skudra and debuted at Toronto’s Scotiabank Theatre in IMAX. What a way to take in this visual. It’s a bop, and it’s easy on the eyes. I watched it a few times over and was like, ok! Eventually, he turns the clocks back on viewers with the Snake game visuals and chunky Nokia flip phone featured throughout that he is using to find out where the *function* is…duh.
Seriously, there were plenty of visually pleasing and entertaining scenes that I couldn’t look away from. There was also a cameo from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (SGA) point guard with the Oklahoma City Thunder. An MVP candidate and fellow Canadian, SGA was shown wearing his signature Converse sneakers around his neck and, in another shot, he wears a hoodie with the word “vaffanculo,” which isn’t the kindest greeting in Italian.
Speaking of fashion, besides a “Drake” jersey in one scene and a super hard “Hotmoms.com” shirt in another scene, patent and real leather, fun textures and oversized imagery ran the wardrobe. There was also the whole Chrome Hearts boat and monster truck moment.
Flanked by beautiful dancers throughout the video, be it the Caribana crowd or a meticulously arranged maze of women, Drake flirtatiously moves through the crowds of ladies, half dancing and half simply finessing. Cut to a duo of roller-skating women in leather overalls while the Canadian rapper two steps with the choreographer Tanisha Scott. Classic.
My favorite part was when the next scene was a closeup of a dancer among a larger labyrinth of dancers for an opening solo which landed heavy on the dancer in the Remember the Time video (peep the 8:15 mark). Overall the dancers were the vibe. Scott, who also choreographed ‘Hotline Bling’ demolished these moves again!
Toward the end of the video, some people are alluding to the six owls perched atop a light pole, implying something deeper within the Drake x Kendrick beef. Tension seems to be settling, and I think we all can agree, that Drake is not interested in stirring the pot. I doubt Kendrick is either. The chatter is feeling real…reach-y.
