In "Drowning," Chicago rapper Mick Jenkins extends Eric Garner's last words, "I can't breathe," to every person oppressed by systemic racism. "When the real hold you down, you supposed to drown, right?" Submission is expected, but Jenkins, playing a slave left to drown in the Nathan Smith-directed video, instead fights to swim, escapes the river, and catches up with the men who tried to kill him, while BADBADNOTGOOD's bluesy vamp ignites into Hendrixian psych rock. - Chris Hampton
In the Kid-directed video presented with subtitles like a foreign film, Jordan Ullman can't get a past love off his mind. She's basically there in the room with him. Bandmate Majid Al Maskati shows up and thinks a car ride, some new friends, and a party might be just what he needs. But throughout their travels from droptop to pho counter to roof party, Ullman texts his lost lover. Until, he literally stares down the barrel of a gun and decides it's time to move on. - Chris Hampton
The title track off of LUH’s debut album flies in like a meteorite, obliterating everything in sight. The otherworldly vocals of Ellery James Roberts feel exactly as the song’s message intends: to let go. The visuals for “Lost Under Heaven” has the band performing in the dark of night, with spotlights washing over them. It feels frantic, but tied together by a net before everything falls apart. - Ryan Parker
FULL SCREEN: Mick Jenkins fights to swim against a system that wants him to drown by Chart Attack | Chart Attack.
