Richmond’s Black Liquid speaks to past versions of himself in his newest music video, “ANTi”, the title track off the hip hop artist and radio DJ’s latest album of the same name.
There is visual symbolism in Black Liquid’s black and white video, and it is stark and uncomplicated. There are four chairs. Here sits the rapper cradling a bottle of malt liquor in his hands. In another chair, another version of Black Liquid sips a Perrier.
The manifest versions rap with each other, at each other — pieces of the same puzzle: “I am who I am, it’s life really that made me…high, sober, damn I keep changing,” he raps in the nearly four-minute video.
His face is unchanging, solemn even as the words spill out of his mouth. This isn’t just music for Black Liquid. This is his story.
Layered on top of the song, are recordings of interviews Black Liquid has done, giving the video more of an autobiographical feel. But then again, all of Black Liquid’s music is an autobiography.
For the artist, this music video is both musically and visually his finest work, and what he considers to be a representation of the progress he has made as an artist, MC, entrepreneur, teacher, and individual. It was directed and edited by BCMusic1st and produced by Hovey Benjamin.
Born and raised in Richmond, Black Liquid has released over 19 albums over the past decade, and hosts two radio shows in the city as well as frequently speaks publicly about both life and music. You can check out the new his new nine-track album, Anti below and check out our recent interview with the hard-working here.
And be sure to catch Black Liquid along with a slew of other artists in the last Face Melt Friday of 2017 at Strange Matter on Nov. 17. $4 ADV, $6 at the door.
