Kendrick Lamar Fans Rave at the Release of New Short Film We Cry Together

Kendrick Lamar releases the short film We Cry Together on September 1 and fans went wild at its sudden release. It has also received Oscar buzz, possibly being a contender for the Best Live Action Short award.

Coming off of his Pulitzer Prize Winning album Damn, Kendrick had been absent for five years. When mentions of a new album being released entered the rap sphere, fans waited for its drop with anticipation. Expectations were high. 

Kendrick has made waves in the mainstream through his classic rap albums, from To Pimp a Butterfly, Damn, and now recently his new album Mr. Morale and The Big Steppers. Reviews are mixed. Some believe the new album lacks the traditional hip hop sound his previous tracks had. However, some fans have embraced Lamar’s new sound. They appreciate the narrative Kendrick weaves throughout his tracks. In his new songs, he discusses spirituality, therapy, mental health, trauma, and relationships. 

Lately, music videos have jumped on the trend of delivering a cinematic experience to their viewers. Kendrick is well known to put symbolism not only in his lyrics but also in the visuals of his music videos.

We Cry Together, a short film. https://t.co/TUuzztFC2T

— Kendrick Lamar (@kendricklamar) September 1, 2022

We Cry Together received Oscar buzz upon its release in the Laemmle Royal Theater in June. According to the Academy rules, a film needs to be screened for at least one week in Los Angeles before the end of the year. Therefore, Kendrick’s We Cry Together could be a contender for the award for Best Live Action Short, much like Taylor swift’s “All Too Well.”

Fans have expressed love for the short film, admiring the visual storytelling and cinematography.

I’m all for the we cry together music video. It was done so well – art & talent. Its apparent this song is from a man’s POV but I think the experience is relatable for the community and needs to be shown.

— 11:11 🔑 (@TaylorKey11) September 4, 2022

kendrick lamar doing a live video for “we cry together” is absolutely genius. music video of the year for sure pic.twitter.com/mJX8xRN6KE

— Wost🧬 (@mosthiphop) September 1, 2022

Starring Taylour Paige and Kendrick Lamar, the film reveals a relationship that’s falling apart. The couple fights through rap verses, dissing each other, both trying to overpower the other’s argument. It is chaotic. Both spill their regrets to one another. The video never cuts, just as the fight never does. It is overwhelming, leaving the viewer feeling like the fight will never end.

Kendrick and Taylour discuss the complexities of the issues behind their gender. Paige’s character mentions Harvey Weinstein and R. Kelly, who were well known for their sexual assault accusations. She yells at Kendrick “You the reason Harvey Weinstein had to see his conclusion/ You the reason R. Kelly can’t recognize he’s abusive.” Despite calling out R. Kelly, Kendrick claims she is still listening to his music despite the former artist’s allegations.

Kendrick further calls out his partner’s hypocrisy, claiming she’s a “Fake innocent, fake feminist, stop pretending.”

We Cry Together ends with both expressing desire for each other, culminating into a graphic intimate scene between Lamar and Paige’s characters. 

Taylour Paige has expressed how natural the process of filming felt. She reveals that “there’s so much freedom in being honest.” According to The Hollywood Reporter, she describes the video as “beyond being a short film, it’s an experience; you’re like a voyeur in this couple’s life.” She and Lamar gave an authentic performance, highlighting the reality behind many toxic relationships.

Here at Glitter, we are excited to see Kendrick Lamar’s future projects and anticipated Oscar win. If you haven’t watched the Oscar-worthy short We Cry Together, you can watch the short film down below.