Gangsta, meet Dope. Dope, meet Gangsta. Gangsta, meet Innovation. That was probably the conversation behind the making of this new video by Ty Dolla $ign for the single, “Stand For.” It’s a crazy-genius concept that takes you on a different kind of tour around the streets of L.A. It’s definitely a crazy video, but it has a dope meaning behind it. In the video, everyone is carrying around a balloon, but not just any balloon; a balloon of their heads. I’m sure you’re thinking that it’s a weird thing to portray, but it’s actually a neat concept that has good meaning behind it.
I believe that people walk around this world, everyday, showing a face that is not their own. Many people can’t wear their emotions on their sleeves or just be themselves. Dolla $ign shows no fear in tearing down the walls of the fakes and the phonies in this one. He portrays everyone else in his neighborhood and validates that they are real people, proving that it doesn’t matter where you come from. If you’re real and you stand up for what you believe in, than he will stand up with you, because the pure heart and soul is what connects people.
It’s the last thing I thought I’d see in a project like this, but it makes for an excellent video and brings a beautiful element of surprise. The music video makes the song even better (though I thought that it couldn’t be possible). Ty Dolla $ign even shows you the “G-Ride,” which is an expression we all should know, but the ride is still clean and green! This Diplo and Dahi-produced track is one of the few songs that I can actually say has outdone itself with the video follow-up. In a time where hip-hip videos are all starting to look the same, the world finally gets something dope and something different, thanks to Ty Dolla $ign and company.
This creative and eye-catching video already is going viral with YouTube views, and will not stop there, I’m sure. Dolla $ign said, “either you stand for something or fall for nothing / the sh** is simple no discussion.” This music video makes it so simple for us to understand; everyone is two-faced, so if that’s true, then what are your faces going to be? Real and true, I can only hope.