Kofi - “Third Degree” Music Video

AllMusic Release

May 2

“Third Degree” is a nonstop performance, one that pushes you right into the action. The camerawork is dynamic, endlessly spinning, tilting, and swerving from one shot into the next. This visual style perfectly matches Kofi’s rap style, which features a bright backing track and a steady beat that anchors the song. Kofi himself is the star of the video; he occupies the center of every shot and makes steady eye contact with his audience. Despite the fast pace, his demeanor makes the song feel reminiscent of a conversation. His gesticulations appear throughout the video as if his hands are acting out the words. As a performer, Kofi seems to have mastered the art of gesture and body language—his motions lend meaning to the lyrics and force the viewer to take note of his message. This is especially apparent when he raps the line, “Yeah, I got my issues but that doesn’t matter because I have people to feed.” His hand movements literally capture the image of the feeding, an image that recurs as a metaphor for Kofi’s ability to “provide for the ones that [he] love[s].”

Another notable image in the video is that of the artist perched atop a precarious stack of milk crates. Towards the beginning, we see a close-up of his sneakers as he climbs the stack, and later on, we see him standing triumphantly at the top. Despite the unsteadiness of the structure, Kofi exudes confidence and ease. Juxtaposed with this confidence is the humility within his lyrics: “I make money, it made me important, but it ain’t important to me.” Kofi thus sets himself apart from the money-hungry culture of the music industry and stays true to his values. Regardless of material success, he claims that he “ain’t no regular rapper.” Instead of viewing money as a status symbol or a form of social currency, he views it as a means of providing for the people closest to him. Just as Kofi physically positions himself high atop his milk crates, these down-to-earth lyrics lift him above the rest.

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