After a nine-month gap since his last music video release, the Paris-born American rapper Bas is back and his beard is bigger than ever.
The 35-year-old released visuals to his comeback single ‘Diamonds‘, reuniting with Ryan Doubiago who is responsible for directing some of Bas’ past works such as ‘Penthouse‘ and ‘Matches‘.
The Dreamville signee’s music video is a collection of an imagery-laden art piece about the effects of addiction caused by worldly things, as represented by diamonds.
Diamond-encrusted jewellery introduces us to the monochromatic setting of the four-minute-long music video. The sparkle of a diamond chain around Bas’ neck and a pair of diamond earrings on a mystery woman dominate the first two shots, with both of their faces half-concealed. After placing one of her earrings on the table, the mystery lady crushes the diamonds into fine grains reminiscent of cocaine.
Written in sparkly letters, the words “WE ONLY TALK ABOUT REAL SHIT WHEN WE’RE FUCKED UP” flash on the screen before the music begins.
The parallel imagery of crushed diamonds and cocaine powder reinforces the minimalistic film’s intention to spotlight addiction. Addiction, of course, being the overarching theme.
The ‘Diamonds‘ visuals rely on symbolism, leaning on the colour of bright white, its characters, and the twinkle of random objects to conjure up the image of the song’s title.
As the music video progresses, Bas develops from being a stock black-and-grey character among similar extras on set to assuming an all-white appearance of an angel. Except, as per the symbolism of the video, the only angel he represents is the angel dust he’s depicted to have been consumed by. In sync with that, a glowing skittle-shaped video vixen keeps herself close to Bas, representing the allure of this addiction.
The addiction, depicted as having swallowed him, throws Bas from an unseen sky of never-ending blackness. Awaiting him at the bottom is a sparkling sea of fans waving their hands as they stand by to catch the falling musician. The striking effect of the darkness and the greyness of the fans creates a diamond-like ocean of people, suggesting the theme of fame as being an all-consuming force that musicians helplessly fall into and never make it out of.
In the final scene, the chain around Bas’ neck comes to life, levitates and tightens around his neck before hanging him. As he kicks, gags and grabs the chain, the glowing vixen looks on nonchalantly until he becomes motionless. Lights blare and multitudes of fans stand witness while holding up bright white flares – the final image of diamonds.
There’s a saying in pop culture that “diamonds are forever”, and every shot in ‘Diamonds‘ is a reminder of its truthfulness. As much as diamonds represent status, fame and wealth, the music video shows that the timelessness attached to them isn’t for the wearer. ‘Diamonds‘ is a telling analogy people die to themselves chasing the timelessness of status, fame and wealth, only to find out on the other side that the chase was a fruitless sacrifice of human life.
Watch Diamonds here:
