Trippie Redd: “Holy Smokes” ft. Lil Uzi Music Video RECAP

About a month ago the music video Holy Smokes brought together Trippie Redd and Lil Uzi Vert in a collab hip hop has been waiting for. 

The music video produced by Nolan Riddle and directed by Mooch under Grade A took place in Los Angeles and New York City. 

We were at the production in Los Angeles to witness the process of the video which had so many unique assets including custom arcade machines and VCRs. The edit included VHS footage, Manga-style freeze frames from @yalocaloffgod, bringing such a scrappy and unique feel to it.

The video starts with a bang, literally. David Mazouz who played a role in Fox’s Batman prequel Gotham and close friend of the director Mooch witnesses an explosion in downtown LA. Police sirens and search helicopters queue in the frame as a potential tribute to David’s previous role. Popular Twitch streamer and hip hop trendsetter Adin Ross acts as a news anchor announcing the takeover of the city by none other than Trippie himself.

After this brief intro, we are introduced to the song. I’m not sure if this was intentional or not but this felt very symbolic in how we’re being slowly teased into Trippie Redd’s much anticipated new album Trip at Knight. Keep in mind this is the second single we have been introduced to as we were originally shown the smash hit “Miss the Rage” featuring Playboi Carti first. That video got right to it while on the other hand, this one felt more methodical and as if we were being introduced to this whole new thing. I think that Holy Smokes was a perfect bridge introducing this new “Hyperpop” genre to people that Trippie is bringing to the mainstream and which we can expect in his new album. And who better to bridge that gap in hip hop than with Uzi.

Furthermore, we are taken on this fantasy trip around the city in a vintage limousine with psychedelic tones and visuals at every corner. Uzi and Trippie bounce around in the back of cars and reminisce childhood memories at old arcades. Uzi shows high energy that will put a smile on your face. Uzi also shows off his passion for dirt bikes doing wheelies with his friends. In my understanding of the video this is symbolic of the trip and new world we are being introduced to for the rest of the album. The song talks about how deranged and complicated acquiring wealth is. It also talks about how much you can do with money but still, it can’t buy you love. All of these realizations allude to the name of the song - Holy Smokes. All of this is encapsulated in just a 4-minute visual.

Fit check: Trippie was wearing a Marni distressed-effect crew-neck jumper ($1,250) and Uzi was wearing a Loewe White Crocheted and Green Crocheted Hood Lizard Puppet Hoodie ($1,250) ; with Loewe Indiego Two-Tone Split Jeans ($650).

Overall I was very impressed with the video and I think that was the universal sentiment from the public too. Trippie picked a really good squad to put everything together. Popular YouTuber ImStillDontai called Mooch the director - “the Stan Lee of Music Videos”. Mooch who I’ve known for some time now is becoming a veteran director and his keen eye and passion for movies shows in his work. Coupled with Nolan Riddle and Docxiv alongside the other creatives he scraps together always makes for a timeless piece of art. As a matter of fact, in an interview with Casey Adams, almost a year ago Mooch talked about how Lil Uzi Vert would be a dream artist to work with. Now that that is a reality I’m looking forward to seeing what he and his team will do next.

Trippie Redd’s new album Trip At Knight is out now alongside his headlining tour presented by Live Nation and Rolling Loud to be accompanied by Iann Dior and SoFaygo.