BLK ODYSSY’s new album 1-800-FANTASY arrives next week, and ahead of its release, the artist is taking us back to 1980s MTV with the music video for new single “CHANGES.”
Like SZA’s “Kill Bill” before it, “CHANGES” is a breakup earworm. In the track’s rapped verses, BLK ODYSSY (aka Juwan Elcok) drops some classic lines about not being ready to let go – “If I can’t have you, nobody can” – before the chorus kicks in, where he sings, “Can’t take all these changes/ Thought it would be painless.”
In the accompanying visual, starring Elcok alongside Cristina Alemany, the artist relives his since-ended relationship over and over, with increasing delusion. An idyllic couple’s movie night quickly devolves into a murder fantasy as the artist realizes his ex has actually moved on to someone new. It’s got all the makings of an old Michael Jackson music video. Title card? Check. A midpoint music fadeout that reveals the conflict in the story? Check. A “to be continued” cliffhanger? Check.
Jordan Elcock, Lara, Rico Rios, Patricia Sevaaetasi, Isaiah Boone, and Harry Edohoukwa round out the cast in the Joey Hunt-directed clip, as the singer, popping up as multiple characters throughout the video, begins to realize he’s hallucinating his multiple roles in the story. None of the cameos top the video’s shoutout to Home Slice Pizza, though.
1-800-FANTASY drops July 19 and follows BLK ODYSSY’s 2023 project DIAMONDS & FREAKS. Earlier this year, the artist brought a 10-piece band to the NPR Tiny Desk, where he debuted the new song “WANT YOU.”
Check out the old school visual below.
This article appears in July 5 • 2024.
