Video of the Day: DaVinci's Fillmore History Lesson

This week, Phillip Mlynar wrote about Fillmore rapper DaVinci, whose "What You Finna Do" focuses on gentrification in the hood where he was raised.

As the gloomy beat kicks in, DaVinci starts to rap, eventually coining his update on the situation: "Down the corner of the street used to be the spot/Till they replaced all the liquor stores with coffee shops." The rest of his debut album, The Day the Turf Stood Still, released in both free download and retail versions this week, repeats the motif. It's no surprise, considering the changes he witnessed on his block. 

For an emcee, DaVinci's delivery comes off particularly soft spoken, making his rap feel thoughtful, like he's spent a lot of time mulling over the "urban renewal" programs, corner stores, and people populating his home turf. The black and white video for "What You Finna Do" shows him further musing over these topics with the cops, shops, and Fillmore population as his background. It's a good little clip.