Time and time again, Michael Jackson’s immeasurable influence reminds us why he’s called the King of Pop. Now, Grammy-nominated rapper Offset is leaning on Jackson’s iconography, as well as the antics of social media personality Kai Cenat, to deliver a music video for new song “Fan” that shows off his artistic eye, dancing ability and overall creative vision.
The new video begins with a newscaster reporting live from “the aftermath of a riot,” while a Cenat lookalike screams, “I don’t know what’s going on! It’s a riot” before the scene cuts to Offset waking up on a mattress placed in the center of the chaos. The scene appears to be in reference to Cenat’s headline-making Manhattan giveaway on Aug. 4; the giveaway-turned-unruly riot injured several people, damaged property and resulted in Cenat being taken into NYPD custody and charged with rioting, inciting a riot and unlawful assembly.
Cenat himself appeared in a promotional clip via Offset’s Instagram page on Thursday (Aug. 14); the streamer subsequently made a cameo in the official music video.
The bulk of the video’s visual identity, however, comes courtesy of Jackson, with the plot taking inspiration from “Thriller.” Offset and his girlfriend — played by Everybody Hates Chris actress Paige Hurd — take a walk around the neighborhood, and after she ends the relationship, his immediate emotional turmoil transforms him into a werewolf. Similar to Jackson’s boundary-pushing John Landis-helmed video, the scene turns out to be part of a movie that Offset and his girlfriend are watching in the present day. Nonetheless, once the couple steps outside of the movie theater, Offset morphs into a zombie — just as Jackson did in his visual.
The MJ references don’t stop there. When the camera zooms out to capture the full scene of Offset lying on a mattress in the middle of a riot, the “Clout” rapper is wearing a replica of Jackson’s iconic singular rhinestone-encrusted white glove. In another part of the video, an Off the Wall vinyl decorates the couple’s bedroom. The second half of the “Fan” video takes some cues from Jackson’s “Smooth Criminal,” with Offset wearing a similar white suit and hat as he smoothly executes a dance sequence that includes a reverse Moonwalk.
The new video comes on the heels of some MJ-adjacent controversy in the world of Offset and Grammy-winning wife Cardi B. In an interview with Hot 97 on Sept. 8, Cardi hilariously lamented about Offset’s unfortunately placed Michael Jackson stomach tattoo. “I don’t even wanna take it there. I will take it there, but it’s just like, y’all really have to see it,” Cardi said. “Because every single time I, you know like, [mimes oral sex], it just be looking at me. I swear to God. You gotta see that tattoo. The tattoo really be looking at me like, ‘Yeahhhh.’” Offset responded that he’s “never” removing the tattoo.
On Thursday (Sept. 14), Offset revealed the official title and artwork for his forthcoming sophomore solo studio album. The new record, titled Set It Off, features a semi-apocalyptic album cover and is slated for an Oct. 13 release. Set It Off is the follow-up to Father of 4, his 2019 debut solo studio album which spawned Billboard Hot 100 hits such as “Red Room” (No. 49) and the Grammy-nominated “Clout” (No. 39, with Cardi B). As a member of Migos, Offset has released four studio albums — two of which have topped the Billboard 200.
Watch Offset’s new “Fan” music video above.
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