"4, 3, 2, 1" is the first single by k-os

K-os

Kevin Brereton , better known by his stage name k-os , is a Canadian rapper, singer, songwriter and record producer...

 from the album Yes!

Yes! (k-os album)

Yes! is the fourth album of alternative hip hop artist k-os, released on April 14, 2009 in Canada by Universal Music Canada. The first single, "4 3 2 1", was released to radio in December 2008 and peaked at #98 on the Canadian Hot 100, also the video premiered on February 17, 2009. "Burning...

. The music video premièred in February 2009. The song samples "Soul Flower (Remix)" by The Pharcyde

The Pharcyde

The Pharcyde are an alternative hip hop group based in South Central Los Angeles. The original four members of the group are Imani , Slimkid3 , Bootie Brown and Fatlip . DJ Mark Luv was the group's first DJ, followed by producer J-Swift and then J Dilla...

.

Song meaning

The lyrics of "4, 3, 2, 1" question the presence of conflict in the world ("What we fighting for/I don't know what for"). In the first verse, k-os states that he thought [the world] would stay real, but that people "sold their souls for the golden goose" and changed in order to become successful. However, he states that "the truth is as long as [he] keeps rhyming". He remembers that people used to be peaceful and now conflict is starting to appear; but he shrugs it off ("doesn't really matter, I've got to go") and proceeds into the chorus. In the second verse, k-os says that although some people may have wronged him, he lets it go and "acts uncouth". But he adds that it's "just an act"; otherwise he may react negatively and cause more conflict. He states that it is part of his nature to act this way, and that despite he may feel upset, he still maintains a positive image.

Music video

The stop-motion-style video for "4, 3, 2, 1" features k-os and his crew in a closed mall at night, break dancing and playing hockey, among other activities.

The video starts with a shot of two aisles running side by side, then goes to k-os and his crew dancing as they head into the mall. k-os walks around an aisle dressed as a janitor and mops the floor beside a tall mannequin in a suit, who slowly begins to dance. He then slides along the floor with the mop as his two crew members dance. A man is shown sliding down rows of tables in the food court.

Then k-os, still mopping the floor, opens an electronics store and takes a music player out of its package. He puts some headphones on a female mannequin and she begins to dance. Back in another store, k-os is shown speaking into a walkie-talkie as a member of his crew rides a scooter and the other break dances.

In a different store, k-os and a mannequin who are dressed like ninjas begin to fight as k-os sings into a microphone. k-os and his crew also play a game of hockey in the first store along with Matte Babel

Matte Babel

Matte Babel is a Canadian television personality. Formerly a VJ for MuchMusic, where he co-hosted Much on Demand, The IT List and Much 911. He also served as a morning host on Toronto's all-news channel CablePulse 24. He has also made appearances in music videos such as Rich London's The Answer...

.

Clips are then shown featuring k-os, his crew, and the mannequins break dancing. The video ends with k-os struggling to reach his microphone while being pulled back away from it, and it fades into white as k-os disappears.

This video was shot at the Gerrard Square shopping center in downtown Toronto

Peak chart positions

Chart (2009)	Peak position
Canadian Hot 100 Canadian Hot 100 The Canadian Hot 100 is a music singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine which ranks songs in Canada. The chart debuted in the Billboard issue dated June 16, 2007 and was made available for the first time via their online services on June 7, 2007...	98