Normally one for bottles and clubs, Lil Wayne tackles myriad social problems in his new video for "How To Love," the third single from the rapper's upcoming Tha Carter IV.
Starting with a change of heart during a planned abortion, "How To Love" details the broken life of a girl plagued with familial strife and sexual abuse. As we watch the embattled girl grow up, promiscuity, stripping, prostitution and HIV dominate her life, showing the tangible, debilitating effects of early childhood traumas. Weezy ends the plaintive track on an optimistic note, though, outlining an alternate path for the girl that involves loving parents, studying and diplomas.
"The concept is more a narrative," director Chris Robinson told MTV. "It's a story about two paths in someone's life and how one small choice that you make can affect your whole life." Conceived and written by Weezy himself, "How To Love" is a tough, yet necessary, video detailing the snowball effect of traumatic personal events.
Tha Carter IV will be available starting midnight August 29 following the rapper's performance at the 2011 Video Music Awards.
+ Watch Lil Wayne's "How To Love" video and after the jump, watch Lil Wayne get old-school in his 1980s Max Headroom-style VMA promo video, and see what Lil Wayne has planned for his VMA performance.