Rolling Stone stated the song "teases the dark underbelly of sudden fame and offers a peek at the rapper's life when he hit his lowest points",[4] whileBillboard editor Kris Ex wrote that Lamar is "pondering sex and existence in equal measure; it's ayoni metaphor about the power of peace, with sugar walls being escape and real walls being obstacles."[5]
The music video features an appearance by American actorTerry Crews.
The song's music video premiered on October 28, 2015, on Lamar'sVevo account. It was directed byColin Tilley and The Little Homies. Entitled "Behind the Walls: A Black Comedy", the clip opens in a jail cell withCorey Holcomb and then flashes back to a wild night at an apartment complex – from strippers, to drugs, altercations, and skits.[6] Lamar first appears in his roomgrinding with a girl while her girlfriends catch it all on camera. He then crashes the stage at a talent show and performs "Hit the Quan" alongsideTerry Crews. Meanwhile,Isaiah Rashad gets tied up and seduced in his bedroom, andSZA finds Lamar crashing through her apartment wall. By the end of the night, the cops come calling and Holcomb's character gets arrested.[7] The video ends with "To be continued". ForRap-Up, "the Compton rapper shows his comedic side (and dance moves) in the cinematic clip."[8]
On May 27, 2015, Lamar performed the song live onThe Ellen DeGeneres Show, complete with a white-clad couple who danced around the stage as a nearby artist painted a portrait of them.[9] "These Walls" was featured on the Kunta's Groove Sessions tour.[10]
