In 2009, K’naan and J. Period teamed for the third volume of The Messengers. The authorized mixtape series was a promotional vehicle for Troubadour, K’naan’s third and United States breakthrough album. The third of three volumes set the A&M Records MC/singer against the work of Bob Dylan, which K’naan deemed deeply influential.

With J. Period at the controls, music from artists (Bob Marley, Fela Kuti, and Bob Dylan) was blended together carefully, with lots of overlapping messages to the masses. One example of this is “Relationships Lay,” whereby K’naan delivered his raps about relations, set to Dylan’s 1969 Nashville Skyline hit “Lay Lady Lay.” With some added drums, this blend-tape style approach (as “Relationships Lay”) just seemed to work.

In honor of his recently-released digital (8GB) box set (J. Period x Everything Collection) of J’s mixtapes, the Brooklyn, New York-based DJ/producer released the video for “Relationships Lay.” The Messengers trio of tapes is included in the set. Presumably shot more than six years ago, the video is an homage to the Blonde On Blonde maker in its own right. With K’naan flipping cards (these being color and multimedia), it is a strong cue to the 1965 “Subterranean Homesick Blues” video, one of the most iconic pre-MTV music videos, ever (posted below).

#BonusBeat: Bob Dylan’s “Subterranean Homesick Blues” music video (1965):

Premiered at OkayPlayer.

Related: K’naan – Nothing to Lose (Remix) ft Nas (Video)