February 23, 2007
The nappyafro.com Staff's Top 5 Music Videos Of All Time
Before we hit the weekend, the nappyafro.com Staff wanted to hit you off with this month’s feature: “Our Top 5 Videos”. That's right, each staff gives you his Top 5 (plus an honorable mention). Sit back, enjoy, and disagree.
*King Jerm
5. DMX “Get At Me Dog”
This was the grimiest video off all time. Who would have thought a night at the Tunnel could make a good video.
4. Cam’ron “Curtis”
This video is a late favorite, Killa got at Fiddy on this one. When he jumped out the casket, it was over.
3. Jay-Z “Hard Knock Life”
This is the ghetto anthem. If you from the hood you gotta love this one.
2. Michael Jackson “Remember The Time”
This to me is Jacko’s best video. The acting, dancing, and the cameos made this the best one.
1. Lil’ Kim feat. Lil’ Cease “Crush On You”
The colors, the costumes, and Lil’ Kim made this video for me. She was so cute to me in this video. I wish we had the old Kim back. I wish you could reverse plastic surgery. I used to have the biggest crush on Kim back in the day. The yellow scene was the best.
Honorable Mention:
Raekwon feat. Cappadonna, Ghostface Killah, & Method Man “Ice Cream”
This video is on the list for one reason, “Excuse, but I don’t mean no harm, but turn around again”.
*Dark Angel
5. Mariah Carey feat. Jay-Z “Heartbreaker”
I like this one a lot because it’s fun; just hanging with the girls at the movies on a Friday night. Oh yea, and catching your lying cheating ass boyfriend with that tramp from the other side of town! Classic!
4. 2Pac “Do For Love”
Why did I choose this one? Well, simply because I love the different types of animation within just one video. You had anime, clay-mation, and African-American animation. You can’t go wrong with it. Not to mention I liked the song a lot.
3. Janet Jackson feat. Q-Tip “Got ‘Til It’s Gone”
It’s just laid back – just what I like! And it’s really pro-black. You don’t really see that anymore in these videos these days. I guess they don’t call it the good old days for nothing.
2. Maxwell “Fortunate”
The shades of blue and camera angles really set it off for me. It was just beautifully done. I love the song and Maxwell was always a favorite of mine. The video, in my opinion, kind of leaves you wondering a little. At the end, the girl he was singing to is all of a sudden laying on the floor with only her feet showing. Did she die? Love it!
1. Michael Jackson “Smooth Criminal”
This, to me, was the best and most creative of all Mike’s videos. Everyone tried to copy him in some kind of way from this video. The dances were hot! The wardrobe was bangin’! The video was one of the most amazing I’ve seen yet. Don’t tell me you didn’t think that dance scene when Mike and his boys all lean to the front was tight!? Pure genius!
Honorable Mention:
Kanye West feat. Syleena Johnson “All Falls Down”
Yet another creative video. This one is shown from the eyes of Kanye seeing his girl off to the airport. It was a sad video to me, however. Who wants to see their love one leave? Not to mention she was late to wherever she was going and Kanye had to catch up with her due to awkward delays. (Some bad ass child with a mustard bottle, him not passing the mental detector test…) All in all, I really loved this video.
*Blood
5. Wu-Tang “Triumph”
This video was the first single off of the Wu-Tang Forever double disc. It was Wu at their peak. In hindsight, Wu never released another album like this one nor have a group video as live as this one.
4. Eric B. & Rakim “Microphone Fiend"
This is my favorite video Eric B. & Rakim video. It came out at a time where rap music was starting to really reach the masses. I remember rushing home from school trying to record this video on Rap City (When Rap City first debuted). The shit is simply just live as hell.
3. Boogie Down Productions “Love's Gonna Get You”
When young cats question why KRS-One is one of the all time greats, I play this or “My Philosophy”. Classic Chris. (Note: I couldn't find this video; figures.)
2. Outkast “Bombs Over Baghdad”
I didn't like this one the first, second, & third time I heard it. Then I saw the video and listened to the lyrics and bam, that’s when the song really hit me.
1. The Notorious B.I.G. “Warning (Uncut Version)”
This is my favorite video from my favorite artist.
Honorable Mention:
Grandmaster Flash feat. Melle Mel & The Furious Five “The Message”
I was gonna post Nelly’s "Tip Drill" but naw.......... but that shit is a classic, so I'll give it honorable mention anyway.
*Canis Canem
5. Ice Cube “Today Was A Good Day”
West coast vibin' at its' finest
4. Redman “I'll Be Dat”
Funny, gutter and very imaginative
3. Puff Daddy feat. Lil’ Kim, The LOX & The Notorious B.I.G. “All About The Benjamins” (remix)
You gotta luv it
2 Jay-Z feat. UGK “Big Pimpin'”
Yachts, girls, girls, girls galore/ basically every young male's american dream
1. Ice Cube & Dr. Dre- “Natural Born Killaz”
If you have to see one video on this list make sure that this is the one.
*B-Easy
5. The Notorious B.I.G. “One More Chance" (remix)
This video was the finale to Biggie’s success off Ready To Die. And at that time, who had more cameos in their video? Heavy D, Faith, Mary, Puff, JD, Brat, D-Nice, Queen, Luke, Aaliyah, Changing Faces…
4. Xzibit “What You See Is What You Get”
This video looks like some shit Spike Jonez would have did. The premise is simple; Xzibit is going to the store to pick up some milk. The walk there is where it gets good. It all looks like one take using the magic of television. It also fits the song perfectly. Check for the Flava Flav cameo.
3. Outkast “Benz Or Beamer”
Hype Williams hooks up with Outkast to pull of a stylized look at car jacking. This came out when the “Bankhead Bounce” was in style. This had me and my dudes bouncing our shoulders like pogo sticks. You also get to see the legendary Dungeon Family “Dungeon” as well as a Big Rube poem at the end that wasn’t on the original song. (Note: YouTube removed this video and I can't find it anywhere else.)
2. DMX feat Faith Evans “How It’s Going Down" (remix) or “Get At Me Dog”
Both of these video were done by Hype Williams, both were excellent. In “How’s It Going Down”, you got a version with Faith that at the time wasn’t available anywhere. The video was beautifully shot and showed D is another light. Check for the Ja Rule & Eve cameos. “Get At Me Dog” on the other hand was straight gutter. It was shot at the famous Tunnel and was shot in a weird black and white, distorted lens; Very different for the Puff videos at the time.
1. Mase “Feels So Good"
Yea, I know you wondering, “What the hell?” But I can’t front, I love this video. There are so many things I can’t point out. The Vegas lights, the shiny suits, the dancing girls, the money, the Benz. I know rap right now is over dosing on this shit, but at the time, that was the highest I seen it done. Not to mention this is another Hype William’s video. Also, if you look closely, you might catch a view of Chris Tucker before Puff jumps in front of him.
Honorable Mention:
Craig Mack feat. The Notorious B.I.G., Rampage, LL Cool J, & Busta Rhymes “Flava In Ya Ear" (remix)
Anytime you see a rap video white a white background (Ex. “Drop It Like It’s Hot” or “Mr Me Too”) it got that shit from this video right here.
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