80s Hip Hop Videos: The Best of the Decade
Contents
Looking for the best 80s Hip Hop videos? Look no further than our list of the top videos from the decade. From classic tracks to new school anthems, we’ve got you covered.
Introduction
The 1980s was a transformative decade for hip hop. Artists like Afrika Bambaataa, the Sugarhill Gang, and Run-DMC laid the foundation for the genre, while others like Public Enemy, N.W.A., and Beastie Boys pushed it into the mainstream. And as hip hop became more popular, its videos became more important—not just as promotional tools, but as works of art in their own right.
In this video compilation, we’ve gathered some of the best hip hop videos from the 1980s. From iconic videos like Beastie Boys’ “Sabotage” and N.W.A.’s “Straight Outta Compton” to lesser-known gems like Schoolly D’s “Gucci Time” and MC Shy D’s “Shake It”, these videos illustrate the energy, creativity, and diversity of 80s hip hop.
Best Hip Hop Videos of the 80s
The 80s was a great decade for music, and hip hop was no exception. There were so many great hip hop videos that came out during this time. In this article, we will take a look at some of the best hip hop videos of the 80s.
“Rapper’s Delight” by The Sugarhill Gang
Rapper’s Delight” is a song released in 1979 by the Sugarhill Gang and produced by ex-member of the group cowboy, Joey Robinson jr. The song is credited with being the first hip hop record to gain widespread popularity in mainstream culture. It was also ranked number 251 on Rolling Stone magazine’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list. The song features a sample of the 1976 hit “Good Times” by Chic.
“The Breaks” by Kurtis Blow
Kurtis Blow’s “The Breaks” is widely considered one of the best hip hop videos of the 1980s. The video features Blow rapping in front of various New York City landmarks, including the Brooklyn Bridge and Times Square. The video was directed by Lionel C. Martin and shot in black and white, giving it a classic feel that has helped it stand the test of time.
“Walk This Way” by Run-D.M.C.
“Walk This Way” by Run-D.M.C. is one of the most iconic hip hop videos of the 1980s. The song itself is a cover of Aerosmith’s 1975 hit, and the video features appearances by both Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith. Run-D.M.C.’s innovative use of Aerosmith’s music helped to popularize hip hop among a wider audience, and the video is considered one of the earliest examples of successful cross-genre collaboration in music.
“Fight the Power” by Public Enemy
“Fight the Power” is a song by American hip hop group Public Enemy, released as a single in 1989 on Motown Records. The song was written and produced by group members Chuck D and Hank Shocklee, with help from additional writers and producers including Carlton Ridenhour and Eric “Vietnam” Sadler. It is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential songs in hip hop history.
The song’s message is about African Americans fighting back against police brutality and racism in America.Public Enemy intended it to be an anthem for the African American community, but it quickly became popular among people of all races due to its powerful message and catchy beat. The song samples several other songs including James Brown’s “Funky Drummer” and “The Payback”, Sly & The Family Stone’s “Stand!”, and George Clinton’s “Flash Light”.
The music video for “Fight the Power” was directed by Spike Lee and features footage from Lee’s film Do the Right Thing intercut with footage of Public Enemy performing the song. The video was nominated for several awards, including Best Direction at the MTV Video Music Awards, but lost to Neil Young’s “Rockin’ in the Free World”.
“Express Yourself” by N.W.A.
“Express Yourself” is a song by American hip hop group N.W.A, released as the lead single from their major label debut album Straight Outta Compton in May 1988. The song was written by group members Ice Cube and MC Ren, with production handled by Dr. Dre. Musically, the song samples Chuck Brown and the Soul Searchers’ 1978 song “Bustin’ Loose”. The track features a funky bassline and heavy use of foul language, which caused it to be banned from some radio stations.
The song’s music video was also heavily censored when originally aired on MTV, due to its graphic depiction of violence and gang activity. In 2010, the video was voted number one on MTV2’s list of the top 10 most influential videos of all time.
Conclusion
After watching all of these videos, it’s evident that the 80s were a critical time for the development of hip hop. The videos highlighted in this article are only a small sampling of the great work that was produced during this decade. From Bronx block parties to west coast gangsta rap, the 80s gave birth to many of the trends and styles that continue to define hip hop today. So go ahead and queue up some TI, NWA, or Run DMC, and enjoy some classic 80s hip hop videos.
