Best Hip Hop Music Videos of 2010

The best hip hop music videos of 2010 include a mix of classic tracks and newer hits. Some of the best known songs in the genre are “Lose Yourself” by Eminem, “99 Problems” by Jay-Z, and “In Da Club” by 50 Cent. These three tracks alone show the diversity and range of hip hop music.

Watch the Throne – “Otis”

“Otis” is a song by American hip hop artists Kanye West and Jay-Z, from their first collaborative album Watch the Throne (2011). The song posthumously features soul singer Otis Redding, whose version of “Try a Little Tenderness” is sampled. The production was handled by West, Mike Dean, 88-Keys and Jeff Bhasker. The song was mixed at Manny Marroquin’s studio by Andrew Dawson and West. “Otis” features lead vocals by Jay-Z, with background vocals provided by Frank Ocean.

Best known for his work with Alicia Keys and John Legend, Bhasker also co-wrote three songs on My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010), including “All of the Lights”, for which he received a Grammy Award for Album of the Year. He was previously nominated for eight awards, including Producer of the Year and Song of the Year for helping pen Beyoncé’s “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)”. Bhasker joined Kanye West’s GOOD Music label in 2011 as a producer, after having been recommended to West by singer-songwriter Ne-Yo. In August 2012 he co-produced “Cruel Summer”, an EP compiled by GOOD Music which served as a soundtrack to the film Cruel Summer.

“Otis” was released on July 20, 2011 as one of the two lead singles from Watch the Throne. The song peaked at number 12 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and became a top 40 hit in several countries, including Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom. A music video directed by Spike Jonze features footage of West and Jay-Z performing live, intercut with loose footage of SpongeBob SquarePants as well as promotional clips for LuxuryCarsLV.com.

Eminem – “Not Afraid”

Released in April 2010, the music video for “Not Afraid” was the first from Eminem’s seventh studio album Recovery. The song was produced by Boi-1da and features samples of “Desolation Row” by Bob Dylan. The video was directed by Rich Lee and shot in Detroit, Michigan. It features footage of Eminem walking on top of a parking structure in Detroit as well as shots of him performing in front of a large crowd.

“Not Afraid” was a critical and commercial success, debuting at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and becoming Eminem’s ninth consecutive number one single on the chart. The music video won the MTV Video Music Award for Best Male Video and received nominations for Video of the Year and Best Hip-Hop Video.

Kanye West – “Runaway”

Kanye West’s “Runaway” is one of the best hip hop music videos of 2010. The video features a black Kanye West running through a forest, being chased by Paparazzi. Eventually, Kanye finds himself in a field of butterflies, and the video ends with a beautiful shot of him lying down in the field.

Drake – “Find Your Love”

The video for “Find Your Love” was directed by Anthony Mandler, who also did the visuals for Jay-Z’s “Run This Town” and Rihanna’s “Disturbia.” The video features Drake in a foreign country, being captivated by a local woman. The video is set in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

Lil Wayne – “6 Foot 7 Foot”

“6 Foot 7 Foot” is a song by American rapper Lil Wayne featuring labelmate Cory Gunz. It serves as the lead single from his ninth studio album, Tha Carter IV. The artwork for the single was revealed online on December 25, 2010. The song features uncredited vocals from British singer Skylar Grey. It was released to iTunes on December 16, 2010, and was officially sent to radio on December 21, 2010. Wayne raps about girls, wealth and fame over a “thumping bass-heavy track”.

Worst Hip Hop Music Videos of 2010

To start off, let’s take a look at the best hip hop music videos of 2010. These videos showcase the artists’ talents and provide creative visuals for the songs. They are entertaining and well-made overall. On the other hand, the worst hip hop music videos of 2010 are often low-budget, poorly made, and lack creativity.

Nicki Minaj – “Stupid Hoe”

“Stupid Hoe” is a song by American recording artist and rapper Nicki Minaj. The song served as the lead single from her second studio album, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded (2012). It was written by Onika Maraj, Patrick Reynolds and Trevor Smith; the latter also produced the track. Musically, “Stupid Hoe” is a hardcore hip hop and trap song that runs for a duration of two minutes and forty-one seconds. The song lyrically serves as a diss to fellow female rappers.

Upon its release, “Stupid Hoe” was met with mixed reviews from music critics; some praised Minaj’s lyrical prowess, while others criticized the overall quality of the song. The song peaked at number 59 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, becoming Minaj’s lowest-charting lead single at the time of its release. In 2012, after Minaj left Young Money Entertainment due to financial disputes, Universal Music Group removed the music video from YouTube.

Rick Ross – “I’m Not a Star”

The self-proclaimed “Teflon Don” decided to make a music video that plenty of people could relate to – a day in the life of Rick Ross. It features the Maybach Music Group CEO wakes up in his lavish mansion, eats breakfast prepared by a scantily clad woman and then he goes outside to his private jet. From there, Ross jets off to New York City where he shoots a music video with a bevy of backup dancers. The song’s concept is pretty simple and basic, but Ross’ lyrics are pretty nice. The music video just looks tacky and it cheapens Ross’ image as a big time player in the rap game.

Plies – “She Got It”

In his video for “She Got It,” Plies objectifies women to the point of absurdity. He and his friends spend the entire video leering at women’s behinds and breasts, making lewd comments, and trying to convince a woman to have sex with him.

Throughout the video, women are shown in various states of undress, including one scene in which a group of women dance in thongs and bikini tops. In another scene, a woman motorboats Plies while he raps. The video is filled with images of money, alcohol, and cars, and it sends the clear message that women are nothing more than objects to be used for men’s pleasure.

Waka Flocka Flame – “No Hands”

This is just one big party, with women shaking their behinds and men spraying champagne all over the place. It’s not very artistic, but it is entertaining. If you’re a fan of Waka Flocka Flame, then you’ll probably enjoy this video.

Soulja Boy – “Pretty Boy Swag”

In “Pretty Boy Swag,” Soulja Boy does nothing but stand around in front of a green screen rapping about how pretty he is. It’s repetitive, boring, and not at all creative.

Best Hip Hop Music Videos of 2010

2010 Hip Hop Music Videos