Best Hip Hop Music Videos of the 80s
Contents
A look at some of the best hip hop music videos of the 80s.
Introduction
Some of the best hip hop music videos of the 80s came from artists who were at the top of their game. They included artists such as Run-DMC, Public Enemy, and N.W.A. These videos were often groundbreaking and set the standard for what a music video could be.
“Rapper’s Delight” by The Sugarhill Gang
“Rapper’s Delight” is a song released in 1979 by hip hop trio The Sugarhill Gang. The song is credited with helping to launch the hip hop music genre. The song was ranked number 251 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
“The Breaks” by Kurtis Blow
In 1980, Kurtis Blow released “The Breaks”, one of the first Hip Hop music videos. The video features Kurtis Blow rapping in front of a graffiti-covered wall, break dancers, and a DJ. “The Breaks” is considered one of the best Hip Hop music videos of the 80s and helped to popularize the genre.
“Rockit” by Herbie Hancock
“Rockit” is a 1983 single by jazz musician Herbie Hancock, from his album Future Shock. The song was written by Hancock, Bill Laswell and Michael Beinhorn. “Rockit” was a number one hit on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart and peaked at number forty-five on the Billboard Hot 100. The single was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
“Walk This Way” by Run-D.M.C.
“Walk This Way” by Run-D.M.C. was released in 1986 and is often considered one of the best hip hop music videos of the 80s. The video features Run-D.M.C. rapping on a rooftop while wearing their signature Kangol hats and Adidas tracksuits. The video also includes footage of the group performming in front of a live audience.
“Fight the Power” by Public Enemy
From the opening seconds of Public Enemy’s “Fight the Power,” it’s clear that this isn’t your typical hip hop music video. The iconic opening scene features the group rapping amongst a background of burning buildings and police officers in riot gear, with lead singer Chuck D declaring ” Hip hop hooray! / We don’t need no Cadillac or gas / We just wanna party!”
“Fight the Power” was released in 1989, at the height of the Black Power movement, and its messaging was explicitly political. The song urged African Americans to fight against racism and oppression, and the video doubles down on that message with its images of police brutality and social injustice.
Despite its controversial subject matter, “Fight the Power” was a huge commercial success, peaking at #1 on Billboard’s Hot Rap Songs chart and #4 on the Billboard Hot 100. It has since been recognized as one of the greatest hip hop songs of all time, and its impact is still felt today.
“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. The song was written by group member Ice Cube and produced by Dr. Dre and DJ Yella. It peaked at number Express Yourself became one of the defining tracks of gangsta rap with its depiction of inner-city life and its criticism of law enforcement’s treatment of young African Americans.
The music video for “Express Yourself” was directed by Dick Griffey and David Nelson and shot in Los Angeles, California in February 1989 on a budget of $20,000. It features footage of police brutality, with police officers being shown beating up young African American men. The video also includes footage of N.W.A performing in front of a graffiti-covered wall.
The video was nominated for Best Rap Video at the 1989 MTV Video Music Awards but lost to Public Enemy’s “Fight the Power”. In 1998, “Express Yourself” was ranked number 51 on VH1’s 100 Greatest Videos.
“Baby Got Back” by Sir Mix-A-Lot
“Baby Got Back” is a hit song by American rapper Sir Mix-A-Lot, from his second album, Mack Daddy. The song’s low-brow humor centres around the buttocks of black women, and has been accused of being racist and sexist. The video was nominated for two MTV Video Music Awards in 1993.
“Gin and Juice” by Snoop Dogg
The music video for “Gin and Juice” by Snoop Dogg was released in 1993 and was an instant classic. The video features Snoop Dogg and his friends cruising around Los Angeles in a lowrider, smoking weed and drinking gin. The video is set to the laid-back beat of the song and perfectly captures the carefree lifestyle of Snoop Dogg and his friends.
“99 Problems” by Jay-Z
“99 Problems” is a song by American rapper Jay-Z, released as the second single from his 2003 album The Black Album. The hook, produced by Rick Rubin, samples the 1986 Beastie Boys song “No Sleep Till Brooklyn”.
The song’s music video was directed by Clark Jackson and shot in various locations throughout the streets of New York City. The video features cameos from Ice-T, Busta Rhymes, Memphis Bleek, and Beanie Sigel.
Conclusion
After watching countless hours of 80s hip hop music videos, we have compiled what we believe to be the best of the best. While there are many great videos that didn’t make our list, these are the ones that we feel truly capture the essence of 80s hip hop. From classic videos like RUN-DMC’s “Walk This Way” to more modern ones like Kendrick Lamar’s “Humble”, these videos represent the best of what hip hop has to offer.
