The Best Funk Music Videos of the ’90s
Contents
- George Clinton’s “Can’t Do Nuttin’ for Ya Man”
- Parliament’s “Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof Off the Sucker)”
- Bootsy Collins’s “I’d Rather Be with You”
- Red Hot Chili Peppers’ “Give It Away”
- Prince’s “Gett Off”
- Cypress Hill’s “Insane in the Brain”
- Deee-Lite’s “Groove Is in the Heart”
- Sir Mix-a-Lot’s “Baby Got Back”
- Beastie Boys’ “Sabotage”
- OutKast’s “Rosa Parks”
Looking for the best funk music videos of the ’90s? Look no further! We’ve got you covered with the top 10 videos that will get you groove on.
George Clinton’s “Can’t Do Nuttin’ for Ya Man”
Directed by Clinton and Mark Romanek, “Can’t Do Nuttin’ for Ya Man” is a classic example of the P-Funk maestro’s talent for creating Eugene Symbol-esque characters and story lines that were as entertaining as they were messy. The video follows the exploits of Flash Lightnin, a small-time hustler who finds himself in over his head when he tries to double-cross his boss, the illusive Mr. Wiggles.
With its mix of live action and animation, “Can’t Do Nuttin’ for Ya Man” is a dizzying visual feast that perfectly complements Clinton’s playful yet subversive lyrics. And while the video may be light on plot, it more than makes up for it with its stream-of-consciousness style and overwhelming sense of fun.
Parliament’s “Give Up the Funk (Tear the Roof Off the Sucker)”
From the album “Funkadelic,” George Clinton and the band Parliament give us this massive hit that went on to be nominated for a Grammy. The song is an ode to funk music, and the video features the band performing in what appears to be an abandoned warehouse. There are also some funky dance scenes interspersed throughout.
Bootsy Collins’s “I’d Rather Be with You”
Bootsy Collins’s “I’d Rather Be with You” is the best funk music video of the ’90s. The video features Collins and his band The Funkadelics playing in a club, with Collins wearing an outrageous outfit that includes sequined pants and a furry cape. The video also features cameos from Bootsy’s mother and father, as well as George Clinton.
Red Hot Chili Peppers’ “Give It Away”
Red Hot Chili Peppers’ “Give It Away” was one of the most popular funk music videos of the ’90s. The video features the band members as various animals, including a dog, a frog, and a rat. The video was nominated for four MTV Video Music Awards, winning two.
Prince’s “Gett Off”
“Gett Off” is a song by American recording artist Prince and The New Power Generation, from the 1991 album Diamonds and Pearls. The lead single from the album, it reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 charts in the United States for two weeks, becoming Prince’s ninth overall single to top the chart. It also became his second consecutive number-one hit from the album. “Gett Off” was well received by music critics. It won an MTV Video Music Award for Best Rap Video, becoming Prince’s only VMA win. The song was ranked number 459 on Rolling Stone’s list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
Cypress Hill’s “Insane in the Brain”
Cypress Hill’s “Insane in the Brain” is one of the best funk music videos of the ’90s. The video features the band performing in a mental hospital, with patients dancing and lip syncing to the song. The video is creative and well-executed, and the song is catchy and memorable.
Deee-Lite’s “Groove Is in the Heart”
Deee-Lite’s “Groove Is in the Heart” was one of the most popular music videos of the ’90s. The video featured the group’s lead singer, Lady Miss Kier, dancing in a series of outrageous outfits. The other members of the group were also featured in the video, but it was Lady Miss Kier’s dancing that stole the show.
Sir Mix-a-Lot’s “Baby Got Back”
The video for Sir Mix-a-Lot’s “Baby Got Back” was nominated for two MTV Video Music Awards in 1993 and won the award for Best Rap Video. The video features a group of white women (played by actors) who are greatly enjoying Sir Mix-a-Lot’s music and dance moves, much to the consternation of their black boyfriends/husbands.
Beastie Boys’ “Sabotage”
The Beastie Boys were known for their fun-loving and rebellious attitudes, and “Sabotage” is a perfect example of that. The video features the band members as detectives in a spoof of 1970s crime dramas. They are clad in 1970s-style clothing and hairstyles, and the video is full of car chases and shootouts. The video was directed by Spike Jonze, who would go on to direct many other popular music videos and films.
OutKast’s “Rosa Parks”
Outkast’s “Rosa Parks” was one of the most iconic music videos of the ’90s. It featured the two members of Outkast, Big Boi and Andre 3000, riding around on a city bus while rapping about Rosa Parks and the Civil Rights Movement. The video was controversial at the time, but it has since become a classic.
