The Best Hip Hop Music Videos of All Time

From 2Pac to Kendrick Lamar, these are the best hip hop music videos of all time.

Best Hip Hop Music Videos of All Time

In no particular order, these are what we believe to be the best hip hop music videos of all time. We’ve included a mix of classic videos as well as more recent ones, and we’ve tried to include a variety of different styles and approaches to hip hop music videos.

“Rapper’s Delight” by The Sugarhill Gang

“Rapper’s Delight” by The Sugarhill Gang is often cited as one of the best hip hop music videos of all time. The song was released in 1979 and the video features the group performing the song in a club. The video is simple, but it is effective in conveying the energy and fun of the song.

“The Show” by Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick

“The Show” is a classic hip hop music video by Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick. The video features the two rappers performing the song in a series of increasingly zany and over-the-top settings, including on top of a moving train, in front of a live studio audience, and in outer space.

The video is widely considered to be one of the best hip hop music videos of all time, and it has been parodied and imitated by many other artists.

“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 group associate Carlton Ridenhour. It is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential songs in hip hop history.

The song’s message resonated with African Americans and other minority groups who were fighting for their rights during the late 1980s and early 1990s. “Fight the Power” peaked at number 1 on the Billboard Hot Rap Songs chart, making it Public Enemy’s only single to top that chart. It also peaked at number 20 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Public Enemy’s highest-charting single on that chart. The song was ranked number 42 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. In 1998, it was selected for preservation in the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress as “culturally, historically, or artistically significant”.

“Nuthin’ but a ‘G’ Thang” by Dr. Dre

Dr. Dre’s “Nuthin’ but a ‘G’ Thang” was released as the first single off of his classic album, The Chronic, in 1992. The music video features Dre and Snoop Dogg driving around Compton, California in a lowrider while rapping about life in the ‘hood. The video is recognized as one of the best hip hop music videos of all time for its portrayal of inner-city life and its use of stop-motion animation.

“Gin and Juice” by Snoop Dogg

“Gin and Juice” by Snoop Dogg is one of the best hip hop music videos of all time. The video features Snoop Dogg and his friends having a party, and it includes cameos from several well-known rappers. The video was directed by Dr. Dre, and it was released in 1993.

“California Love” by 2Pac

Released in 1996, “California Love” was one of the first hip hop music videos to gain widespread popularity. The video features 2Pac rapping in various iconic locations around Los Angeles, including the Hollywood Hills and Mulholland Drive. The video is also notable for its use of special effects, including computer-generated images of cars and helicopters.

“Notorious B.I.G.” by The Notorious B.I.G.

Notorious B.I.G.’s “Notorious B.I.G.” is often cited as one of the best hip hop music videos of all time. The video was directed by Hype Williams and features a number of famous cameo appearances, including Biggie himself, Puff Daddy, Lil’ Kim, and Faith Evans. The video is set in Brooklyn and features a number of local landmarks, including the Brooklyn Bridge and Coney Island.

“Empire State of Mind” by Jay-Z

“Empire State of Mind” is a single by American hip hop artist Jay-Z. It features singer Alicia Keys and was released as the lead single from Jay-Z’s 11th studio album, The Blueprint 3. The song peaked at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, becoming Jay-Z’s first chart-topping song as a lead artist and Keys’ fifth consecutive number-one song; it stayed at the top of the chart for five weeks.

“Run This Town” by Jay-Z

“Run This Town” by Jay-Z is one of the best hip hop music videos of all time. The video features cameos from Kanye West, Drake, and Rihanna, and includes powerful images of the cityscape of New York.

“All I Do Is Win” by DJ Khaled

The video features cameos from several artists signed to Young Money, Cash Money, and Maybach Music Group. The video revolves around a casino theme and includes several shots of Khaled counting large sums of money.

“All I Do Is Win” peaked at number 24 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was popular among sports teams and was used by various teams including the New York Yankees, Miami Heat, Pittsburgh Steelers, Seattle Seahawks and Baltimore Ravens.