The Best Hip Hop Music Videos of 2015
We’ve rounded up the best hip hop music videos of 2015 so far. From Kendrick Lamar to Drake, these are the videos that have been making waves this year.
Best Hip Hop Videos of 2015
It’s been an amazing year for hip hop, and music videos have been a big part of that. Here are some of the best hip hop music videos of 2015.
Kendrick Lamar – “Alright”
Kendrick Lamar’s “Alright” was one of the best hip hop videos of 2015. The video features Kendrick and his friends driving around Compton, interspersed with shots of them performing the song on top of a police car. The video is visually stunning and provides a powerful commentary on race relations in America.
Drake – “Hotline Bling”
Drake’s “Hotline Bling” video is undoubtedly one of the most talked about music videos of 2015. The simplistic visuals and Drake’s awkward dancing made for a highly meme-able video, and it quickly became a fan favorite.
Vince Staples – “Lift Me Up”
This was one of the best hip hop videos of 2015. Vince Staples – “Lift Me Up” is a great video that shows how creative and talented this artist is. This video is a great mix of music, visuals, and storytelling.
Big Sean – “Blessings”
The best music videos of 2015 offered viewers a wide range of styles and subjects, from Kendrick Lamar’s evocative “Alright” to Justin Bieber’s playful “Sorry.” But one thing was clear: hip hop ruled the year.
Kanye West, Drake, and Big Sean led the pack with multiple videos each in our year-end roundup, while Nicki Minaj, Kendrick Lamar, Fetty Wap, and Wiz Khalifa all made strong showings with their own standout visuals.
And then there were the breakout stars: Dej Loaf, Travi$ Scott, and Vince Staples all made waves with their inventive clips, while younger artists like Lil Yachty and Lil Uzi Vert brought quirky energy to the genre.
But in the end, there could only be one top spot. Big Sean’s “Blessings” was a masterclass in minimalism, driven by a hypnotic beat and Sean’sbars. It was an instant classic, and easily one of the best hip hop videos of 2015.
Chance the Rapper – “Angels”
“Angels” is a song by American hip hop recording artist Chance the Rapper, featuring vocals from Canadian singer The Weeknd. It was released on October 26, 2015 as the lead single from Chance’s second mixtape, Surf (2015). The song peaked at number 67 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Honorable Mentions
Hip hop music has always been known for its creative and innovative music videos. 2015 was no different, with many artists pushing the boundaries of what a music video can be. Here are some of the best hip hop music videos of 2015.
J. Cole – “Wet Dreamz”
J. Cole’s “Wet Dreamz” has to be one of the most age-appropriate hip hop music videos ever made. The video starts with a very young Cole telling his friends about a dream he had where he was with a girl. From there, the music video follows Cole throughout his life, as he tries to make that dream a reality. By the end of the video, it is clear that Cole has finally realized his dream, and the music video is both heartwarming and hilarious.
Nicki Minaj – “Anaconda”
“Anaconda” is a song recorded by American rapper Nicki Minaj for her third studio album, The Pinkprint (2014). It was released on August 4, 2014 by Young Money Entertainment, Cash Money Records, and Republic Records as the second single from the album. The song was produced by Polow da Don and Danny Boy Styles. The song heavily samples “Baby Got Back” (1992) by Sir Mix-a-Lot. Upon release, “Anaconda” peaked at number two on the US Billboard Hot 100, thus becoming Minaj’s highest-charting single in the United States to date. It peaked within the top ten in several other countries including Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom.
The accompanying music video for “Anaconda” was directed by Colin Tilley and released on August 19, 2014. The video broke the 24-hour streaming record on Vevo by accumulating 19.6 million views in its first day of release, as well as becoming one of the most-watched videos in Vevo history. It won Best Rap Video at the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards. As of 2019, the video has been viewed over 690 million times on YouTube, and is currently the site’s 33rd most-viewed video of all time; it is also YouTube’s ninth most-liked music video.
Rae Sremmurd – “Throw Sum Mo”
“Throw Sum Mo”, Rae Sremmurd’s ode to turning up, was inescapable in 2015. The hypnotic beat, catchy hook, and star-studded video propelled the track to the top of the charts, making it one of the biggest songs of the year.
The accompanying music video is a perfect visual representation of the song’s energy, featuring cameos from some of hip hop’s biggest stars. The video starts with a young girl walking through a neighborhood before being joined by Rae Sremmurd and their crew. From there, it’s a nonstop party, complete with twerking, cash rain showers, and plenty of booty-shaking.
While some may find the content controversial, there’s no denying that “Throw Sum Mo” is one of the best hip hop music videos of 2015. It’s creative, visually stimulating, and most importantly, it gets you moving.
Wale – “The Matrimony”
The track itself is a classic Wale song: it’s smooth, introspective and modern, while also paying homage to the greats that paved the way for him. The video is shot in black and white and features Wale at his wedding (presumably to his long-time girlfriend Chloe Bailey) with cameos from Usher, Rick Ross and Jeremih. It’s a beautiful video that perfectly captures the sentiment of the song.
Ghostface Killah – “Love Don’t Live Here No More”
Directed by Nabil, the video for Ghostface Killah’s “Love Don’t Live Here No More” is as bleak and gritty as the Wu-Tang vet’s lyrics about a dissolving relationship. Shot in black-and-white, the video features a forlorn Ghost rapping in the rain and among a group of dejected looking women.
