Top Indie Hip Hop Music Videos of 2016
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A list of the top indie hip hop music videos of 2016. These are the must-watch visuals that helped shape the genre this year.
Chance the Rapper- “No Problem”
Chance the Rapper’s “No Problem” music video features Lil Wayne and 2 Chainz, and is full of flashy cars and pretty women. The three rappers celebrate their success with a lavish party, while Chance the Rapper tells his haters that he’s doing just fine.
A Tribe Called Quest- “We the People”
A Tribe Called Quest’s “We the People” is a powerful and political track off of their last album, “We got it from Here… Thank You 4 Your service.” The visuals for the song are just as striking, with images of an America that is sometimes beautiful, sometimes dark, and always complicated.
Mac Miller- “Dang!”
The first music video on our list is Mac Miller’s “Dang!”. The track features Anderson .Paak and is taken from Miller’s album “The Divine Feminine”. The music video was released in September of 2016 and was directed by Ian Wolfson.
The video features Miller and .Paak driving around Los Angeles in a convertible, with the city’s landscape acting as the backdrop for the majority of the video. The video also features appearances from a number of other celebrities, including Snoop Dogg, Kendrick Lamar, and Schoolboy Q.
“Dang!” is a smooth and catchy track that exemplifies the best of what Mac Miller has to offer. The video is also a great example of how to create an effective music video on a budget.
Anderson .Paak- “Come Down”
Anderson .Paak might be one of the busiest musicians in the game right now. In between touring and preparing for his upcoming album, Oxnard, the rapper/singer/drummer took the time to release a video for his 2016 track, “Come Down.” The throwback style video is set in what looks like a house party in the ’70s or ’80s, and features cameos from Ty Dolla $ign and Schoolboy Q.
Danny Brown- “Ain’t It Funny”
Number nine on our list is Danny Brown and his music video for “Ain’t It Funny.” The black-and-whiteclip was directed by Jonah Moon and finds the Detroit rapper in a number of funny positions, including getting a head massage from a female fan and played with like a puppet.
Joey Bada$$- “Devastated”
Joey Bada$$ released “Devastated” as a single on April 22, 2016, and the music video was released on May 31, 2016. The video was directed by Nathan Smith and Marcus Cummings-Singh of Smartfly Films. It was filmed in Joey Bada$$’s hometown of Brooklyn, New York City.
The video begins with a young girl skateboarding through the streets of Brooklyn. She is then shown going into a bodega, where she meets up with Joey Bada$$. The two then walk together and eventually come to a stop on a rooftop, where they sit and talk. As they talk, the scene cuts to various shots of Joey Bada$$ rapping in various locations around Brooklyn.
Throughout the video, there are also shots of people dancing and moving through the streets. The video ends with the girl skateboarding away as Joey Bada$$ watches from the roof.
Logic- “Flexicution”
“Flexicution” is the lead single from American hip hop artist Logic’s third studio album, Everybody. The song peaked at number 89 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming his second highest-charting single as a solo artist.
Kendrick Lamar- “Alright”
Kendrick Lamar’s “Alright” was one of the top Indie Hip Hop music videos of 2016. The video starts off with a police officer pulling over a black man for a broken taillight, and things quickly escalate from there. The video features footage of police brutality and the Black Lives Matter movement, interspersed with footage of Kendrick rapping. The video ends with Kendrick standing on top of a police car, symbolizing his triumph over adversity.
Run the Jewels- “Legend Has It”
The Jewels, comprised of artists Killer Mike and El-P, rose to prominence in the hip hop scene with their unique brand of hard-hitting beats and lyrics. “Legend Has It” is the first video from their 2016 album, Run the Jewels 3. The video tells the story of a group of criminals on the run from the police. The video is gritty and fast-paced, matching the intensity of the track.
Schoolboy Q- “That Part”
Schoolboy Q’s “That Part” may have only been released a few months ago, but it’s already become one of the year’s most iconic music videos. The clip, directed by Dave Free (of The Little Homies) and Jack Begert, is set in South Central Los Angeles and follows Q as he navigates his way through a chaotic day. With cameos from Kendrick Lamar, Ab-Soul, and Vince Staples, “That Part” is a perfect example of the creative talent that lies within the TDE camp.
