10 Best Hip Hop Videos

1. Walk This Way - Run DMC and Aerosmith. I don't think anyone can argue with this choice. This video was groundbreaking in so many ways. It introduced the rocker audience to the hip hop audience and was the first time you saw rockers and hip hoppers colloborate on a project together. It made each band look more appealing not only to their home audience but also any visitors as well. The song is so well-produced and the video is interesting and had a great concept to it. I love the symbolism of breaking down walls between cultures, music genres, etc.

2. Parents Just Don't Understand - DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince. There is a reason why Will Smith is now the biggest star in the whole world. He is smart, funny, goodlooking, charming and incredibly talented in so many ways. He was just a kid really when this video came out but what he brought to the table is a lot of humor and color. The video does a good job of capturing the lyrics of the song in visual form.

3. Ms. Jackson - Outkast. When Outkast came onto the hip hop scene, it was so exciting. They brought a fresh energy to the table and featured this song about apologizing to the mother of thier baby's mama for not being the best man. This song came from such a humble place and humility is not a common feature in hip hop music. The emphasis tends to be more on bling, money, material possessions, video honeys, homies, and who's the baddest than any social issues which hip hop was first based on. I applaud Outkast bringing these social issues back to the hip hop scene.

4. Jesus Walk With Me - Kanye West. You can't have a list like this and not have the talented Kanye West on it. This song brought Kanye onto the scene and had great visual poetry to express the hardships of trying to stay strong when there are demons everywhere.

5. Can't Touch This - MC Hammer. This video is on the list because of all the fabulous dancing. Not only was the song very catchy and very popular but MC Hammer could really dance. And his sense of style is also featured in the video with those flashy outfits that included those baggy dance pants.

6. Fight the Power - Public Enemy. Not only is this one of the best hip hop groups out there that includes one of the best rappers (Chuck D) but this video and song did a great job of showing the strength in numbers that is needed to create positive change in the Black community where it is suggested that they fight the power rather than each other. The video and song are empowering and gave you a sense of unity and community that was so lacking at the time this video was released.

7. Gone 'Til November - Wyclef Jean. What a beautiful video with beautiful symbols: the old man and the little boy singing along with Wyclef and Bob Dylan tuning into Wyclef's guitar playing. My favorite part of the video is when the average, everyday people of the airport turn into violin players and take a moment out of the busyness of their hectic lives to come together for the sake of music. The song in itself is beautiful but the video made the song so much better. I don't know if this song would be considered hip hop but I know that the Fugees and Wyclef are considered hip hop artists.

8. What You Know - TI. It was so exciting to hear this song and see TI come onto the hip hop scene and really call other artists out on their tendency to play up their gangsterhood when there are people out there who have REALLY struggled and continue to struggle with life in the projects and in the hood. How can you sing with all your bling and proclaim that you are a gangster when you are no longer struggling with the basic necessities in life? I like the way this video enhances the song.

9. Superstar - Lupe Fiasco. Lupe's rapping style and lyrics are such a breath of fresh air. I like how the video is simple and not overstated like a lot of hip hop videos are. You can tell that he is a guy with a lot of humility. This really comes through in the song and in the video and really challenges the status quo belief in hip hop that ego is everything.

10. Irreplacable - Beyonce. Women needed this song. And I love the video. Who better than Beyonce to deliver the goods? I could watch this video again and again. I love how she is not afraid to show herself in rollers and how her confidence shines through. I also like the fact that she features an all-female band in this video. I'm not sure if Beyonce would be classified more as R&B or as Hip Hop but I had to put a female on this list to represent and Beyonce is my personal favorite and I think this is her best song and I love watching the video.