Music Video Spam
7.27.21
Similarly to festivals being back now that the world is opening back up again, it seems that music videos are coming in bulk. It was difficult to get large groups together on set with Covid restrictions, but things are definitely loosening up. This week specifically, we have seen a surplus of music videos hitting the web, and the views are quickly skyrocketing. Here are just the Top Five new music videos to release in the past week.
42 Dugg Turntest N*** In The City
It is no secret that 42 Dugg is living by his motto, young and turnt. In his new single, he is sure to make you feel the same way. What I love the most about CMG is their love and loyalty to each other. Not too long ago, 42 Dugg was the new member to the CMG squad, and now there is EST Gee. Both EST Gee and Yo Gotti had significant cameos in 42 Dugg’s music video.
The video takes place on a Yacht party, and flashes back and forth to a garage with a whole line of exotic cars. Graphics are used throughout the video to amplify the lyrics, and overall, 42 Dugg is seeing a bit more production in his videos with his new major team.
Tory Lanez featuring Kodak Black, Grah Tah Tah
It really does seem like this man will not stop. Through so many obstacles, he is going to continue to push his independent career and do exactly what it is that he wants to do. This new song with Kodak is pretty cool. He paid homage to one of OJ Da Juiceman’s greatest hits, and the video itself was done really well.
At one point, Tory Lanez is seen hanging from the ladder of a helicopter overlooking an entire city. For a moment I was like why on Earth would do - oh right, it is just a green screen. Kodak Black comes in for his verse and appears to be reading nursery rhymes to a group of kids at a day-care. They all put their fingers in their mouths as if they are showing off their grills just like Kodak would. The video premiered yesterday and is already over 1.6 million views.
KSI featuring Future, 21 Savage Number 2
KSI is originally known for being a YouTuber in the UK. With over 23.2 millions subscribers, he was bound to make incredible music videos once the time were to come. He has been making music for a bit now, and has teamed up with Future and 21 Savage for this new hit. A truly dynamic duo.
The video appears like the three artists are in a video game, driving cars through a dark city. The graphics are absolutely insane. I cannot help but think how much money Adidas put towards the music video for that prime product placement, because that video surely was not cheap to make. 21 Savage definitely had the best verse, but I am still trying to figure out why he said he likes to step on puppies. The video is less than 100,000 views from reaching one million, in under 24 hours since the premiere.
Pop Smoke Coupe
This Pop Smoke video premiered just a few days ago, on July 21st, and already has over 2.5 million views. Faith, Pop’s second posthumous album has debuted at number one on charts, though many were questioning the labels sincerity on the final execution of the project. While the same could very well be said for making a music video with someone’s song who is not here, Pop’s presence and honor definitely shined throughout the music video.
The video takes place at a park and in the streets, likely close to Pop Smoke’s old neighborhood. There were massive groups of people dancing and celebrating his honor, riding bikes and four-wheelers, wearing shirts with his face on them, driving Lamborghinis and fast cars, including an old school car with ‘Faith’ decals across the sides.
Rowdy Rebel was included in the music video, dancing to the track amongst dozens of his pears. Pop actually said “Free Rowdy” in the song, so it was cool to see him a part of this, especially since he was one of those who spoke out unhappy about the final production of the album. Overall this video was super high spirited and brought positive vibes for Pop Smoke and the project, overall.
Lil Nas X featuring Jack Harlow Industry Baby
Of course, at number five, the most viewed and most talked about video of the week, Industry Baby, which debuted on Friday has over 36 million views already. This is just absurd, but the people have been talking. At this point in Lil Nas X’s career, nothing that he does can ever be done at half effort, or small. Everything needs to be absolutely over-the-top, or it just will not hit right. I mean come on, the man did like fifty remixes of his first hit single that was played on repeat for the whole world to play.
The beginning of the music video was somewhat of a comedic skit behind the fact that he (or at least Mischief, the custom design company) was sued by Nike for their demonized Air Max. Upon taking Lil Nas X to jail, he wears a pink jumpsuit with all his inmates, who seem to be getting a little close. Lil Nas X clearly has shown no shame or remorse for putting his sexuality visibly out there for the world to see, and this video is like none other. Everyone knows about the prison jokes, and dropping the soap in the shower. Well, Lil Nas X literally does a whole choreography with a dozen men in the shower, and they are all completely naked.
All of a sudden, the video changes scenes to Jack Harlow in a jail cell with one singular female. I was a little surprised at the feature from the beginning, just not something I had expected. Then to see the music video like this, I just needed to know how Jack felt about all of this. Jack definitely has a good sense of humor and is comfortable in his sexuality where he has made jokes about his relationship with DJ Druski in the past. So, when this music video came out, Jack Harlow went onto Twitter to say that if Lil Nas X had asked him to do the naked scene in the shower, he would have done the naked scene in the shower.
Lil Nas X apologized to the LGBTQ+ community for dropping the ball on this one, and says they will be preforming the song naked at the VMA’s “for charity.”
Of course this is all jokes (I think) but personally I think it is hilarious and glad they can all laugh about it. This video definitely takes the cake for biggest drop this week, but all are great contenders, including a few others that did not make the list. Sheff G and Polo G put out a new music video for their track On Go, Trippie Redd and Lil Uzi Vert released a new video for Holy Smokes, LightSkinKeisha dropped a new video for her song Blue Hunnids, and more.
Honorable mention:
Conway the Machine, Ludacris & JID Scatter Brain
Scatter Brain dropped a few weeks ago, but I just stumbled across it while pulling these videos today. Firstly, I am just obsessed with these three being on a track together. You have Ludacris, who is basically the Godfather of hip-hop, you have Conway the Machine, whose bars and stories could never be matched. Blowing up in the newer generation, but his timeline is somewhere in the middle. Then JID, the new generations (arguably) best free style rapper, with not an ounce of quit in him.
During the video, Conway sits at an office desk like he is a leader or official of some sort of office. He wears a green leather jacket with alligator skin pockets, that match his glasses and other accessories around the room. A+ to the stylist here, I cannot get over it. Luda is wearing a track jacket as well, his is black and red leather with palm tree emblems on each side. JID comes more causal, in a CAT construction hoodie, which honestly makes sense for the location of the rest of the film.
Luda and JID both spit their verses in some sort of a construction like hallway. There is also an all white room with TVs and barbed wire all throughout the scene. The beat is creepy and eery, just like this music video. Definitely has you feeling on edge, and perhaps a bit scatter brained. This will officially be added to my in rotation playlist.