What makes a music video stand out nowadays?

silence · Post by **silence** » Sun Mar 06, 2011 9:15 pm

I was just thinking about how hip-hop music videos have changed over the years and how access to technology makes it easier than ever to make a video.

But so many videos have been done, so what makes em stand out now?

Also wondering what classic and current music videos are favorites and why

Thun · Post by **Thun** » Sun Mar 06, 2011 9:32 pm

Most videos I see now are half-assed commercials for mixtapes by goofy blog rapper darlings. They usually consist of said shmuck wandering around some completely uninteresting place, sometimes as mundane as a strip mall or a very average street in whatever lame mid-sized city they hail from, looking lost and stupid as he recites his cookie-cutter raps and smiles awkwardly at his own inevitable fate as a retail clerk. Occasionally a fifth rate hoe in fraying gear will be on hand for the line where the rapper makes some sort of claim of "wifing up a dime" or some equally inane sentiment. None of them stand out because they are just hack montages made by hack directors to support hack artists.

Not sure what the super pop stars do in their videos now that the music industry is in a recession but if I had to guess I'd say it's just a lower-budgeted version of the same fagfests that played on BET from 2001-2007.

Let's seen anyone make a video half as good as this anytime soon:

<object width="480" height="390"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Odq2Mvvw6XA?fs ... ram><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Odq2Mvvw6XA?fs ... n_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="390"></embed></object>

sean · Post by **sean** » Sun Mar 06, 2011 10:13 pm

Thun wrote:Let's seen anyone make a video half as good as this anytime soon:

<object width="480" height="390"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Odq2Mvvw6XA?fs ... ram><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Odq2Mvvw6XA?fs ... n_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="390"></embed></object>

EMCEE DARTH MALEK · Post by **EMCEE DARTH MALEK** » Sun Mar 06, 2011 11:42 pm

Videos that have stood out to me include:

patience by nas & damian marley. cause of the photo effects purely. It really looks like nothing else (except the power video).

last year the single off marco polo & rustee juxx album "nobody." They're in... i think it was mtl? They do a bunch of low budget special effects, but it's just the straight up violent attitude that gave this video such an impact. Rustee juxx just gets in your face and forces you to pay attention.

last yr also j cole's video to "who dat." It's pieced together so it looks like on continuous shot. also has some explosions in it.

Gyangsta 4 Life · Post by **Gyangsta 4 Life** » Mon Mar 07, 2011 1:05 am

sean · Post by **sean** » Mon Mar 07, 2011 1:11 am

that homeboy sandman vid was pretty fresh.

Ramen · Post by **Ramen** » Mon Mar 07, 2011 1:28 am

Blockhead · Post by **Blockhead** » Mon Mar 07, 2011 1:39 am

That scarface video is great. Always reminded me of this:
<object width="425" height="349"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/70CiC_BV0TE?fs ... ram><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/70CiC_BV0TE?fs ... n_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="349"></embed></object>

Kalel · Post by **Kalel** » Mon Mar 07, 2011 1:48 am

Blockhead wrote:That scarface video is great. Always reminded me of this:
<object width="425" height="349"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/70CiC_BV0TE?fs ... ram><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/70CiC_BV0TE?fs ... n_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="349"></embed></object>

There's been a number of rap videos like this. Sorta that "day in the life" kinda formula.

Wasn't there a Diplomats video like that?

Ramen · Post by **Ramen** » Mon Mar 07, 2011 1:52 am

^Santana's Town

sean · Post by **sean** » Mon Mar 07, 2011 1:59 am

Ramen wrote:I still wonder to this day if Sean was able to kick that parking meter down.

that's not me.

silence · Post by **silence** » Mon Mar 07, 2011 3:49 am

Blockhead wrote:That scarface video is great. Always reminded me of this:
<object width="425" height="349"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/70CiC_BV0TE?fs ... ram><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/70CiC_BV0TE?fs ... n_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="349"></embed></object>

always loved this video

gotta shout out the homie cadalak's video from a few years back

<object width="480" height="390"><param name="movie" value="https://www.youtube.com/v/xQwUMXQX-xE?f ... ram><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="https://www.youtube.com/v/xQwUMXQX-xE?f ... n_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="390"></embed></object>

battlecatmeowstab212 · Mon Mar 07, 2011 4:20 am

Kalel wrote:
Blockhead wrote:That scarface video is great. Always reminded me of this:
<object width="425" height="349"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/70CiC_BV0TE?fs ... ram><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/70CiC_BV0TE?fs ... n_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="349"></embed></object>
There's been a number of rap videos like this. Sorta that "day in the life" kinda formula.

The one-continuous shot-style rap video?

I actually compiled a complete (At the time) list of them last May:
http://popularopinions.wordpress.com/20 ... 7/onetake/

Moolah · Post by **Moolah** » Mon Mar 07, 2011 4:35 am

sleazy_j · Post by **sleazy_j** » Mon Mar 07, 2011 5:03 am

silence · Post by **silence** » Mon Mar 07, 2011 5:18 am

battlecatmeowstab212 wrote:
Kalel wrote:
Blockhead wrote:That scarface video is great. Always reminded me of this:
<object width="425" height="349"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/70CiC_BV0TE?fs ... ram><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/70CiC_BV0TE?fs ... n_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="349"></embed></object>
There's been a number of rap videos like this. Sorta that "day in the life" kinda formula.

The one-continuous shot-style rap video?

I actually compiled a complete (At the time) list of them last May:
http://popularopinions.wordpress.com/20 ... 7/onetake/

Gregg Popabitch · Post by **Gregg Popabitch** » Mon Mar 07, 2011 9:45 am

clearly you need kanye west in the video or no one will care right now

drizzle · Post by **drizzle** » Mon Mar 07, 2011 12:07 pm

motion family and creative control make pretty good stuff these days

Wicked · Post by **Wicked** » Mon Mar 07, 2011 12:54 pm

Why does a video need to stand out? For me, if I like the song I will watch the video and if I watch a video that has a good song, then I will seek out that song. The actual video has nothing to do with me liking a song or not.

The Afronaut · Post by **The Afronaut** » Mon Mar 07, 2011 12:58 pm

I know its beat into the ground lately but that Tyler "Yonkers" video was probably the most interesting video I've seen in a good while.

silence · Post by **silence** » Mon Mar 07, 2011 1:48 pm

Wicked wrote:Why does a video need to stand out? For me, if I like the song I will watch the video and if I watch a video that has a good song, then I will seek out that song. The actual video has nothing to do with me liking a song or not.

Im askin because filmmaking is a whole different art form Jan making a song. Therefore, it deserves it's own attention.

I'm not asking if the video makes the song, I'm asking what makes a good video.

I had never seen that scarface video btw. Dope video.

djjeffresh · Post by **djjeffresh** » Mon Mar 07, 2011 2:04 pm

The Afronaut wrote:I know its beat into the ground lately but that Tyler "Yonkers" video was probably the most interesting video I've seen in a good while.

i agree. the question is what is it that makes the yonkers video unique?

djjeffresh · Post by **djjeffresh** » Mon Mar 07, 2011 2:22 pm

http://www.mtvu.com/music/video-premier ... -for-show/

jukeboxvandal · Post by **jukeboxvandal** » Mon Mar 07, 2011 3:07 pm

with shit being so easy to make these days you either gotta have some kinda artsy visionary making your shit:

<object width="640" height="390"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Xb1PInruc5I?fs ... ram><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Xb1PInruc5I?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="390"></embed></object>

or go on a vacation to get an interesting back ground:

<object width="640" height="390"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ORvjzQ0OFDU?fs ... ram><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ORvjzQ0OFDU?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="390"></embed></object>

or edit quickly between a buncha hd shots of random shit yo satiate my a.d.d:

<object width="640" height="390"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/KzhZT1PhXPo?fs ... ram><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/KzhZT1PhXPo?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="390"></embed></object>

Dap · Post by **Dap** » Mon Mar 07, 2011 3:19 pm

as long as its in HD with some sort of cool film effects (creative control)

its straight with me

ackbar · Post by **ackbar** » Mon Mar 07, 2011 3:34 pm

PROMETHAZINE AS TOOTHPASTE

<object width="640" height="390"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/K-h_1t7PtMU?fs ... ram><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/K-h_1t7PtMU?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="390"></embed></object>

The Afronaut · Post by **The Afronaut** » Mon Mar 07, 2011 4:15 pm

djjeffresh wrote:i agree. the question is what is it that makes the yonkers video unique?

Guess I cant really speak on its "uniqueness" per se. Its not like that type of thing has never been done, but I enjoyed it due to the way it was shot, the imagery used and the fact that it was kinda subtle in its overall appearance.

battlecatmeowstab212 · Mon Mar 07, 2011 10:37 pm

silence wrote:
Wicked wrote:Why does a video need to stand out? For me, if I like the song I will watch the video and if I watch a video that has a good song, then I will seek out that song. The actual video has nothing to do with me liking a song or not.
Im askin because filmmaking is a whole different art form Jan making a song. Therefore, it deserves it's own attention.

I'm not asking if the video makes the song, I'm asking what makes a good video.

I had never seen that scarface video btw. Dope video.

To me, for any video regardless of when, the strongest have always been the ones that play to the character strengths of the rapper themselves.

Look up a video director named Mark Klasfeld, he is a master of this. He knows how to capture an artist in their element and either emphasize what makes them different within certain video conventions to make them stand-out or (as with the Scarface video above) do high-concept works that are appropriate so as make an artistic achievement for all the artists involved.

No homo · Post by **No homo** » Mon Mar 07, 2011 11:30 pm

zombie · Post by **zombie** » Mon Mar 07, 2011 11:56 pm