1 of 12
- #featuredbear
- introMore often than not, Hip-Hop music videos follow a pretty basic formula: Rapper + Girls + Cars + Money = Video. It's a blueprint that's worked for decades, however predictable these videos have become. (Ahem, MMG?) Yesterday, Childish Gambino dropped the visual for "Fire Fly," from his 2011 album, <i>Camp</i>. A sci-fi love story, Gambino appears for only 5 seconds in the video, playing himself on the protagonists laptop. This prompted the <i>XXL</i> Staff to look back at other music videos in which rappers took a step outside the box (and outside the camera lens). Whether it be an artistic choice, a posthumous video, or a video recorded during a stint in jail, it really doesn't matter. Here's 10 Great Rap Videos Without Rappers In Them.—<i>XXL Staff</i>
- Childish GambinoChildish Gambino "Fire Fly," <i>Camp</i> (2011)<object width="620" height="400"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/pHHWPTs1zxg?version=3&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/pHHWPTs1zxg?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="620" height="400" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>
- Kanye Good MorningKanye West "Good Morning," <i>Graduation</i> (2007)<object width="620" height="400"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/6CHs4x2uqcQ?version=3&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/6CHs4x2uqcQ?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="620" height="400" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>
- Max BMax B "Money Make Me Feel Better," <i>Vigilante Season</i> (2011)<object width="620" height="400"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/5HzI2MRint8?version=3&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/5HzI2MRint8?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="620" height="400" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>
- Jay-Z I KnowJay-Z featuring Pharell "I Know," <i>American Gangster</i> (2008)<object width="620" height="400"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/v8Up-BfOCKg?version=3&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/v8Up-BfOCKg?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="620" height="400" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>
- Beastie BoysBeastie Boys "Don't Play No Game That I Can't Win," <i>Hot Sauce Committee, Pt. 2</i> (2011)<object width="620" height="400"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/w-QIiVS_7Hs?version=3&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/w-QIiVS_7Hs?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="620" height="400" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>
- No Church In The WildJay-Z & Kanye West "No Church In The Wild," <i>Watch The Throne</i> (2011)<object width="620" height="400"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/FJt7gNi3Nr4?version=3&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/FJt7gNi3Nr4?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="620" height="400" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>
- Sky's the limitThe Notorious B.I.G "Sky's The Limit," <i>Life After Death</i> (2010)<object width="620" height="400"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ktDeFS8KZPs?version=3&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ktDeFS8KZPs?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="620" height="400" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>
- ChukkasGilbere Forte "Black Chukkas," <i>87 Dreams</i> (2010)<object width="620" height="400"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/iBIcHSO4cxQ?version=3&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/iBIcHSO4cxQ?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="620" height="400" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>
- Slick Rick Behind BarsSlick Rick "Behind Bars," <i>Behind Bars</i> (1994)<object width="620" height="400"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/AVRv1dA5Byc?version=3&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/AVRv1dA5Byc?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="620" height="400" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>
- house of flying daggersRaekwon featuring Inspectah Deck, GZA, Ghostface Killah, & Method Man "House of Flying Dragons," <i>Only Built 4 Cuban Linx Pt. II</i> (2009)<object width="620" height="400"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/8zG991SknA8?version=3&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/8zG991SknA8?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="620" height="400" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>
