50 of the Best Hip-Hop Videos of 2017
Gone are the days when a rapper's music video was the main reason you turned on your television. Luckily, YouTube and other video-streaming websites have become a dominant factor in the entertainment industry, giving fans and insiders alike the opportunity to view your favorite MC's latest visual at any time.
Hip-hop specifically has taken full advantage of these platforms, and in 2017, dozens of rap stars have gone viral off their well-crafted videos. Kendrick Lamar's cinematic "HUMBLE." visual has well over 355 million views since it was uploaded on March 30. Rising rapper Lil Pump is a short cry behind K.Dot with the video for his Billboard Top 10 banger "Gucci Gang"—the colorful Miami native walked the halls of his school with a tiger in tow, and has had nearly 233 million viewers watch him do it.
Even Virgil Abloh, creator of OFF-WHITE, has gotten into the groove. Not only did he serve as the Creative Director for Lil Uzi Vert's Luv Is Rage 2 album art, but he also directed the experimental video for his breakout single "XO Tour Llif3." The expert execution garnered the attention of heavy metal artist Marilyn Manson, who has begun working with Uzi on an LP.
Then, of course, no one can forget JAY-Z's poignant "The Story of O.J" clip starring a character named Jaybo who eats watermelon and picks cotton before meeting a sudden end; Joyner Lucas' latest innovative, thought-provoking video for "I'm Not Racist;" or A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie taking his piano skills to the ocean floor in "Drowning."
With so many hip-hop artists pushing the visual limits, XXL has compiled 50 of this year's best for your viewing pleasure. Take a look at 50 of the most popular videos from J.I.D, Tyler, The Creator and more below. And when you're done with that, head over to XXL's best songs of 2017.
"XO Tour Llif3"
Lil Uzi Vert"T-Shirt"
Migos"HUMBLE."
Kendrick Lamar"New Freezer"
Rich The Kid Featuring Kendrick Lamar"Spice Girl"
Aminé"I'm Not Racist"
Joyner Lucas"Gummy"
Brockhampton"The Story of O.J."
JAY-Z"Plain Jane"
A$AP Ferg"Rockstar"
Post Malone Featuring 21 Savage"Wyclef Jean"
Young Thug"Who Dat Boy"
Tyler, The Creator"Let Me Breathe"
Action Bronson"Ain't It Funny"
Danny Brown"Unforgettable"
French Montana Featuring Swae Lee"Wild Thoughts"
DJ Khaled Featuring Rihanna and Bryson Tiller"Drowning"
A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie"Magnolia"
Playboi Carti"1000"
N.E.R.D Featuring Future"Flipmode"
Fabolous Featuring Chris Brown and Velous"Butterfly Effect"
Travis Scott"Catch Me Outside"
Ski Mask The Slump God"We Ball"
Meek Mill Featuring Young Thug"Voodoo"
EarthGang"Black SpiderMan"
Logic Featuring Damian Lemar Hudson"Gucci Gang"
Lil Pump"Mask Off"
Future"Cute"
DRAM"Tunnel Vision"
Kodak Black"Anita (Remix)"
Smino Featuring T-Pain"Mumbo Jumbo"
Tierra Whack"Phone Jumpin"
Dave East Featuring Wiz Khalifa"Be Right Back"
Ezri"Blame the Author"
L'Orange Featuring Del The Funky Homosapien"Rake It Up"
Yo Gotti Featuring Nicki Minaj"Bank Account"
21 Savage"All Around the World"
Mura Masa Featuring Desiigner"Man's Not Hot"
Big Shaq"Consuela"
Belly Featuring Young Thug and Zack"Perplexing Pegasus"
Rae Sremmurd"Neighbors"
J. Cole"Big Fish"
Vince Staples"Vices"
Ludacris"Hereditary"
J.I.D"Pizza Shop"
IDK Featuring Yung Gleesh"Blue Cheese"
2 Chainz Featuring Migos"Moves"
Big Sean"Marmalade"
Macklemore Featuring Lil Yachty"Kill Jill"
Big Boi Featuring Killer Mike and Jeezy"People Say"
Wu-Tang Clan Featuring Redman