Hip-Hop & Soul N°106 – Vintage 2000s Music Videos

1 . Pharrell Williams – Angel

Pharrell Williams’ “Angel” lands snugly between flirtatious charm and pop minimalism, serving as the second European single from his debut album, *In My Mind.*

Backed by BBC Radio 1’s enthusiastic support, including DJ Scott Mills crowning it as Record of the Week, the track enjoyed a brief but notable run on the UK airwaves, peaking at #15 on the UK Singles Chart and climbing to #3 on the UK Hip Hop/R&B Chart.

Swerving the U.S. and Australian markets due to lackluster response to its predecessor, “Can I Have It Like That,” the single still managed to secure respectable chart spots across Europe, like #9 in Denmark and #20 in Ireland.

The song’s playful R&B-pop energy is heightened by Pharrell’s signature falsetto, which hovers effortlessly above the track’s lean production, a sonic hallmark of his style during the mid-2000s.

Meanwhile, the music video saga—a shelved animated/live-action hybrid contrasted by its Hype Williams-directed, fashion-forward successor—embodied the duality of simplicity versus spectacle in promotional aesthetics back then.

“Angel” encapsulates Pharrell’s knack for balancing experimental slickness with radio-ready hooks, even if the track feels less epoch-defining and more as a comfortably consistent entry in his repertoire.

Featured on the 2006 album “In My Mind”.

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2 . The Notorious B.I.G. – Notorious B.I.G. (w/ Lil’ Kim & Puff Daddy)

Cloaked in ’90s bravado, “Notorious B.I.G.” is a swagger-filled time capsule that pairs The Notorious B.I.G.’s unmatched charisma with the supporting flair of Lil’ Kim and Puff Daddy.

Crafted atop a sample of Duran Duran’s hit “Notorious,” the track pays homage to its namesake while injecting a pulsating funk rap energy distinctly tied to Biggie’s legacy.

His verse, drenched in wit and confidence, paints a scene of convalescence colored by flirtatious hospital antics, a curious blend of humor and machismo.

Meanwhile, Lil’ Kim and Puff Daddy bring their own verses to the table, though their contributions feel like disconnected puzzle pieces in this otherwise slick production.

Released posthumously as part of the “Born Again” album, the track resonated strongly enough to climb to number 16 on the UK Singles Chart in a testament to Biggie’s enduring appeal.

The accompanying music video weaves performance shots with archival footage, a bittersweet reminder of Biggie’s absence paired with a celebration of his larger-than-life presence.

The production, spearheaded by Sean Combs under the Bad Boy Records banner, reinforces Biggie’s ethos of self-assured ambition, with every beat exuding his signature blend of grit and glamour.

While the song’s format releases—spanning 12-inch singles, remix versions, and CDs—provide variety, the core track stands as a bittersweet footnote to the Notorious B.I.G.’s still-reverberating legacy.

Featured on the 1999 album “Born Again”.

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3 . Baha Men – Who Let The Dogs Out

“Who Let the Dogs Out” by Baha Men is a curious hybrid of cultural appropriation, catchy production, and a chaotic backstory.

The track begins with a strutting, carnival-like energy, drawing from Bahamian junkanoo rhythms that disguise its tangled origins.

The now-famous chorus, conceived as a radio jingle in 1996, morphed into a single by Anslem Douglas, whose intent was reportedly feminist, though this message became muddied in the pop recalibration.

Baha Men’s 2000 rendition repackages the tune for mass appeal, forsaking much of its intended nuance in favor of infectious repetition and a boisterous spirit.

This version thrives on its absurdity, featuring barking samples and a relentless beat, yet offers little lyrical substance beyond its rallying cry—a gimmick masquerading as profundity.

The track, propelled by its appearance in family flick “Rugrats in Paris: The Movie,” peaked at #40 on the Billboard charts yet achieved outsized cultural clout as a party anthem.

Its popularity also has roots in a bizarrely specific 1986 high school sports chant, a tidbit highlighted in a 2019 documentary that unpacks how chaotic its trajectory truly is.

While undeniably entertaining, the song straddles the line between cultural phenomenon and novelty, cementing its place in the canon of ridiculous yet irresistible hits.

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4 . Q-Tip – Breathe And Stop

“Breathe and Stop,” a standout from Q-Tip’s debut album “Amplified,” teems with kinetic energy and slick production, courtesy of Jay Dee, known later as J Dilla.

The track leans heavily into late-’90s hip-hop aesthetics: sharp percussion, smooth basslines, and a melody that feels like it’s perpetually teasing the edge of funk and rap.

Q-Tip shifts seamlessly between laid-back charm and commanding presence, riding the groove with a cadence that feels as effortless as it is deliberate.

Its lyrics revolve around rhythm and physicality, urging listeners to let loose and embrace the pulse of the moment without being overtly didactic or clichéd.

The accompanying music video ramps up the quirk factor, with offbeat wardrobe choices punctuating Q-Tip’s swagger as he moves alongside a kaleidoscope of dancers.

Commercially, its impact was undeniable overseas, scaling the UK Dance charts to number one, while remaining more modest stateside—possibly a reflection of shifting trends in U.S. hip-hop at the time.

Yet, its legacy feels amplified decades later, cemented by its 2023 reinvention in “Rhyme Dust,” a house track that breathes new life into its groove without undermining the original’s charm.

The track operates as a bridge between eras, capturing the turn of the millennium’s musical ethos while managing to remain prescient in its adaptability.

Featured on the 1999 album “Amplified”.

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5 . Kelis – Milkshake

“Milkshake” by Kelis, a track from her 2003 album “Tasty,” firmly plants itself in the cultural zeitgeist with its lascivious charm and undeniable groove.

Crafted by Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo of The Neptunes, the production leans heavily on its deliberate, low-end pulse, complemented by Kelis’ sultry vocal delivery that oscillates between coy and commanding.

The metaphor of the “milkshake” operates as a thinly veiled euphemism, sparking conversation and controversy alike, particularly with its now-iconic chorus.

This blend of R&B and pop sensibilities ensures its catchiness while maintaining an edge that appealed to audiences globally, charting in the top ten across multiple countries, including a #3 spot on the Billboard Hot 100.

The accompanying music video, directed by Jake Nava, unfolds in a diner that oozes retro Americana, where Kelis navigates a world of suggestive glances and glossy milkshake glasses, amplifying the track’s cheeky energy.

For all its simplicity, the song’s production proves deceptively intricate, marking it as a defining moment of early 2000s pop culture.

Its Grammy nod for Best Urban/Alternative Performance speaks less to innovation and more to its zeitgeisty audacity, further cementing its legacy as both a celebration and critique of pop’s flirtation with provocation.

Featured on the 2003 album “Tasty”.

Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Official Site

6 . Jaimeson & Angel Blu – Take Control

“Take Control,” a 2004 single by Jaimeson featuring Angel Blu, spins a mix of UK garage and R&B while unapologetically staying true to its early 2000s roots.

Jaimeson, the British producer and MC behind the track, crafts a sound that’s sharp and rhythmic, with Angel Blu’s velvety vocals elevating the track’s smooth allure.

The song came from Jaimeson’s debut album *Think on Your Feet*, adding another notch in his belt following his earlier hit “True.”

Charting at No. 16 on the UK Singles Chart, it reflects a brief but notable moment when UK garage flirted with mainstream appeal—though it never quite broke free from its niche essence outside Britain’s borders.

Musically, the song offers a clean production style: tightly knit beats meet a palpably urban vibe, all wrapped in a polished veneer that doesn’t feel overly produced.

Its accompanying video mirrors this aesthetic, leaning heavily on scenes of empowerment while immersing itself in urban landscapes.

Though Jaimeson appeared in a 2004 BBC Three documentary, “Tower Block Dreams,” his relevance in pop memory remains peripheral, tethered by tracks like these that capture a specific era without necessarily pushing beyond it.

“Take Control” is a snapshot of a genre vying for the big leagues but happiest when played at crowded UK clubs, just under dim lights.

Featured on the 2004 album “Think On Your Feet”.

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7 . 2Pac – Ghetto Gospel

Released posthumously in 2005, 2Pac’s “Ghetto Gospel” finds a poignant balance between grit and grace, blending hip-hop with a gospel-inspired undertone.

The production, helmed by Eminem, pulls in a sample from Elton John’s “Indian Sunset,” lending the track an unexpectedly soulful edge that amplifies its emotional depth.

Originally recorded in 1992, the song extracts themes of social struggle and inner redemption, offering sharp commentary on systemic issues that remain all too relevant today.

The track’s chart success, peaking at No. 1 in the UK, speaks to its ability to resonate across audiences, with its layered textures merging urban despair with melodic reprieve.

The accompanying music video, directed by Nzingha Stewart, tells a grim narrative of a man’s final day, weaving in themes of tragedy and morality while concluding with a heartfelt message from Afeni Shakur.

The Elton John sample serves as both an emblem of its cross-genre appeal and a nod to 2Pac’s versatility as an artist with a vision that often transcended conventional hip-hop boundaries.

Featured on the 2004 album “Loyal to the Game”.

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8 . Mary J. Blige – Be Without You

Mary J. Blige’s “Be Without You” radiates as a modern R&B landmark from her seventh studio album, *The Breakthrough*, released in 2005.

Composed by a collaborative effort, featuring Johntá Austin and Bryan-Michael Cox among its architects, the track’s cinematic depth intertwines contemporary R&B with hip hop soul.

Its tempo lingers around a steady 73 beats per minute, a perfect vehicle for Blige’s emotionally charged delivery in the key of D minor.

Thematically, the song captures the unwavering longing of a relationship, steeped in commitment and vulnerability, without drowning in sentimentality.

The music video, helmed by Matthew Rolston and starring Terrence Howard, offers a dramatic mosaic of love and tension, filmed across Los Angeles and New York City.

It didn’t just stop at awards; it netted accolades such as Video of the Year at the BET Awards and Outstanding Music Video at the NAACP Image Awards, making it an audio-visual triumph.

Certified double platinum and tearing through airwaves in 2006, its cultural foothold remained undeniably potent, cementing Blige’s impression within a genre that often tiptoes around authenticity.

Featured on the 2005 album “The Breakthrough“.

Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Official Site

9 . Akon – Beautiful (w/ Colby O’Donis, Kardinal Offishall)

“Beautiful” by Akon, featuring Colby O’Donis and Kardinal Offishall, is a glossy slice of late-2000s pop escapism wrapped in sun-drenched production and relentless optimism.

The track leans heavily on Akon’s signature nasal croon, offering a melodic hook that’s undeniably infectious, even if it feels polished to the point of predictability.

Colby O’Donis’ velvety vocals slide in effortlessly, while Kardinal Offishall injects a bit of urgency, though his verse feels more like a quick burst of energy than a fully-formed contribution.

The lyrics, a saccharine ode to physical allure, oscillate between heartfelt and just short of vapid, but the buoyant production carries the message along without too much scrutiny.

Chart-wise, it made respectable dents internationally, hitting number 8 in the UK and 19 in the US, though one suspects its enduring appeal lies more in nostalgic playlists than any groundbreaking innovation.

The video, drenched in bright visuals and global aesthetics, serves as a smorgasbord of cultural beauty standards, occasionally flirting with superficiality but staying consistent with the song’s theme.

Its multilingual remixes featuring artists like Brazil’s Negra Li and Mexico’s Dulce María suggest a calculated bid for cross-market traction, but credit where it’s due—it worked.

“Beautiful” doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it rolls smoothly, delivering precisely the mid-2000s confection listeners were hungry for.

Featured on the 2008 album “Freedom “.

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10 . Kanye West – Gold Digger (w/ Jamie Foxx)

“Gold Digger” is a tongue-in-cheek anthem that brings Kanye West’s knack for sharp social commentary to the forefront, pairing it with Jamie Foxx’s infectious Ray Charles-inspired hook.

Originally written for Shawnna, the song evolved into one of Kanye’s most iconic tracks, complete with a thumping beat and irresistible funk undercurrent.

The Ray Charles sample isn’t just a clever nod; it anchors the track with historical depth, though its most memorable moments come from Kanye’s incisive lyrics skewering transactional relationships with sly humor.

The balance of wit and swagger struck a chord in 2005, landing it at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 for an impressive ten-week streak and securing its place as a global hit.

The video, drenched in vintage pin-up aesthetics, feels cheeky and stylized, mirroring the song’s playful critique of materialism.

While deeply catchy, the track also sparked broader conversations about gender dynamics in pop culture, cementing Kanye’s ability to blend entertainment with provocation.

Featured on the 2005 album “Late Registration“.

Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Official Site

11 . So Solid Crew – They Don’t Know

Released in late 2001, “They Don’t Know” by So Solid Crew bursts with the UK garage sound that defined an era, pulling listeners into a shadowy, fast-paced urban narrative.

The track rides on a moody beat, laced with moments of paranoid defiance, as key members like Megaman, Lisa Maffia, Romeo, and Harvey each carve out their space.

The song’s hook lingers—sharp enough to remain lodged in your head, brooding enough to convey the weight of inner-city life.

Its music video is a visual reflection of the group’s unpolished persona, showcasing gritty backdrops that complement the raw energy of the track.

Charting at Number 3, its success was no accident but rather part of a streak cementing So Solid Crew’s influence, following the infamous chart-topping “21 Seconds.”

Though “They Don’t Know” never quite reached the grandiosity of its predecessor, the track solidified a narrative of UK garage evolving into grime—a sound that bristled with ambition and resistance.

At nearly its core lies a contradiction: a crew known for collaboration singing about isolation against a backdrop of communal beats.

Yet this tension is precisely what makes it memorable, a piece of 2001’s sonic fabric that paved the way for sharper iterations of the genre.

Featured on the 2001 album “They Don’t Know “.

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12 . Black Eyed Peas – Shut Up

“Shut Up” by the Black Eyed Peas is a melodramatic spectacle of romance hitting a dead end, wrapped in an infectious rhythm that’s unmistakably early-2000s pop-rap.

Released in 2003 on their breakout album *Elephunk*, this track serves as a playful yet chaotic anthem of miscommunication, centered around a repetitive chorus that’s both comically simplistic and undeniably sticky: “Shut up, just shut up, shut up.”

Beneath its sing-along hooks lies a narrative of bickering lovers, trading accusations over a punchy beat, with Fergie asserting her voice for the first time as a prominent feature of the band’s evolving sound.

Critics may snicker at its melodrama, but the track’s global impact speaks louder than its unsubtle title—chart domination across Europe and Australasia cemented it as one of the group’s international calling cards.

The video, with its opera-themed chaos set in a courtroom, feels like the early aughts’ aesthetic on steroids: slightly absurd, unapologetically theatrical, and a bit cringeworthy in hindsight.

Guest appearances from the likes of Travis Barker add a pinch of punk grit to an otherwise glossy endeavor, but it never loses its commitment to playful absurdity.

There’s an air of silliness here—intentional or not—that makes the song campy rather than profound, but it works precisely because it doesn’t take itself too seriously.

If pop music is about moments as much as melodies, “Shut Up” encapsulates the carefree bravado of the Black Eyed Peas’ *Elephunk* era—and that’s part of why we still remember it, for better or worse.

Featured on the 2003 album “Elephunk“.

Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Official Site