Hip-Hop & Soul N°241 – Vintage 2000s Music Videos

1 . Dr. Dre – Bad Intentions (w/ Knocturnal)

“Bad Intentions” is 2001 hip-hop cool wrapped in a veneer of swagger, with Dr. Dre and Knoc-turn’al dropping verses as smooth as the Mahogany Music production powering it.

The track leans on a sample from Eleventh Hour’s “Hollywood Hot,” bridging old-school grooves with Dre’s contemporary polish.

Its lyrics boast themes of dominance and self-assurance, matched by Dre’s signature crisp delivery and Knoc-turn’al’s laid-back flow.

The music video amplifies the song’s strut, staging it in a fictional burlesque house while lacing in cheeky visuals and a cameo from comedian Tommy Davidson.

When Dillon laid down the instrumental, nobody could have guessed it’d find its way into Jay-Z’s diss arsenal, but the beat took on a second life in “Super Ugly,” marking a flashpoint in the rapper’s feud with Nas.

Chart-wise, it made waves across the US and Europe, proving its rhythmic pull from the UK’s Top 5 to France’s SNEP.

If that weren’t enough, promotional condoms tied to the release underscored the song’s playful, no-apologies attitude.

Featured on the 2002 album “The Wash : soundtrack”.

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

2 . 2Pac – Pac’s Life (w/ T.I., Ashanti)

“Pac’s Life” threads together the voices of 2Pac, T.I., and Ashanti in a posthumous release that blends nostalgic gravitas with contemporary polish.

Borrowing its core from 2Pac’s 1996 archive, with a recycled verse from “This Life I Lead,” the track leans into themes of perseverance and a reflective embrace of mortality.

Produced by L.T. Hutton, its sound is polished yet unchallenging—a backdrop built for 2000s radio airplay rather than sonic daring.

The song hit a cultural chord, peaking on charts like *Billboard’s* Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles and topping MTV Australia’s Hip Hop Countdown, a testament to 2Pac’s enduring global draw.

The accompanying video, directed by Gobi Nejad at the Tupac Amaru Shakur Center for the Arts, drenches the visuals in somber reflection, a fitting homage to someone who straddled fame and tragedy.

A remix featuring Snoop Dogg and Chris Starr adds another texture, revitalizing the hook with Snoop’s laid-back swagger, but it feels more like a collector’s variant than a necessity.

The song’s sample of Prince’s “Pop Life” ties to its title with precision and wit, borrowing gloss from an icon without overstepping into mimicry.

“Pac’s Life” mirrors commercial intent more than artistic ambition, but its lingering appeal lies in its ability to place Tupac in conversations he never lived to join, with collaborators bridging his groundbreaking past and the evolving hip-hop moment of 2006.

Featured on the 2006 album “Pac’s Life”.

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

3 . Obie Trice – The Setup

Obie Trice’s “The Setup,” featuring Nate Dogg, emerges as a gritty narrative deeply entrenched in themes of betrayal, manipulation, and confrontation.

Released in 2003 as part of his album “Cheers,” the track thrives on Dr. Dre and Mike Elizondo’s ominous production, pairing stark beats with lyrics that mirror the disarray of fractured relationships.

Obie recounts a tense showdown, driven by betrayal from a man entwined with his casual love interest, while Nate Dogg’s smooth, cautionary chorus underscores the volatile nature of trust.

The remix, boasting verses from Jadakiss, Lloyd Banks, and Redman, magnifies the track’s central theme, blending diverse perspectives on distrust and vigilance.

Its dark narrative is visually extended in the music video, which matches the track’s unforgiving tone with stark imagery.

Though it didn’t chart high, it retains a distinctive place in Obie’s discography, thanks in part to Nate Dogg’s unmistakable vocal hook anchoring its haunting message.

Featured on the 2003 album “Cheers”.

Lyrics >> More by the same : Twitter

4 . Jibbs – Chain Hang Low

Jibbs’ “Chain Hang Low” emerges as a curious blend of playful irreverence and youthful swagger, captivating listeners with its reimagining of the nursery rhyme “Do Your Ears Hang Low?” as a hip-hop anthem.

The track leans heavily on its catchy hook, an earworm that lives somewhere between clever repurposing and outright novelty, underpinned by production that’s simple but undeniably effective.

Its success lies in how it weaponizes nostalgia, flipping a song from childhood into a tale of style, excess, and self-confidence, resonating with a generation keen on wearing their bravado as visibly as their chains.

There’s a charm, albeit divisive, in the video’s green screen antics, which transplant the listener into a faux-St. Louis neighborhood where ice cream heists and neighborhood boxing rings coexist in a cartoonish fever dream.

The remix, boasting names like Yung Joc and Lil Wayne, amplifies the swagger but doesn’t introduce much depth, reinforcing the track’s identity as lighthearted braggadocio rather than a profound artistic statement.

As a cultural artifact, the song sits comfortably on lists like Complex’s hip-hop one-hit wonders, capturing a fleeting moment in mid-2000s rap where ringtone sales and simplistic hooks could propel an artist into the spotlight.

Jibbs’ charisma holds the track together, but “Chain Hang Low” doesn’t aim for introspection or evolution—its goal is sheer auditory repetition, and in that respect, it triumphs.

Whether you view it as a clever nod to childhood or a gimmick stretched out to three minutes, its impact is hard to deny, distilling mid-2000s hip-hop into its most boiled-down form: infectious, loud, and unapologetically ostentatious.

Featured on the 2006 album “Jibbs Featuring Jibbs”.

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5 . Beyoncé – Blow

Released in 2013 as part of Beyoncé’s eponymous visual album, “Blow” merges retro-inspired R&B with modern production flourishes.

The track is co-written and produced by a lineup that includes Pharrell Williams, Timbaland, and Justin Timberlake, giving it an eclectic and polished sheen.

The song leans heavily into funk influences, with its rolling basslines and sharp guitar riffs earning comparisons to Prince and Janet Jackson’s playful sensuality.

Lyrically, “Blow” relies on double entendres and innuendo, addressing themes of intimacy and pleasure without pretense, toeing the line between coy and provocative.

Its structure divides into two distinct sections—the lush neon-toned funk of “…Blow” and the sweeter yet equally suggestive turn of “Cherry.”

Although originally considered for global single status, it found its legs in regional releases and the club scene, peaking on the US Hot Dance Club Songs chart following its remix treatments.

Visually, the track’s accompanying video, filmed in a Houston roller rink, is steeped in nostalgia, its pastel hues and carefree choreography reminiscent of ‘70s leisure culture.

Cameos by Solange Knowles and Les Twins add layers of personal and familial ties, ensuring the video feels as rooted in Beyoncé’s identity as in her aesthetics.

While often overshadowed by more anthemic cuts from the album, “Blow” remains a standout example of Beyoncé’s ability to deftly mesh retro homage with self-assured artistry.

Featured on the 2013 album “Beyoncé“.

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

6 . Chingy – Dem Jeans (w/ Jermaine Dupri)

Released in 2006, “Dem Jeans” blends Chingy’s signature Midwest drawl with Jermaine Dupri’s polished production, creating a playful ode to physical attraction anchored in hip-hop bravado.

The track thrives on hypnotic beats and a steady rhythm that feels built for nights spent under club lights, though its flirtatious lyrics straddle a fine line between charming and predictable.

Jermaine Dupri’s touch is evident not only in production but also in his feature, balancing Chingy’s laidback delivery with a more energetic interjection.

Commercially, the song failed to dominate charts like its predecessors, missing the Billboard Top 40 but finding its niche within R&B and rap-specific rankings, revealing a shift in Chingy’s audience engagement.

The accompanying music video saturates itself in mid-2000s aesthetics, complete with flashy cameos from Bun B and David Banner, further rooting the track in its moment in time.

Pop culture embraced the track modestly, with placements in shows like *CSI: Miami* and *The O.C.*, and even in Eddie Murphy’s *Norbit*, which underscored its crossover appeal without cementing it as a cultural touchstone.

“Dem Jeans” functions as a snapshot of mid-2000s club rap, highlighting both the genre’s stylistic strengths and its occasional superficiality, embodying a confident but fleeting charm.

Featured on the 2006 album “Hoodstar”.

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7 . Mos Def, Nate Dogg & Pharoah Monch – Oh No

“Oh No” smashes through the airwaves with its razor-sharp lyricism and tightly wound production.

The Rockwilder beat is dense yet exhilarating, a pulsating canvas where Mos Def and Pharoahe Monch trade bars with surgical precision.

Mos Def’s vibrant cadence and Monch’s labyrinthine rhyme schemes construct a lyrical chess match, commanding attention with every line.

Meanwhile, Nate Dogg comfortably holds court on the hook with his unmistakable smoothness, a velvet counterpoint to the song’s frenetic energy.

There’s a raw defiance embedded in the track, an unfiltered statement on resilience and agency that strikes a universal nerve.

The accompanying music video offers a stark, uncompromising visual palette, emphasizing the urgency and grit found in the lyrics.

It is unapologetic in its intensity, from its relentless beat to its layered interplay of voices.

The collaboration feels effortless yet deeply considered, as Mos Def and Monch each bring their A-game without a second wasted.

It’s a testament to skill, chemistry, and vision—a track as assertive as it is melodically engrossing.

“Oh No” never panders, opting to flex its creative muscle unapologetically, delivering a hip-hop classic without pretense.

Featured on the 2000 album “Lyricist Lounge 2”.

Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Twitter

8 . Ne-Yo – Miss Independent

Ne-Yo’s “Miss Independent” emerges as a polished nod to the self-reliant woman, layering smooth R&B production over a lyrical ode to independence and capability.

Released in 2008 on his album *Year of the Gentleman*, the track leans on a catchy melodic structure and understands its audience well without pushing boundaries musically.

The vocals strike a careful balance between admiration and restraint, steering clear of indulgence while letting Ne-Yo’s stylistic precision take the lead.

Its accompanying video sets the song in a sleek office environment, a subtle visual reinforcement of professionalism intersecting with femininity, but admittedly, it trades rawness for a kind of curated elegance.

Thematically, the track aligns with mainstream empowerment narratives, but it avoids pretension, delivering a message that’s palatable yet not groundbreaking.

While *Year of the Gentleman* had commercial heft, “Miss Independent” operates as a standout that underscores Ne-Yo’s knack for sculpting accessible yet polished R&B moments.

Featured on the 2008 album “Year of the Gentleman”.

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

9 . Blackstreet – Wizzy Wow (w/ Mystikal)

Blackstreet’s “Wizzy Wow” pairs smooth R&B with a punchy edge courtesy of Mystikal’s electric delivery, bridging early 2000s rhythms with a touch of hip-hop intensity.

Released in 2002 as part of their album “Level II,” the track rides on funky beats and playful bravado, capturing a moment when R&B flirted unashamedly with the grit of rap collaborations.

Charting modestly, the single landed at 51 on the US R&B chart and climbed slightly higher in the UK at number 37, a reflection of Blackstreet’s waning commercial dominance despite their ingenious knack for catchy grooves.

The absence of a dedicated music video leaves the song adrift in the ocean of early 2000s pop-R&B hybrids, though its availability on platforms like YouTube has given it a small cult following over the years.

While their fourth studio album “Level II” did not recreate the momentum of Blackstreet’s earlier successes, it houses tracks like “Wizzy Wow” as signposts of the group’s resistance to fading quietly.

Neither groundbreaking nor forgettable, the track carries a certain restless energy emblematic of its era—a balancing act between pulsing beats and polished harmonies that feels fleetingly ambitious.

It’s a piece whose charm hits differently depending on whether one’s nostalgia leans toward Blackstreet’s innovation or an era when hip-hop’s boldness met R&B’s softer edges halfway.

Featured on the 2003 album “Level II”.

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10 . 50 Cent – Disco Inferno

“Disco Inferno” by 50 Cent captures the mid-2000s hip-hop zeitgeist with brash confidence and a polished production sensibility.

Released as a lead-up to “The Massacre,” the track positions itself as a nightlife anthem, pairing slick beats with lyrics that flaunt affluence and street cunning in equal measure.

From its debut on the Billboard Hot 100, the song surged to a #3 peak, solidifying its impact during a competitive era for club-oriented rap.

The lyrical references to Dr. Dre and Eminem echo not only camaraderie but strategic nods to two of the genre’s most influential figures, further embedding the song within a broader cultural narrative.

The accompanying video, directed by Jessy Terrero, revels in excess, visually amplifying the themes of opulence and swagger that drive the song’s ethos.

While not aiming for innovation, the track excels in its execution—a confident stride through a world lit by diamonds and financed by hustle.

Its legacy intertwines with the commercial dominance of “The Massacre,” an album that defined early-2000s hip-hop’s braggadocious streak.

Featured on the 2005 album “The Massacre”.

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

11 . So Solid Crew – Haters

“Haters” by So Solid Crew delivers a slick UK garage anthem steeped in tension and bravado.

Released in January 2002, the track peaked at number 8 on the UK Singles Chart, confirming the group’s chart dominance following the seismic success of “21 Seconds.”

The song is a defiant confrontation of jealousy, folding gritty themes of envy into their signature soundscape of razor-sharp beats and subterranean basslines.

The percussion clinks with a metallic edge, while a throbbing bass pulses like an underground manifesto.

The lyrics simmer with a mix of rebellion and self-assurance, making plain the crew’s disdain for naysayers without straying into melodrama.

Rooted in their pirate radio beginnings, the track transitions their hard-edged energy into a near-mainstream package without losing its teeth.

The music video underscores the song’s urban defiance, pairing soaring ambition with grimy authenticity.

“Haters” encapsulates the tension between underground grit and commercial polish that defines So Solid Crew’s early 2000s trajectory.

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

Lyrics >> Review >> More by the same : Twitter

12 . Jay-Z – Change Clothes (w/ Pharrell)

“Change Clothes” by Jay-Z, featuring Pharrell Williams, pairs slick production with lyrics that exude swagger and reinvention.

As the lead single from “The Black Album,” it captures Jay-Z at a pivotal moment, straddling the line between street-hustler grit and boardroom polish.

The Neptunes’ production lends a subtle funk groove, with Pharrell’s smooth falsetto providing the hook’s melodic contrast.

The lyrics oscillate between playfulness and assertion, marking Jay-Z’s departure from conventional hip-hop aesthetics towards sharper, tailored sophistication.

The accompanying video amplifies this with high-fashion visuals, celebrity cameos, and Jay-Z’s signature flair for effortless cool.

Peaking at number 10 on the Billboard Hot 100, the track solidified its impact, not with bombast but with refined confidence.

It serves as both an anthem for reinvention and a nod to the synergy between Jay-Z’s evolving artistry and his calculated self-branding.

Featured on the 2003 album “The Black Album“.

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