Hip-Hop & Soul N°406 – 2010s Music Videos

1 . SZA – The Weekend

SZA’s “The Weekend,” tucked within her breakout album “Ctrl,” is as audacious as it is introspective.

Released in 2017, the track lives somewhere between yearning and defiance, exploring the tangled wires of nontraditional relationships with a frankness that startles and seduces.

The production, courtesy of ThankGod4Cody, blends velvety smoothness with undercurrents of melancholy—a quiet storm brewing under the surface.

SZA’s lyrics pull no punches, laying bare a narrative of emotional negotiations and raw vulnerability that feels, at times, almost voyeuristic to witness.

If there’s discomfort in her storytelling, it’s deliberate, sparking conversations about love, agency, and modern connection.

The track climbed to the 29th spot on the Billboard Hot 100, propelled by its relatability and SZA’s shimmering vocal delivery.

That success was amplified by Solange Knowles’ visually arresting music video, turning themes of fractured intimacy into a shared cultural experience.

Her live performances of the song, from intimate tours to festival stages, only amplified its resonance—proof of its emotional staying power and collective reach.

“The Weekend” didn’t just chart; it infiltrated the zeitgeist, boosted by its viral social media moment and TikTok’s insatiable appetite for snippets of lyrical realness.

More than a song, it’s a mirror reflecting the complexities of desire, availability, and self-worth in an increasingly murky emotional landscape.

Featured on the 2017 album “Ctrl”.

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

2 . Offset – Ric Flair Drip (w/ Metro Boomin)

“Ric Flair Drip” brings Offset and Metro Boomin together for a trap anthem that revels in extravagance and bravado.

The song, a standout from the 2017 album “Without Warning,” spins homage to wrestling icon Ric Flair’s flamboyant persona while dripping in opulent imagery.

Offset delivers punchy, self-assured verses over Metro Boomin’s signature eerie yet invigorating production.

The track unfolds with an infectious hook that quickly entrenched itself in the pop culture zeitgeist, making its way up to the 13th spot on the Billboard Hot 100 and earning multi-platinum accolades.

Absent of 21 Savage’s contributions, the song stands as Offset’s solitary solo moment on the project—a choice that heightens its brash clarity.

The accompanying music video, with Ric Flair himself donning luxury threads alongside Offset, visualizes the song’s swaggering ethos in high-definition indulgence.

More than a hip-hop flex, it became a viral moment, spawning social media challenges and embedding itself in playlists as a go-to for turning mundane moments into larger-than-life celebrations of confidence.

For all its high-energy posturing, “Ric Flair Drip” isn’t just loud—it’s calculated, a sharp distillation of the excess and ambition modern trap consistently chases.

Featured on the 2017 album “Without Warning”.

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

3 . Headie One – 18Hunna (w/ Dave)

Headie One’s “18Hunna,” featuring Dave, is a snapshot of the UK drill scene at its sharpest, pairing introspection with an unmistakably streetwise edge.

The track’s title is a nod to British urban slang, drawing listeners into a world of tension and ambition where resilience is not optional—it’s mandatory.

Released in 2019 under the “Music x Road” mixtape banner, its production—crafted by 169—merges ominous beats and a bassline that’s equal parts restless and hypnotic.

Dave’s contribution is pointed and deliberate, balancing a melodic hook delivery with a verse that never sidesteps rawness for polish.

The collaboration isn’t accidental; both artists operate as architects of a sound that refuses to sanitize the realities they narrate, channeling them instead into narratives that demand attention.

The music video doubles down on the song’s relentless energy, full of imagery that mirrors its themes of survival and defiance—props aren’t just props, they’re signifiers of an environment you can’t fake your way through.

While it climbed to #6 on the UK charts, “18Hunna” isn’t chasing radio-friendliness; it’s an assertion of place within a genre often critiqued yet rarely understood outside its community.

The song’s ability to both provoke and resonate lies in its contradictions: heavy but introspective, aggressive yet steeped in self-awareness.

Featured on the 2019 album “Music x Road”.

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

4 . T-Pain – 5 O’Clock (w/ Lily Allen & Wiz Khalifa)

“5 O’Clock” feels like a nocturnal voicemail set to music, with T-Pain’s trademark Auto-Tune leading the way.

Sampling Lily Allen’s melancholic “Who’d Have Known,” the song repurposes her 2009 ballad into an R&B reflection on longing and late-night vulnerability.

Lily’s vocals anchor the track with a bittersweet air, creating a juxtaposition with T-Pain’s rhythmic laments and Wiz Khalifa’s casually smoked-out verse.

The production, courtesy of T-Pain and Detail, leans heavily on minimalist beats and electronic flourishes, crafting a soundscape that’s both moody and intimate.

It’s a blend of styles—Allen’s wistful pop, T-Pain’s robotic confessions, and Khalifa’s laid-back smoothness—that could have veered into dissonance but manages to remain cohesive.

Visually, the accompanying Amsterdam-shot music video mirrors the song’s narrative, capturing dimly lit streets and pensive solitude.

While some might argue the lyrics skate close to cliché, the track’s emotional core resonates with anyone familiar with late-night introspection.

It’s not groundbreaking, but its raw honesty and smart sampling make it a standout moment in T-Pain’s catalog.

Featured on the 2011 album “Revolver”.

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

5 . Kendrick Lamar – All The Stars (w/ SZA)

“All The Stars” arrives at the crossroads where contemporary hip-hop meets Afrofuturism, a bold entry that doubles as a thematic linchpin for “Black Panther.”

Kendrick Lamar’s razor-sharp verses weave seamlessly alongside SZA’s controlled yet cathartic vocals, creating an interplay that mirrors the film’s tension between tradition and modernity.

The track oscillates between grandiosity and introspection, with its lush, atmospheric production driven by Sounwave’s layered beats and crisp rhythms under the TDE banner.

Structurally, it thrives on its ability to stitch Lamar’s grounded lyricism to SZA’s ethereal vocal arcs—melding voices and perspectives, almost as if in a tug-of-war for hope.

If the Billboard charts (peaking at #7) crowned its popularity, the accompanying visuals—brimming with meticulously crafted Afrofuturistic aesthetics—cemented its status as a cultural artifact.

Directed by Dave Meyers and Lamar’s creative collective, the video’s kaleidoscopic imagery invites viewers to reconsider traditional narratives of strength and identity within Black culture.

Contextually, the song transcends its function as a soundtrack piece, carrying the weight of the Marvel juggernaut while asserting its own standalone identity amidst the awards-season fray.

“All The Stars” doesn’t just ride the coattails of its cinematic counterpart—it parallels and amplifies its ambition, proving that music and film, when executed this cohesively, can coexist as equals in the realm of cultural storytelling.

Featured on the 2018 album “Black Panther: The Album”.

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

6 . Sway – Still Speedin’

Released in 2011 as part of his mixtape “The Delivery 2,” Sway’s “Still Speedin’” captures the unrelenting drive of a rapper sprinting toward the finish line without glancing back.

Borrowing a thunderous sample from Loleatta Holloway’s disco classic “Love Sensation” and layering elements of DJ Zinc’s pulsating drum-and-bass anthem “Ride,” the track juggles nostalgia and inventive energy in equal measure.

The production thrives on urgency, fueled by quicksilver beats and Sway’s razor-sharp bars, which merge wit with a breathless narrative driven by themes of resilience and determination.

Charting at No. 19 on the UK Singles Chart in early 2012, the song cemented itself as a key player on both radio airwaves and late-night club sets alike, bridging grime’s raw edge with a more polished, cross-genre charm.

A remix that ropes in Kano’s sharp cadence and Lupe Fiasco’s gliding flow adds an extra dimension, transforming the original into a transatlantic collaboration with global aspirations.

The music video pairs urban grit with the gleam of high-speed racing visuals, echoing the track’s relentless pace and audacious swagger.

Positioned at a crossroads between mixtape grit and chart-ready polish, “Still Speedin’” does more than just accelerate—it barrels forward, unapologetically bold in its sonic ambition.

Lyrics >> More by the same : Instagram

7 . SL – Tropical

Released in 2019 under the Virgin Records label, SL’s “Tropical” steps into the UK drill scene with an audaciously breezy vibe that sets it apart from its grittier counterparts.

Produced by Ayo Beatz and featuring on the album *Everything Good*, the track achieved a respectable peak at #24 on the UK charts, carving a sun-drenched lane in a genre often rooted in urban desolation.

The production is clean yet deceptively layered, an upbeat rhythm underscoring lyrics that juxtapose escapist fantasies with the realities left behind.

This collision of swagger and serenity amidst a backdrop of infectious hooks gives “Tropical” an edge, offering listeners a momentary getaway disguised as a drill anthem.

There’s a peculiar tension between the track’s confidence and its underlying cravings for freedom, as though SL is relaxing in the sun while glancing over his shoulder.

What’s striking is its refusal to be confined by drill’s usual tropes while maintaining affiliations with the genre’s core audience.

“Tropical” doesn’t demand an emotional connection but rather invites you to pause, chill, and lose yourself in its unapologetically carefree energy.

Whether this evolution signals a broader shift in SL’s artistry or merely an anomaly within his catalog, it poses intriguing questions about the future elasticity of drill itself.

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

8 . Snoop Dogg – Young, Wild & Free (w/ Bruno Mars)

“Young, Wild & Free” is a laid-back anthem that feels like it rolled straight off a sun-soaked Californian boardwalk.

This collaboration between Snoop Dogg, Wiz Khalifa, and Bruno Mars thrives on its easy-going defiance, encapsulating the youthful urge to shrug off responsibility in favor of fleeting pleasures.

The song’s smooth production, courtesy of The Smeezingtons, leans heavily on a looping piano riff and Tom Scott’s 1976 “Sneakin’ in the Back,” giving it a retro flavor that feels breezy and familiar.

Wiz Khalifa and Snoop Dogg trade verses with a flow as effortless as a lazy afternoon, contrasting the slick, almost sugary chorus delivered by Bruno Mars.

Lyrically, it makes no excuses for indulgence, celebrating the unfiltered highs of a carefree lifestyle.

Commercially, it hit hard, landing a #7 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 and gaining traction as a multi-platinum chart mainstay in multiple countries.

But its real cultural staying power lies in its ambiguity—whether you join its carefree rebellion or side-eye the recklessness, it still manages to charm.

The music video, speckled with scenes from the stoner comedy “Mac & Devin Go to High School,” adds a visual wink to the track’s hazy, head-in-the-clouds ethos.

Performed live at the 2012 Billboard Music Awards sans Mars, the song reaffirmed its live viability even without a full roster of collaborators.

Is it groundbreaking? Not especially.

But its ability to drape youthful folly in an irresistibly hummable pop package ensures its resonance lingers long after the buzz fades.

Featured on the 2011 album “Mac & Devin Go to High School: Soundtrack”.

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

9 . A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie – Look Back At It

“Look Back At It” stands as an unmistakable nod to nostalgia, seamlessly blending the past with contemporary hip-hop craftsmanship.

Borrowing from Michael Jackson’s “You Rock My World” and threading in melodic cues from “Remember the Time,” the track does more than merely sample—it reframes pop history through A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie’s lens.

The song leans heavily on his signature melodic rap, spinning an infectious hook that clings to listeners like an earworm long after the final beat drops.

Released in late 2018 as part of the commercially dominant “Hoodie SZN,” it secured its place on playlists worldwide, peaking at No. 27 on the Billboard Hot 100 and carving out spots on international charts, from Canada to Europe.

The accompanying video’s playful school-set narrative adds a splash of teenage fantasy, further fueling its appeal while raking in hundreds of millions of YouTube views.

Yet, beneath the glossy production and crowd-pleasing melody, the track subtly channels themes of ambition and reflection, blending pride with a yearning energy that pushes it beyond the confines of a typical radio hit.

Certified Platinum, the song doesn’t just mark a commercial high point for A Boogie; it’s an unvarnished reminder of how deeply nostalgia can resonate when skillfully reimagined for a new generation.

Featured on the 2018 album “Hoodie SZN”.

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

10 . Yungen – Bestie (w/ Yxng Bane)

Yungen’s “Bestie,” featuring Yxng Bane, arrived as a bold, thumping Afro-swing track that quickly carved its space in the UK charts, peaking at number 10 and holding steady in the Top 40 for weeks.

The song’s strength lies in its interplay between Yxng Bane’s silky hooks and Yungen’s conversational verses, which together create a flirtatious ode to infatuation that’s both cheeky and magnetic.

Released on May 5, 2017, the single bypassed the confines of album placement, standing tall as an independent summertime statement dripping with energy and lighthearted charm.

Inebriated with Diztortion’s layered production, its Afrobeat undercurrents nudge the track into party-starter territory, while the lyrics weave connection and humor that begin as playful and twist into something with just enough edge to resonate beyond surface-level fun.

Its music video—a glossy yet breezy montage peppered with sunlit scenes—fueled its virality, amassing millions of views since dropping a day before the single’s release.

This wasn’t merely a song; it was a warm-weather soundtrack, the kind that pulsed through late-night summer festival stages and UK radio alike, delivering a shared carefree ritual of sound and rhythm.

The British Phonographic Industry eventually stamped it with Platinum status, and with good reason: selling over 600,000 units and inspiring collaborations for both artists, “Bestie” served as proof that the duo could draw crowds and craft cultural moments in equal measure.

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

11 . B Young – Jumanji

B Young’s “Jumanji” arrived in early 2018 like an unannounced summer vacation: warm, breezy, and unapologetically infectious.

Released as a standalone single, it sidestepped the traditional album rollout and still managed to peak at #13 on the UK Singles Chart, holding its ground in the top 20 for weeks.

The production leans heavily into Afrobeat elements, with Sevaqk assisting B Young in crafting a beat that feels like tropical sunlight filtered through UK urbanity.

His melodic rap style and relaxed delivery proved to be a refreshing antidote to harder, more aggressive sounds dominating mainstream playlists.

The lyrics float between flirtation and self-assured cool, a subtle balancing act that resonates without overreaching.

The accompanying video complements the track: lush visuals dotted with palm trees and sultry ambiance, viewed by tens of millions since its release, though it’s less escapism and more aesthetic posturing.

Despite no major awards, the song’s success was a nod to the UK’s budding Afrobeat-inspired scene, capturing a moment when homegrown artists began syncing their roots with global trends.

It’s not revolutionary, but “Jumanji” played its part in widening the landscape of British urban pop with charm and precision.

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

12 . Skepta – Hold On

“Hold On” by Skepta straddles grime and pop in a way that might feel like a balancing act to some but comes across as calculated ambition for others.

Released on June 1, 2011, as part of his broader foray into mainstream appeal under AATW Records, this track leans heavily on motivational rhetoric, pairing determined lyrics with a crisp, anthemic beat.

While its inclusion in the 2011 album “Doin’ It Again” anchors the track in Skepta’s grime-heavy discography, it’s clear that “Hold On” is a bid for accessibility, which both broadened his fan base and invited irritation from purists clinging to their rawer expectations.

The accompanying video, adorned with sports imagery straight out of a Nike ad, spells out its aspirational intent so blatantly you half-expect a protein shake sponsorship to pop up mid-chorus.

Peaking at #31 on the UK Singles Chart, the song did its job—solid chart presence, radio spins, and live stage energy—but “job done” doesn’t always translate to timeless.

Skepta’s characteristic flow remains intact, yet its sheen of over-polished production might leave grime enthusiasts wondering if this detour was worth the lyrical pep talk.

The track fits snugly into the cultural landscape of 2011, an era already drinking deeply from the well of positivity-laden pop, but in doing so, it exchanges the grit of Tottenham streets for a treadmill workout playlist.

Whether “Hold On” motivates you to hit the gym or hit skip might depend on how deeply you value grime’s original edge versus its willingness to evolve.

Lyrics >> More by the same : Official Site