Hip-Hop & Soul N°411 – 2010s Music Videos

Migos, Aj Tracey, Rae Sremmurd, R. Kelly, Dave & J Hus, Ne-Yo, Drake, Pitbull, Kid Ink, Flo Rida, D-Block Europe, Akon

They are the performers of twelve hip-hop, soul, etc. tracks that ranked in various charts, this week (07/52) BUT … in the Tens 2010s.

Here, they are reunited in one glorious playlist. Enjoy!

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Tracklist

1 . Migos – Walk It Talk It

The music video is directed by Daps and Quavo.
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“Walk It Talk It” by Migos, featuring Drake, is a melodic exercise in repetition that showcases the trio’s knack for catchy hooks and rhythmic cohesion while never stepping too far out of their established comfort zone.

As part of their 2018 album “Culture II,” the song leans heavily on the hypnotic production of OG Parker and Deko, whose minimal beat—built around a looping synth and skeletal drums—keeps things sparse but undeniably effective.

Debuting at number 18 on the *Billboard Hot 100* and peaking at number 10, the track demonstrates Migos’ ability to craft chart-friendly material, even if its sonic ambitions remain modest compared to larger hits like “Stir Fry.”

The addition of Drake provides a commercial boost and lyrical contrast, but his input feels more procedural than inspired, as if he’s phoning in a guest appearance to tick off another high-profile collaboration.

The music video, directed by Daps and Quavo, opts for humor and nostalgia by riffing on the classic *Soul Train* aesthetic, complete with Jamie Foxx portraying a host named Ron Delirious, an homage that toes the line between parody and tribute.

Its deliberately grainy, 480p YouTube visual quality complements the retro theme, though the throwback feels more like a gimmick than a fully realized concept.

Certifications aside (6× Platinum in the U.S. and multi-platinum status globally), the lawsuit from rapper M.O.S. over similarities to his 2007 track “Walk It Like I Talk It” adds an ironic subplot to the song’s widespread success, given Migos’ reputation for innovation within trap music.

Incorporated into Britney Spears’ “Piece of Me Tour” to spice up “I’m a Slave 4 U,” the track’s malleability within pop environments hints at its broader appeal, even as one can’t help but question whether its repetition overshadows its substance.


Featured on the 2018 album “Culture II”.

Lyrics >> More by the same : Official Site

2 . Aj Tracey – Ladbroke Grove (w/ Drake)

The music video is directed by Hamish Stephenson & AJ Tracey.
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“Ladbroke Grove” by AJ Tracey delivers a bold homage to the rapper’s roots while blending contemporary UK hip-hop with nostalgic garage influences. Anchored in London pride, the title itself is a nod to Tracey’s birthplace, and the track’s success on the charts underscores its mass appeal.

Released as part of his 2019 self-titled debut album, “Ladbroke Grove” stands out not only for its catchy beat but for its strategic simplicity. Unlike the denser grime staples, it opts for a more polished production that catapulted it to number three on the UK Singles Chart while reigning supreme on both the Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart and the Official Independent Singles Chart.

While the song’s platinum certification by the BPI and its 59-week run in the UK Singles Chart’s Top 100 speak to its resonance with listeners, its longevity—140 weeks on the Official Independent Singles Chart—is where the real story unfolds. In a crowded musical landscape, it’s an achievement that quietly contrasts its modest lyrical ambitions.

“Ladbroke Grove” takes inspiration from Tracey’s grime foundations but distances itself through its garage undertones, giving the track a breezy accessibility. Yet, deeper resonance is arguably missing; one wonders if its appeal leans more on its rubbery nostalgia than its lyrical heft. Even the 2020 BRIT Award nomination for Best Single feels like a nod to its cultural moment rather than its inherent innovation.

There’s undeniable craft here; its hooks glide smoothly, and its hybridization of genres feels intentional. Yet, for all its accolades, the question lingers: does the track assert itself as a staple in hip-hop, or does it only skim the surface of its potential? “Ladbroke Grove” is a charming ride, but it doesn’t always spark a desire to stay in the passenger’s seat for long.


Featured on the 2019 album “AJ Tracey”.

Lyrics >> More by the same : Instagram

3 . Rae Sremmurd – No Type

The music video is directed by Max Hliva.
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“No Type” captures Rae Sremmurd’s distinct brand of braggadocio, layering slick production over declarative, no-frills lyricism.

Mike Will Made It’s minimalistic beat anchors the track, its lethargic synths and punctuated hi-hats providing a hypnotic canvas for the duo’s vocal interplay. Swae Lee’s additional production input ensures an extra shimmer to the sound, with subtle flourishes rounding out the composition.

The lyrics, penned by Aaquil Brown, Khalif Brown, and Michael Williams II, oscillate between playful irreverence and unabashed self-assurance. Lines like “I ain’t got no type” underscore a deliberate paradox: a mantra of non-conformity dressed in the aesthetics of excess. The simplicity of the writing is both its strength and its limitation, toeing the line between catchy and perfunctory.

Commercially, the song’s resonance is undeniable. Peaking at number 16 on the US *Billboard* Hot 100, alongside top-three positions on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop and Hot Rap Songs charts, “No Type” asserts itself as a cultural pulse point. Its international performance, though less pronounced—such as number 51 in Canada and number 93 in the UK—still signals its broad appeal.

The accompanying music video, directed by Max, leans into sun-drenched visuals and casual indulgence, mirroring the song’s mood. With 900 million YouTube views as of May 2024, its reach defies temporal limits, further amplified by placements in *Black-ish* and *American Honey*.

Certified 6× Platinum in the US, with additional accolades in Australia, Brazil, Germany, and the UK, “No Type” cements Rae Sremmurd’s commercial viability. Yet, its artistic depth is more debatable, functioning more as a mood piece than a nuanced statement. It’s archetypal Rae Sremmurd: bold, brash, and unfailingly straightforward.


Featured on the 2014 album “SremmLife”.

Lyrics >> More by the same : Official Site

4 . R. Kelly – Ignition

The music video is directed by Bille Woodruff.
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“Ignition (Remix)” finds R. Kelly in a self-created universe where metaphors stretch the boundaries of coherence but remain undeniably infectious.

Revamped from an older track buried in Kelly’s computer, the song transforms mundane nightlife tropes into a parade of irresistible hooks, particularly the absurdly memorable “toot toot, beep beep” refrain.

This isn’t poetry, but it’s something more primal: a distilled party anthem that thrives on its carefree absurdity.

Serving as the lead single for the *Chocolate Factory* album—originally titled *Loveland* before an album leak derailed its trajectory—the track is less a reinvention of R&B than a sugary after-hours concoction fortified with Auto-Tuned swagger.

While the original version of “Ignition” quietly surfaced on urban contemporary radio, it’s the remix that sparked its ascent, sharing only remnants of the initial instrumental as evidence of its lineage.

Its five-week stranglehold at number two on the *Billboard* Hot 100 underscores its cultural ubiquity in 2003, but missing the top spot might feel oddly fitting for a track so gloriously unserious.

Europe, by contrast, drank it straight without a chaser—four weeks atop the UK Singles Chart and similar accolades in Australia, Ireland, and New Zealand cement its international resonance.

R. Kelly himself, by this point a veteran of pop-R&B alchemy, delivered yet another chart staple that functions more as a vibe than a fully formed narrative.

Its reign on both the *UK Official Singles Chart* and the *UK Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart* further underscores its cross-market appeal but doesn’t mask its reliance on surface over depth.

Stripped of pretense, “Ignition (Remix)” thrives as a guilty pleasure—less a testament to Kelly’s storied career than a timestamp of early-2000s pop recklessness, where absurd metaphors and sticky melodies proved enough. B+


Featured on the 2002 album “Chocolate Factory”.

Lyrics >> More by the same : Official Site

5 . Dave & J Hus – Samantha

The music video is directed by Director LX.
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“Samantha” is a mid-tempo clash of styles that places Dave’s calculated bars alongside J Hus’ melodic swagger, creating a track that feels conversational yet intricately assembled.

The production by Jae5 leans into clean, minimalist percussion and warm, cascading synths, offering a subtle backdrop that lets the vocals breathe without feeling sparse. This sonic restraint amplifies the interplay between the two artists, who trade the hook effortlessly, as if the track were an exercise in balance rather than dominance.

Dave’s sharp lyricism cuts through with precision, offering a grounded counterpoint to J Hus’ looser, buoyant cadence. There’s a natural chemistry here, though not without its moments of unevenness. Some transitions between verses feel abrupt, and J Hus’ hooks, while catchy, can border on repetitive when paired with the track’s unchanging instrumental.

The music video directed by Director LX echoes this simplicity, opting for clean visuals over grandiose spectacle. The focus stays on the performers, underscoring the inherent confidence of two artists on a steep upward trajectory in the UK’s rap and Afro-swing scenes.

Commercially, “Samantha” climbed to number 63 on the UK Singles Chart, with more genre-specific success at number 3 on the UK Indie Chart and number 7 on the UK Hip Hop/R&B Chart. These modest but steady positions reflect its appeal across niche and mainstream audiences—a meeting point between raw street appeal and polished radio sensibilities.

The track’s eventual Platinum certification by June 2020 narrates a story of longevity rather than explosive impact. Released in early 2017, it arrived after a stellar 2016 for both artists—Dave off the strength of “Thiago Silva,” and J Hus following his “Friendly” breakout and live momentum at NATIVELAND in Lagos.

“Samantha” operates best as a snapshot of two talents refining their approaches. It’s less a groundbreaking piece and more an assured one, serving as a stepping stone that hints at greater peaks for its creators.


Featured on the 2019 album “Samantha”.

Lyrics >> More by the same : Official Site

6 . Ne-Yo – One In A Million

The music video is directed by Wayne Isham.
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“One in a Million,” from Ne-Yo’s 2010 album *Libra Scale*, feels like a measured exercise in R&B precision rather than an emotional outpouring. Written by Ne-Yo, Chuck Harmony, and Kevin Erondu, and produced by Harmony, it carries the polished sheen one expects from a Def Jam release, recorded at the famed Westlake Studios in Los Angeles.

The production leans on a restrained groove that gently underscores Ne-Yo’s soulful voice. Yet, the arrangement itself feels almost too polite, as if afraid to disrupt the status quo of smooth mid-tempo R&B at the dawn of the 2010s. In contrast, the lyricism—a celebration of a love so rare it warrants its titular accolade—treads familiar ground without leaving much of a lasting imprint.

The accompanying music video, directed by Wayne Isham, slightly elevates the package. A hat tip to Michael Jackson’s “The Way You Make Me Feel,” the visuals see Ne-Yo channeling Jerome, a suavely persistent suitor who woos Pretti Sinclair through theatrical dance sequences. It’s a well-executed homage but lacks the raw magnetism of its inspiration. The inclusion of a nine-minute full-length version on the deluxe edition DVD of *Libra Scale* signals ambition, though whether the narrative justifies such length is debatable.

Chart performance was middling by Ne-Yo’s standards, peaking at 20 on the UK Singles Chart and at 87 on the *Billboard* Hot 100 after five weeks. More impressive was its certification as Platinum in Italy, a sign that its appeal traveled better internationally. The song’s place on the UK R&B Singles Chart, reaching number 4, reinforces its resonance within genre boundaries without crossing over into broader pop territory.

In the broader arc of Ne-Yo’s career—bolstered by hits like “So Sick” and “Closer”—”One in a Million” feels like a calculated move rather than a standout moment. While the song strikes a competent balance of sleek production and heartfelt sentiment, it ultimately settles for being merely serviceable rather than unforgettable.


Featured on the 2010 album “Libra Scale”.

Lyrics >> More by the same : Official Site

7 . Drake – The Motto (w/ Lil Wayne, Tyga)

The music video is directed by Lamar Taylor and Hyghly Alleyne.
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“The Motto,” a bonus track from Drake’s 2011 album “Take Care,” thrives on its minimalist production by T-Minus and infectious repetition of the acronym “YOLO,” short for “You Only Live Once.”

Originally premiering on Power 106 before surfacing on Drake’s OVO blog, the song showcases just over three minutes of casual braggadocio from Drake, Lil Wayne, and on the remix version, Tyga. While the production leans heavily on a sparse, bass-driven beat, its simplicity creates a canvas for the artists’ contrasting vocal cadences.

Drake, as expected, delivers his signature blend of clever wordplay and conversational flow, toeing the line between introspection and swagger. Lil Wayne’s contributions feel sharper here than on some of his other features from the same era, hitting with a harder edge that adds necessary texture. Tyga’s verse, while competent, feels somewhat like an afterthought, lacking the unique bite of his collaborators.

The track’s legacy lies less in its musical innovation and more in its cultural impact—the popularization of “YOLO” as a credo for millennial indulgence. This makes the song a time capsule of early 2010s hedonism, though the phrase’s overuse since may make the hook feel dated to contemporary ears.

The accompanying music video, shot in San Francisco, pays homage to West Coast hip hop legend Mac Dre and includes an appearance by his mother, Wanda Salvatto. While visually striking, it doesn’t add much depth to a song that already wears its intentions on its sleeve.

Chart success came as no surprise, with the track reaching number 14 on Billboard and topping both US Rap Songs and US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts. Selling over three million copies, “The Motto” earned a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Song but remains more memorable as a cultural touchstone than as a musical masterstroke.


Featured on the 2011 album “Take Care“.Take+Care+vinyl+album&tag=radiovideomus-20′ target=’_blank’ rel=’noopener’>

Lyrics >> More by the same : Official Site

8 . Pitbull – Time Of Our Lives

The music video is directed by Gil Green.
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“Time of Our Lives,” released on November 17, 2014, stands as a vivid example of what happens when pop, rap, and R&B elements collide with commercial precision.

Featured on Pitbull’s “Globalization” and Ne-Yo’s “Non-Fiction,” the track owes much of its existence to production heavyweights Dr. Luke, Cirkut, and Michael “Freakin” Everett. This amalgamation of names reads less like an artistic statement and more like a calculated playlist algorithm expertly designed for mass appeal. The song’s polished veneer screams accessibility, but at times, it feels restrained, as if it’s pulling punches where boundary-pushing could have added depth.

Commercially, “Time of Our Lives” performed predictably well, peaking at 27 on the UK Official Singles Chart and lingering in the Top 100 for 25 weeks. Its charting fortunes in New Zealand, where it climbed to number 12 on the Top 40 Singles Chart, with a 17-week residency, underscore its international viability. But as high as it rose, it’s telling that it stopped short of dominating, mirroring the track’s overall commitment to being just memorable enough.

Thematically, it’s a hymn to seizing moments and embracing life’s ups and downs—a familiar motif in Pitbull and Ne-Yo’s musical lexicons. Ne-Yo’s soulful hooks manage to anchor the narrative with some emotional heft, though Pitbull’s rapped verses oscillate between motivational speaker energy and filler material. A collaboration between Armando Christian Pérez’s relentless celebration of life and Shaffer Chimere Smith’s penchant for sincerity should be a power move, but the balance here feels more transaction than chemistry.

“Time of Our Lives” fits snugly into Pitbull’s catalog of party-ready anthems and Ne-Yo’s repertoire of smooth radio hits. It doesn’t transcend its formula, and maybe it doesn’t need to. It’s a song built for fleeting escapes, not lasting resonance—a mirrorball reflection, shiny but surface-level.


Featured on the 2014 album “Globalization”.

Lyrics >> More by the same : Official Site

9 . Kid Ink – Show Me (w/ Chris Brown)

The music video is directed by Chris Brown.
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“Show Me” by Kid Ink, featuring Chris Brown, is a slick fusion of hip hop and R&B that leans heavily on DJ Mustard’s bubbling trap production—a formula that feels as crafted for radio as it does for late-night club rotations.

Borrowing the infectious hook from Robin S.’s yesteryear anthem “Show Me Love,” the track repurposes nostalgia into a modern, booming beat punctuated by crisp clapping snares. Lyrically, Kid Ink’s delivery is confident but not groundbreaking, weaving in themes well-trodden in the hip hop playbook. It’s Chris Brown’s polished vocals on the chorus that elevate the track, transforming it from an easy listen into something magnetic for mass appeal.

The song’s journey is just as interesting as the end product. Initially, TeeFlii lent his voice to the refrain, but bringing Chris Brown into the mix not only enhanced the track but arguably made it chart-worthy—highlighted by its peak at number 13 on the US *Billboard* Hot 100 and a respectable number 23 on the UK Singles Chart. It even secured the number one spot on the US *Billboard* Rhythmic chart, underscoring its rhythmic tightness.

The music video, directed by Brown himself, has amassed impressive viewership since its MTV debut in November 2013, while live performances—like Kid Ink’s appearance on *Conan*—point to its careful positioning as a centerpiece of his album *My Own Lane*. Still, while undeniably catchy, the song’s reliance on interpolation and its by-the-numbers structure suggest it’s engineered more for immediate gratification than long-term innovation.


Featured on the 2014 album “My Own Lane”.

Lyrics >> More by the same : Twitter

10 . Flo Rida – My House

The music video is directed by Alex Acosta.
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“My House” anchors itself on homegrown charisma, blending familiarity and swagger in a track that wades comfortably into Flo Rida’s commercial hip-hop wheelhouse.

The song’s reliance on the iconic drum break from The Honey Drippers’ “Impeach the President” lends it rhythmic grit, though in the context of Flo Rida’s pop-leaning tendencies, the sample feels more like a cosmetic flourish than a resurrected heartbeat.

Equal parts invitation and declaration, the track thrives on its simple premise: a brash, welcoming anthem to indulgence set against a backdrop of glossy production.

Charting its trajectory, “My House” starts low at number 96 on the Billboard Hot 100 before the spotlight of mainstream platforms vaults it to number 5 by February 2016—no small feat in an industry perpetually chasing what’s next.

A cameo on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” and its association with WrestleMania 32 surely applied the accelerant, proving Flo Rida’s knack for mining cultural tentpoles to extend reach.

While it peaked modestly at number 39 on the UK Singles Chart, the song’s multiplatform ubiquity—from a Pizza Hut Super Bowl 50 commercial to over 40 million YouTube views of Alex Acosta’s companion video—illustrates its global resonance as an upbeat, crowd-friendly fare.

Yet, within Flo Rida’s broader discography, which touts hits like “Low” and “Right Round,” “My House” straddles commercial appeal and compositional predictability, driven less by innovation and more by a formulaic hook designed to stick.

Its quadruple Platinum status confirms its appetite for mass consumption, but listening closely, it walks a fine line between being a personal anthem and a product tailored to hit the necessary playlist algorithms of 2016’s pop zeitgeist.


Featured on the 2015 album “My House”.

Lyrics >> More by the same : Official Site

11 . D-Block Europe – Kitchen Kings (w/ Young ADZ & Dirtbike LB)

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“Kitchen Kings,” released in 2019 as part of D-Block Europe’s mixtape “Home Alone,” is a portrait of excess wrapped in the duo’s signature melodic trap stylings.

With Young Adz and Dirtbike LB steering this journey, the track captures a vibe that oscillates between indulgence and reflection, though not always with equal finesse.

Peaking at Number 16 on the UK Official Singles Chart, the song carved a noteworthy place in the British rap landscape, even landing at Number 8 on the Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart, where it lingered for 16 weeks—a persistence that speaks to both its infectiousness and perhaps, the relative homogeneity of its competition.

Boasting 135 million streams and 898,000 chart units in the UK, “Kitchen Kings” displays a formulaic yet effective approach to modern-day chart domination, but it doesn’t exactly rewrite the playbook.

The track’s music video mirrors the same trajectory, racking up 35 million streams to become the duo’s most-watched visual offering domestically. Yet, for all its numbers, both the song and the video lack the kind of cinematic or narrative flair that might elevate them beyond algorithm-friendly consumption.

D-Block Europe’s rise since their debut in 2018 has been prolific, to say the least, with milestones like four UK Top 10 singles and seven consecutive Top 10 albums. Collaborations with names like Dave and Offset reinforce their industry clout, and a major nod like their BRIT Awards 2020 nomination for Best British Group hints at respect from the establishment. Still, “Kitchen Kings” doesn’t entirely transcend their core formula, leaning heavily on bloated imagery while occasionally revealing flickers of earnest introspection. It solidifies their dominance more than it surprises, entertaining the audience without entirely challenging them.


Featured on the 2019 album “Home Alone”.

Lyrics >> More by the same : Instagram

12 . Akon – Oh Africa

The music video is directed by Gil Green.
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“Oh Africa” wears its intentions as boldly as its colorful music video, presented as both a charity anthem and a cultural showcase tied to the planetary buzz of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

A product of Akon’s charity instincts, “Oh Africa” seeks to funnel global attention toward Konfidence, his foundation aimed at aiding Africa’s underserved children, though the song itself feels caught between ambition and execution.

Featuring contributions from the Soweto Gospel Choir and a polyphonic mix of young voices from varying countries, the track’s arrangement has grandeur on paper but risks coming across as calculated, its soaring choruses designed more to tick emotional boxes than to surprise.

Producer Alexander “PrettyBoiFresh” Parhm, Jr. stitches together the percussion-driven underpinnings that lean into a FIFA-friendly globalist vibe, but the song’s structure settles for predictability, never truly transcending the limitations of an official theme tune.

Keri Hilson functions as a capable co-star, though her role does little to depart from established formula—like Akon’s verses, her contribution provides an earnest but standard layer, leaving little to mine beyond surface-level optimism.

Visually, the Gil Green-directed music video pushes the song’s thematic agenda hard, with footballing demigods like Lionel Messi and Didier Drogba brushing shoulders with scenes of rhythmic drumming and symbolic body paint, underscoring its attachment to the global game.

Chart performances, peaking at number 4 in Hungary and lingering mid-tier in markets like the UK at 56, reflect its position as an admirable but fleeting pop moment rather than a cultural lightning rod.

Akon and Hilson, having combined forces previously on tracks like “Change Me,” do well to complement each other, though the song relies as much on its contextual weight—the World Cup, charity tie-ins, Pepsi endorsements—as its melodic core.

Still, it delivers plenty to chew on, even if its lasting resonance feels less assured, emphasizing purposeful craftsmanship over outright innovation.


Lyrics >> More by the same : Official Site

For THE FULL HIP-HOP & SOUL COLLECTION click here

This week Top 20 New Music on RVM *

(*) According to our own statistics, upadted on February 9, 2025

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