Welcome to TWIB’s Weekly Top 5 Videos. This is a segment where we will be looking at some exceptional visuals from various acts from around the globe. The music video format has been around for decades and through the 90s and 2000s, it has really taken flight from multi-million budget music videos, to mid to low-budget videos with exceptional features. In this section, we will not discriminate but rather highlight some of the creative visuals that pop up on our radar.

 

 

 

 

 

 

DRIX RIKS – “Skate Clinic”

Madrid-born rapper DRIX RIKS opens up the list with “Skate Clinic”, a rousing hard-hitting track that sees him dropping verbal bombs with much gusto. Armed with his distinctly gruff vocal tone, he holds nothing back as he engulfs the punchy boom-bap soundscape laid before him. The visual pays homage to the 90s as well and makes use of varied performance shots of the rapper who has roots in Geneva.

 

 

Da Break x Pab The Kid – “Fine”

The duo of Da Break and Pab The Kid gifts us with the visuals for their song “Fine”. The track is a bouncy soulful uplifting tune that is perfect for a summer cookout. Over the bright and fun-filled backdrop, Jen delivers smooth melodic runs that aim to remind us that regardless of what we may go through, everything will be fine. Director Loic Mabily goes the extra length to capture the feeling of going back to simple things. Shot in a natural French decor, half rural, half industrial, the grainy image, the mood, and the “vintage engines” takes viewers back to the late 80s / early 90s.  The track is produced by French funk/groove producer Bruno “Patchworks” Hovart,

 

Mr. Monkei – “Good Morning America”

Mr. Monkei makes his entry on our list with this thought-provoking and reflective record titled “Good Morning America”. The record dwells on the daily struggle of everyday Americans, which is what the rest of the world doesn’t see. The production is guitar-laden and sombre and sees the rapper detailing the daily struggles of the everyday man who is trying to survive to see another day. The visual is motif driven and makes use of cinematic aesthetics and an overarching theme that ties into the cycle we all are trapped in with no way to escape.

 

SSY – “Holy Ghost“

South African rap artist SSY  drops the video for his song “Holy Ghost“. The bravado track shows his off-kilter style as he flows smoothly over a horn-driven bouncy soundscape.The visual is quite engaging and makes use of weird glitchy effects and eye-catching special fx. He is also 1/3 of a collective known as The LGNDRY.

 

 

KYRO – “I’M TIRED”

West London-based artist KYRO help close out the list with his video for the song “I’M TIRED”, a bouncy trappy track that details his mindstate during the pandemic. He details his frustrations and the feeling of being stuck in one place. The visual makes use of performance shots and quick-cut scenes to emphasize the rapper’s changing mind state.