So far in our year-end “playback” we’ve taken a look at AllHipHop.com’s “Top Video Interview Moments of 2011,” the “50 Hottest Songs of 2011,” and have no fear, a “Top 40 Albums of the Year” is most certainly on the way. Now before we present to you what we believe are the “Top 2o Dopest Music Videos of 2011,” let’s be clear. Just because a video made it on this list, doesn’t necessarily make it one of the year’s hottest songs, although most of them are, and vice versa.
As always you may or may not agree with the choices we’ve made, but in this day and age of sounding off, if it’s worth discussing, then we’ve done our job! Here are #20 to #11:
#20 DJ Khaled – “I’m On One” ft. Drake, Lil Wayne & Rick Ross
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z09lYqdxqzo&w=560&h=315]
Dir. Gil Green
Are you really surprised that one of the year’s biggest song’s landed its video on this list? Gil Green put the musical anthem into visual form with his directorial skills and created one of the year’s top videos. We see you, Rick.
#19 Big Sean – “Marvin Gaye & Chardonnay” ft. Kanye West & Roscoe Dash
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1anxnA7Zwc&w=560&h=315]
Dir. Hype Williams
Beautiful women fill the video from beginning to end and help accompany one of the year’s most infectious songs with one of the year’s most vibrant and playful visuals.
#18 Nas – “Nasty”
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wo97R0ib1CE&w=560&h=315]
Dir. Jason Goldwatch
Whether it be in the back of a Rolls Royce Phantom, in a recording booth, or walking the streets, the video for “Nasty” gave the fans Nas in his rawest form. Now all we need is that album, Nasir!
#17 Bad Meets Evil – “Lighters” ft. Bruno Mars
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWt4wmZ_EMI&w=560&h=315]
Dir. Rich Lee
One of the year’s biggest records had an equally mesmerizing video to match. You can’t really go wrong with Eminem and Royce on a song together, let alone an entire album, and the video had to match that equation. Throw Bruno Mars into the mix, and you’ve got yourselves a certified hit, both musically and visually.
#16 Yelawolf – “Hard White” ft. Lil Jon
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0rVRtXsiEo&w=560&h=315]
Dir. Motion Family
Yelawolf, women, a club, an unlimited amount of Jack Daniels, and Lil Jon came together under The Motion Family’s lens to create a video worthy of being the first from Yelawolf’s Shady Records debut.
#15 The Cool Kids – “Bundle Up”
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pH_TaZ5n8gA&w=560&h=315]
Dir. BBGUN
Ever wonder what it’s like to be behind-the-scenes of a Cool Kids video shoot? Well, with “Bundle Up,” you need not wonder anymore. Over a dope Chuck Inglish beat, the Kids gave fans a fun, humorous, and yet hard video for the first single off of their album When Fish Ride Bicycles.
#14 Das Racist – “Michael Jackson”
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nc__3nsfxwA&w=560&h=315]
Dir. Weird Days
The director’s name is no coincidence. Just watch the video, and you’ll see why there’s not a single reason this video wouldn’t end up on our list.
#13 Pusha T – “Trouble On My Mind” ft. Tyler, the Creator
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GKL_ZoJQjc&w=560&h=315]
Dir. Jason Goldwatch
Pusha doing what he does best alongside Tyler, doing what he does best. This video encompassed all of the hysteria that we would imagine would ensue on set for a video like this. It did just that.
#12 Lil Wayne – “How to Love”
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8Gf4-eT3w0&w=560&h=315]
Dir. Chris Robinson
Say what you will about the song, but Lil Wayne held nothing back for the video to “How to Love.” How often do you get videos nowadays with an actual message? This was one of the Young Money star’s brightest moments in 2011.
#11 Childish Gambino – “Bonfire”
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qL1B_r9nC9k&w=560&h=315]
Dir. Dan Eckman
Yeah, it’s a little shocking and a tad bit scary, but it’s only right that one of the year’s brightest and most eclectic stars delivered a video that still has people talking, months after its release. Another perfect example of an artist who wasn’t and continues to not be afraid to hold anything back.
Stay Tuned for Part 2 of Our “Top 20 Dopest Music Videos of 2011,” Counting Down #10-#1…