The motto is simple. Everybody big hit deserves an ever bigger video. Yet, in between the process of writing treatments, getting the right director and film crew assembled, the vision can tend to get muddled and a horrible video is birthed.
To keep your Throwback Thursday entertaining, we present to you 25 of the most disappointing rap videos we’ve ever seen. We only included records from artists we expected better from. Start the list below with two of the best to ever go toe-for-toe on a track.
Dr. Dre ft. Eminem – “Forgot About Dre”
-2 more points for trying to sell us on that Hittman struggle verse that did not appear on 2001.
—
Photo: VEVO
Kanye West ft. GLC & Consequence – “Spaceship”
The College Dropout didn’t approve of this visual, hence the reason it was shelved until, The Internets.
Nicki Minaj – “Stupid Hoe”
A rare artistic failure from the great Hype Williams.
Meek Mill ft. Drake – “Amen”
We were supposed to be taken to chuuch, not on tour.
Lil Kim – “Whoa”
When your days as a free woman are numbered, you’re bound to pull a rush job heist like this.
50 Cent – “Ryder Music”
The track evokes imagery of us picturing Fiddy rolling, not getting chauffeured around Connecticut.
Ruff Ryders ft. Drag-On & Juvenile – “Down Bottom”
This never needed to happen. The track’s street cred was good enough.
DJ Khaled ft. Kanye West & T-Pain – “Go Hard”
Yeezus went hard on the track but the film crew couldn’t convey that feeling through the reel.
Lil Wayne ft. Robin Thicke – “Shooter”
Sticking to the script isn’t always as lame as it sounds. They should’ve followed the lyrics here.
Will Smith – “Black Suits Comin’ (Nod Ya Head)”
After the unforgettable “Men in Black” video, The Fresh Prince had the insurmountable odds of topping it. This clip got lost in space like Will Robinson.
LL Cool J – “Phenomenon”
One of the few times Uncle L showed us he was having a midlife crisis.
Big Sean – “Supa Dupa”
Finally Famous was wise to shelve this sh*t. All these bars deserved better.
Red Cafe – “Hottest In The Hood”
After watching this jawn in retrospect, you never would know this once the hottest song in the hood at one point in time.
50 Cent – “In Da Club”
Nothing to see here but scientifically engineered club struggle.
Makaveli ft. Outlawz – “Hail Mary”
In 1996, everybody wanted Tupac to miraculously rise from the dead but this wasn’t going to make it happen.
Wale ft. Lady Gaga – “Chillin”
The video was the last shot of convincing the Hip-Hop community that this collaboration was a smart one. Welp.
A Tribe Called Quest – “Award Tour”
ATCQ had never been one for big budget videos but this one could have used a bit more TLC dollars.
Lupe Fiasco – “I Gotcha”
The green screen tried to convince us how “cool” Lupe was but it just made him look corny. Song is still flames, though.
Nicki Minaj ft. Sean Garrett – “Massive Attack”
A pink flag on the play for a false start.
Puff Daddy – “P.E. 2000”
Just think about all the starving children that could have been fed with this video’s budget. At least we’ll always have “Hypnotize.”
MIMS – This Is Why I’m Hot
With the amount of airplay this song got, how many discussions have you heard about the video? Why is that? Oh.
Future ft. T.I. – “Magic”
They had one job, which was to copy Ludacris’ “P-Poppin.” Consider it a squandered opportunity.
Childish Gambino – “Heartbeat”
If you heard this song and said, “I want to see ‘Bino Uber some chick around,” that makes two of you.
Drake – “Best I Ever Had”
Blame. Kanye. West.
Kanye West – “Flashing Lights” (All Versions)
The Graduate knew he had an instant classic on his hands and wanted to the video to equal the song’s greatest but he over thought it. Hence the reason why we have three “Flashing Lights” videos that didn’t make an impact.
The Most Disappointing Rap Videos Ever Created
