1. DJ Kool - "Let Me Clear My Throat" 1996 *Clowns are weird everywhere, even nineties rap videos.
2. Fatlip - "What's Up Fatlip?" 2000 *I love that he is definitely not trying to be a tough guy. No one actually likes tough guys, at least I don't. He even lets kids kick him in the nuts, what a nice guy.
4. Madvillain - "Fancy Clown" (Song 2004 / Video 2011) *Another from the 2011 Stones Throw Video Contest, which was an incredible idea.
5. Stealers Wheel - "Stuck In The Middle With You" 1972 *This is one of those songs that I've always loved but never knew the artist until now. Seventies clowns are weird too.
4. Kashmere as Galaktus - "BANG! SPLAT!" 2010 (UK HIP HOP) *This is a concept/alter-ego album from the UK rapper once known as Kashmere the Iguana Man (see previous blog posts about him on the right). I think this might be about Galaktus' pursuit of safe sex.
5. Apollo Brown - "Tao Te Ching" 2011 *This is one of my favorites from Mello Music Group.
6. Pick A Piper - "Cinders And Dust" 2013 *The singing is my least favorite part of this whole video/song presentation.
7. J Dilla - "Geek Down" (Song 2006 / Video 2011) *From the 2011 Stones Throw Video Contest.
8. Flying Lotus - "Zodiac Shit" 2010 *There packed in so much stuff in this amazing minute and a half video.
9. Modeselektor feat. Miss Platnum - "Berlin" 2012 *This video gets the award for best use of old cardboard boxes.
10. Air - "Sing Sang Sung" 2009 *This is one of those Air songs that is good without being amazing.
1. Tyler, The Creator - "VCR" 2010 *This is exactly what one should expect Tyler would do with a doll.
2. Strange U - "Plastique" 2011 (UK HIP HOP) *Whoa, this video is awesome. The song is about how everything is made of plastic now, even people.
3. Hole - "Doll Parts" 1994 *I liked Courtney Love so much more when she looked like herself. This song and most of the Live Through This album are still great.
BEFORE:
AFTER:
4. Mariah Carey feat. Nicki Minaj - "Up Out My Face" 2010 *I'm pretty embarrassed that I like this song. When I first heard this Nicki was still a novelty, I had not heard her ridiculous (in a bad way) Pink Friday album that came as a huge disappointment after some of her collaborations in which her verses outshone the main artist. My affection for Nicki is in the past.
5. Madvillain - "Strange Ways" (Song 2004 / Video 2011) *This is from the 2011 Stones Throw video contest, I love the mini records in the mini studio.
6. Mayer Hawthorne - "One Track Mind" 2010 *This video is very much like the 2007 Ryan Gosling movie Lars and the Real Girl.
7. inc. - "Black Wings" 2013 *The guy who is singing sounds like Brett from Flight of the Conchords, but, this guy is serious. To be clear, I think the Flight of the Conchords guys are hilarious. Apart from the weird vocal style, I think the rest of this song is pretty interesting. This video also has chains, fire, chickens, a goat, and a close-up of a horse's nose.
8. Jane's Addiction - "Classic Girl" 1990 *This video seems like drugs.
9. Esthero - "Never Gonna Let You Go" 2012 *I thought Esthero was cool because of the song she did with DJ Krush called "Final Home", (I don't think the linked video is the official music video but still great) this song is not nearly as cool as that song. I probably wouldn't ever listen to this song again, but, it is better than a lot of other music.
10. Lyrics Born - "I Like It, I Love It" 2008 *I feel like this could have a record setting number of costume changes for an underground Hip Hop video. Lyrics Born and the rest of the Quannum crew put on a great show. I don't find myself listening to their music that much anymore, but I still think they are great.
1. Tyler, The Creator - "IFHY" 2013 I truly feel that Tyler is a super genius. The only thing that makes his age obvious (he is only 22) is the lyrical content of his music. He still thinks that he has to shock us, even though the world would probably pay attention even if he went in a less shocking direction.
2. Madvillain - "Rhinestone Cowboy" 2004 *I have a lot of respect for these guys (MF Doom and Madlib), but, I don't like this song or video that much. The applause within the song doesn't really do it for me.
3. M.E.D. - "Push" 2005 *J Dilla is on the couch, it looks like the Donuts cover is a still from this video @ 2:25.
4. Bonobo feat. Andreya Triana - "The Keeper" 2009 *The one-shot music video is slowly paced which accentuates the smoothness of the song. I like most of the songs I put on here, but this is one of the ones I actually listen to...a lot.
5. Curren$y - "Chandelier" 2012 *I don't really like this song as a whole. I do appreciate how he respectfully talks about his lady, this is one of those rappers that deserves to get chicks. That said, I have not listened to any of his other songs.
6. Otayo Dubb feat. Bambu - "A Lil More" 2012 *This video serves as a public service announcement for ladies warning them to bring their drinks into the restroom with them. I wouldn't listen to this song regularly, but, they seem like good guys making music that actually means something.
7. The XX - "Islands" 2010 *The band is working this couch.
8. MC Lyte feat. Xscape - "Keep On Keepin' On" 1996 *I believe pantsuit MC Lyte does say "sugar for my booger" @ 1:56. I just recently found this song and even starred it on Spotify.
9. Billy Idol - "Cradle Of Love" 1990 *This guy is kind of a woos, not Billy Idol of course because he is a total badass.
10. Rocky Rivera feat. Irie Eyez - "GRLZ" 2012 *These girls are fierce, I'm glad they make music.
3. Dire Straits - "Money For Nothing" 1985 In 1985, I thought checks were actually free for years until my mom told me those weren't the lyrics and checks don't work that way. It was a sad day. The Dire Strait lyrics in question, "money for nothing and your chicks for free."
