13 Music Videos They "Put A Bird On It"

Mad props are due to Bird from Rhymesayers but this is about the kind of birds with feathers like this one I saw in Lisbon at the São Jorge Castle (they put some birds on it). Shoutout to the geniuses of Portlandia for the inspiration.

I took this photo in Lisbon, Portugal in December 2016

1. Prince - "When Doves Cry" 1984  To those running Prince's YouTube channel; thank you and I love you all for blessing us with Prince videos in our latest time of need. Please can we keep them and can we have some more?




2. 18+ - "Crow" 2014  This is the birdiest of them all by way of the crow sample.




3. Awkwafina - "Queef" 2013  Queen La-queefa is the queefiest of them all... you'll see what I mean. I just discovered Awkwafina yesterday and life's been way more hilarious.




4. Myke Bogan - "Mango Tree" 2017 EYRST/PORTLAND Myke Bogan, of PAC DIV with Like, has been working his ass off lately and it sounding pretty damn good.




5. Red Hot Chili Peppers - "The Adventures Of Rain Dance Maggie" 2011  I have nothing but love for RHCP and would be stoked to see them doing their thing on a rooftop or anywhere really.




6. Michael Jackson - "Leave Me Alone" 1987  This may possibly be one of the best music videos ever...which is good because it's one of the weakest pre-HIStory songs Michael left us with.




7. DJ Shadow feat. Run The Jewels - "Nobody Speak" 2016  This crew did so much more than just put a bird on this masterpiece of a music video. A Killer Mike quote from the YouTube credits:  "It's such a dope video. It's what I really wish Trump and Hillary would just do and get it over with...And even in that fight I think Hillary would win - and that's not an endorsement."




8. Santigold - "Banshee" 2016  This also appears on a YouTube playlist of Music Videos with Puppets alongside Quasimoto, DRAM, Tool, Madvillain, and a bunch of other artsy weirdos I love.




9. Hail Mary Mallon (Aesop Rock + Rob Sonic) - "Breakdance Beach" 2011  I'm definitely trying to hit up Breakdance Beach...which could be anywhere with the right crew.




10. Abstract Rude feat. Slug + Brother Ali - "The Solution" 2015  This reminds me of the Grieves and MC Type video for "My Girlfriend Beats Me" (it's a must watch) but this one has a Kitchen Aid Mixer cameo sooo.




11. Mount Kimbie feat. James Blake - "We Go Home Together" 2017  This song is from the upcoming Mount Kimbie album, Love What Survives, due out this September. Thanks for being you James Blake (le sigh). FYI, this is not a dance party cut but Give Slow Jams A Chance.




12. Berner + B Real with Snoop Dogg + Vital - "Faded" 2015  These enterprising stoners managed to make a lifelong career and millions of dollars off of their love of weed. There is a bird in this video, it happens quick. Smoke some weed and look for it while cringing at the weak chorus.




13. Wizdumb - "L.A.fternoon" 2011  SEATTLE HIP HOP  It warms my heart to watch music videos by artists currently residing in Seattle. I'm of the opinion that creating/finishing music videos will help propel musicians out of the realm of "local artists" and into the music industry.

Ten Music Videos with Swords

I compiled all the Sword Music Videos I've found so far on YouTube playlist for you. #YouTubeNchill

1. Action Bronson feat. Chance The Rapper - "Baby Blue" 2015  Action Bronson is doing everything right; he's made a career out of doing the things he loves the most. Plus, Coming To America remake is killing it.




2. Grimes feat. Blood Diamonds - "Go" 2014  I don't normally think that wearing Adidas sandals is that styley, but, in this video it's perfect.




3. Hail Mary Mallon - "Garfield" 2011  I'm sure we've all had a campfire machete experience, I know I do.




4. Homeboy Sandman - "Refugee" 2014  This knife is swordlike enough for me. This video is a trip, literally.




5. Diamond D feat. Alchemist + Evidence - "Its Magic" 2014  They've found some pretty great stuff while digging in those crates.




6. Mobb Deep - "Peer Pressure" 1993  Crazy that this video was made 22 years ago.



The first time I ever sold merch was for Mobb Deep at The Crocodile on April 22, 2014. Here's 15 seconds of their performance, I love shows where everyone knows the words.

#tbt To earlier this year when I sold merch for Mobb Deep

A post shared by Liz (@206liz) on Oct 9, 2014 at 7:50pm PDT

7. The Bar (Prometheus Brown + Bambu) - "Barkada" 2014  These guys will be at The Crocodile on July 21 for the Beatrock Music Five Year Anniversary Left Coast Tour with the whole crew.



Here's the flyer for the show.

8. Ghostface Killah feat. Kandace Springs - "Love Don't Live Here No More" 2015  I love videos with a storyline. Ghostface killed it with this one.




9. Astro King Phoenix - "Yarn" 2015  Video by Malcolm Procter AKA Wolf Delux. These two are some seriously high quality human beings.




10. Quadir Lateef - "The Quickening Arts" 2012  He's aight but I'd love to hear the instrumental.

Ten Reasons Why Rhymesayers Kick Ass

1. Step Brothers (Alchemist + Evidence) - "Step Masters" 2013  This is one of my favorite music videos of all-time and as you can see, I watch a lot of them. It's great to see how much fun Alchemist and Evidence had while making this video. How could you not like them?





2. Prof Signs To Rhymesayers 2013  They announced the signing of Prof with a video that showcases why he is worth paying attention to. I would love to inspire artists to make more promotional videos like this because if you don't go all in, you'll never get to step out of a plane like this.




3. Brother Ali feat. Bambu + Mally - "Home Away From Home" 2014  Brother Ali's tour was kicked off with a video made in the bus at the start of their adventure. My team at ReignCity hosted them at The Crocodile in Seattle and Bellingham's Wild Buffalo. Rhymesayers knows how to help you help them, this video is great proof of that.




4. Grieves - "Fifth Element In-Store Recap" 2012  This video shows how well Rhymesayers artists treat their fans. Grieves and his team always kill it with the social media and are truly great people. The Winter & The Wolves tour made for another great ReignCity show in 2014.




5. Evidence - "You" 2011  If Evidence is on your team, you know you have something good going.





6. "Go Hands On with Lord Steppington! 2013" The Lord Steppington vinyl and CD have a fuzzy cover. You can't caress an mp3 while listening to it. I love that it had a big poster inside, extras like that are what make people want to buy physical copies. Vinyl with download cards included are perfect. No one should ever play a show without merch; if you make it, they will buy. Making a video about the quality of your merch is pro-style. There is still a huge lack of high quality women's clothing in the merch department. Don't you want the ladies wearing your name on their chest to look good?




7. Dilated Peoples - "Show Me The Way" 2014 (Produced by Jake One)  This is one of my two most overplayed songs of the summer. Dilated Peoples had been on Capitol Records but released Directors Of Photography on Rhymesayers earlier this year.




8. Hail Mary Mallon - Behind The ... A Three Part Series 2014  They truly made the release of Hail Mary Mallon's Bestiary album an event by helping us get to know the artists and their creative process. My team at ReignCity and I get to host them January 23 at The Wild Buffalo in Bellingham with Homeboy Sandman, Darktime Sunshine, and DJ Abilities on January 23.




9. Dilated Peoples - 3 Part Promo Video for Directors Of Photography 2014  We already know and love Dilated Peoples and they still made a three part video to help us remember why they are on top of the game. If you tell people your story and you're making music that is unique and high quality, people will want to pay attention to you.




10. Atmosphere - "God Loves Ugly" 2002  The newer artists on Rhymesayers get the priceless guidance of the seasoned veterans Slug and Ant, who have been successful musicians and entrepreneurs since 1989 and are showing no signs of a slowdown. They founded Rhymesayers in 1995 with the help of Musab Saad and Brent Sayers (Siddiq) and have turned it into one of the best Hip Hop labels in the world. Almost twenty years later, they remain to be chart topping artists. Their chart-topping Southsiders album brought them to Seattle for another great ReignCity hosted show.

Slug - Photo by me at Holy Cow Records in Pike Place Market

Ten Music Videos with Bubbles

HERE is a YouTube playlist of all 10 videos with bubbles.


1. TLC - "Hat 2 Da Back" 1992  This song is timeless, the Kris Kross cameo makes it more obviously 1992. RIP Left Eye and Chris Kelly.




2. Tony Cook feat. Dam Funk - "What's On Your Mind?" 2012  I like the bubble that says "This Song Is Bangin!" I should make one for my apartment. This video could have been in the Partially Animated category alongside Jaylib, Paula Abdul, Homeboy Sandman, Gorillaz, and six more.




3. Arctic Monkeys - "Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High" 2013  I don't really love this, but I don't hate it. This is the first time I've felt anything for an Arctic Monkeys song.




4. Hopie feat. Moe Green - "String Em Up" 2012  I kinda love this. Hopie appeared on my site before in her video for "Space Case" with Del The Funky Homosapien in the Spacesuit category.




5. Kyla La Grange - "Cut Your Teeth" 2014  *All the black light business kinda cheapens and distracts you from the greatness of the song.




6. Boys Don't Cry - "I Wanna Be A Cowboy" 1986  I think this one gets the Best Use Of A Bubble award.




7. Ibeyi - "River" 2014  *Props to them for having the most difficult to film video concept. The Queens of Underwater Scenes.




8. Hail Mary Mallon - (Aesop Rock + Rob Sonic) - "Jonathan" 2014  This one's all about DJ Zone, the "Card Magician." I couldn't be more stoked for our (ReignCity) Hail Mary Mallon show in Bellingham on January 23 with Homeboy Sandman.




9. Ekkah - "Last Chance To Dance" 2014  Couldn't decide if I hated it or loved it, which just made me listen to it more to figure it out.  I decided I love it. They have a skull disco ball and everything.




10. TLC - "What About Your Friends" 1992  They were big on thought bubbles in the Ooooooohhh... On the TLC Tip era. I was Left Eye for Halloween this year.