50 of the Best Hip-Hop Videos of 2018
Rappers' budgets must've been pretty fruitful this year, because it seems like everyone took the cinematic route with their visuals in 2018. From the heavens back down to the Louvre, it's clear money wasn't an object for the hip-hop artists who delivered one amazing music video after another. Let's review.
Azealia Banks and Migos took the opportunity to show off their stellar dance moves, something Offset has surely wanted to do for some time now. Childish Gambino did the same in the eye-opening video he dropped off in early May. Over 400 million viewers watched on he went from shooting someone in the head to hitting the Nae Nae, a valid interpretation of the world we live in today.
Per usual, Drake decided to tug at our heart strings. From handing out nearly one million dollars to casting Cosby Show favorite Phylicia Rashad as one of his leading ladies, Drizzy had everyone in their feelings, for sure.
Some of your faves got animated, Lil Pump and Kanye West got boxy, and others, like Lil Dicky and Chris Brown, switched bodies entirely. And you can't forget Cardi B, who hid a whole baby beneath a wedding dress.
Queens legend Nas and Philly newcomer Tierra Whack both put out 16-minute visuals for some of the shortest albums of 2018. Logic and Rich The Kid drew inspiration from Office Space and Breaking Bad, respectively, while a couple of their peers left us with cryptic visuals in light of their passing. Rest in peace, XXXTentacion and Mac Miller.
In a year filled with nonstop wins, losses and tragedy, rappers found a way to theatrically cover it all and then some in a matter of minutes. Below, XXL lists their best work (in alphabetical order) of 2018.
"All the Stars"
Kendrick Lamar and SZA"Anna Wintour"
Azealia Banks"Apeshit"
The Carters"A$AP Forever"
A$AP Rocky"ATM"
J. Cole"Be Careful"
Cardi B"Bigger Than You"
2 Chainz Featuring Quavo and Drake"Boca Raton"
Bas Featuring A$AP Ferg"Bubble Gum"
Quavo"Bubblin"
Anderson .Paak"Cherry Hill"
Russ"Chun Li"
Nicki Minaj"Clout Cobain"
Denzel Curry"Dark Knight Dummo"
Trippie Redd Featuring Travis Scott"Dip"
Tyga Featuring Nicki Minaj"Django Jane"
Janelle MonĂ¡e"DoIHaveTheSause?"
Ski Mask The Slump God"Drug Addicts"
Lil Pump"Echo"
Swizz Beatz Featuring Nas"EdEddnEddy"
J.I.D"Everyday"
Logic and Marshmello"Feels Like Summer"
Childish Gambino"Fefe"
6ix9ine Featuring Nicki Minaj"Freaky Friday"
Lil Dicky Featuring Chris Brown"Fukk Sleep"
A$AP Rocky Featuring FKA twigs"God's Plan"
Drake"Gucci Flip Flops"
Bhad Bhabie Featuring Lil Yachty"I Love It"
Kanye West and Lil Pump"In My Feelings"
Drake"King's Dead"
Jay Rock, Kendrick Lamar, Future and James Blake"Like Me"
Bobby Sessions"'Nasir' - The Film"
Nas"No Stylist"
French Montana Featuring Drake"One Like Equals"
Token"Playinwitme"
Kyle Featuring Kehlani"Plug Walk"
Rich The Kid"Pretty Girl"
Stefflon Don Featuring Tiggs Da Author"Proud"
2 Chainz Featuring YG and Offset"Ric Flair Drip"
Offset and Metro Boomin"Sad!"
XXXTentacion"Self Care"
Mac Miller"Sicko Mode"
Travis Scott Featuring Drake"Slave Owner"
Young Dolph"Stir Fry"
Migos"Stop Trying to Be God"
Travis Scott Featuring Philip Bailey, James Blake, Kid Cudi and Stevie Wonder"This Is America"
Childish Gambino"Tints"
Anderson .Paak Featuring Kendrick Lamar"Walk It Talk It"
Migos Featuring Drake"Whack World"
Tierra Whack"Zeze"
Kodak Black Featuring Travis Scott and Offset