It’s that time to highlight the best and dopest this year had to offer, and we’re kicking off these lists by compiling our favorite videos of 2015. We vetted through artists of all walks of life and across all sorts of genres to deliver to you what are the dopest of the dope music videos released this year.
Hit the jump and see if yours made the list. Also, just a heads up, POD favorite Austin Vesely has three videos on this!
A$AP Rocky – “L$D”
The video for this track lives up to its namesake’s acronym, filled with trippy visuals that’ll surely have you lit at first peep. The lights are majestic, the kaleidoscopic effects will keep you mesmerized, and the journey through these 5+minutes will make you want to chase it some more.
Donnie Trumpet & The Social Experiment – “Sunday Candy”
Austin Vesely’s first directorial appearance on this list comes via his short film for “Sunday Candy.” The whole production is beautiful, with Chano and the SoX Boys performing an awesome choreography routine put together by Ian Eastwood with tons of set and costume changes, and it was all done in one take! If I had to choose my favorite video of the year, it has to be this one.
Eryn Allen Kane – “Have Mercy”
Remember how I said Austin was on here more than once? Vesely lands on the list again thanks to his work directing Eryn Allen Kane’s video for “Have Mercy.” This gorgeous and simplistic black & white video will have your spine tingling thanks to EAK’s powerfully emotive vocal and visual performance on her lightbulb mic.
FIDLAR – “40oz. On Repeat”
FIDLAR released one of the most entertaining clips of the year thanks their visuals for “40oz. On Repeat,” on which they remake some of our favorite music videos of yesteryear. These LA Punks take on Beastie Boy’s “(You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party!),” Missy Elliott’s “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly),” and Britney Spears – “…Baby One More Time.” What’s more to say?
Kendrick Lamar – “Alright”
K. Dot hits the streets of Cali, from LA to Oakland, in what has to be the dopest of all videos this year. The powerful message in the song’s lyrics are reflected here, with Kendrick spreading the wealth both lyrically and figuratively by way of his disposing of bunches of cash across the community, finalizing with a march to a summit. Even with that surprising ending, the message is clear, “We gon’ be alright!”
Kehlani feat. Chance The Rapper – “The Way”
Just plain sexiness! Vesely’s three-peat is complete with his directorial work on Kehlani and Chance The Rapper’s collaborative effort. The choreography is smooth and sensuous, and the chemistry between the song’s two protagonists is undeniably captivating.
Rihanna – “Bitch Better Have My Money”
Riri don’t play, and if you were to ever doubt that, look no further than this video. The NSFW clip is intense, to say the least, kicking off with Rihanna stuffing some rich white girl into a trunk and before proceeding to put the gal through a series of extremely convincing measures that will serve as a great reminder to everyone that you can’t fuck with her money, mayne.
Run The Jewels feat. Zack De La Rocha – “Close Your Eyes (And Count To Fuck)”
Much like Kendrick’s video for “Alright,” Run The Jewels delivered one of the year’s most powerful and politically-charged visuals with their video for “Close Your Eyes (And Count To Fuck).” The clip directed by A.G. Rojas is a stark representation of the seemingly-endless battle between the police and the black community. It’s exhausting and poetic, all at once.
Sleater-Kinney – “A New Wave”
There are two things I will never stop loving, and those are cartoons and Rock & Roll! In this video, both of those come together by way of über-cool Sleater-Kinney and the hilariously awesome animated show Bob’s Burgers collaborating for the video for “A New Wave.” Carrie Brownstein and co. rocking out with Tina, Louise, and Gene? Yes, always!
Towkio feat. Donnie Trumpet & The Social Experiment – “Free Your Mind”
This video is just so crispy, as we get taken to the club for a dance routine you can’t take your eyes off. The lovely dancers bring to life Towkio’s words, and their dance moves get further accentuated with eye-catching animation by Peter Collins Campbell.
The Weeknd – “The Hills”
One of the songs of the year had to get a music video fitting for its awesome sounds, and thankfully we got it. This video commences with Abel crawling out of an overturned car after its involvement in an accident, from which he goes on his merry (and bludgeoned) way, leaving behind a couple of models and an exploding car.
Vic Mensa feat. Kanye West – “U Mad”
Vic Mensa hit the mainstream thanks to his collaboration with Kanye West, and the “U Mad” visuals are a maniacal piece of dopeness that will have you lit in no time! With get a glimpse at the past with the SaveMoney crew moshing together reminding us of the old days when these guys would take over the stages at Reggie’s and Metro for “Don’t Harsh My Mellow,” and we move towards the future when we see Vic perform amid the madness of a crowd facing the riot police, foreshadowing seeing him several months later when he is in a very similar situation in real life with his participation in a protest against police.
*Honorable mention
Action Bronson feat. Chance The Rapper – “Baby Blue”
J. Cole – “G.O.M.D.”
Jay Rock feat. Black Hippy – “Vice City”
