In this week’s top music-video picks, we take a journey through open waters, new psychedelic drugs, and real-life videogames. From hip hop to electronic and indie rock, and featuring artists like Passion Pit and Snoop Dogg, see which music videos are becoming viral.
Rick Ross: ‘Pirates’
What starts off as an innocent ride on an expensive speedboat with his bikini-clad lady (with plenty of booty shots) veers into a bit of a Miami Vice episode—complete with a duct-taped bag and briefcase exchange (Hmmm, what could it be?)—in Rick Ross’s directorial debut. The seemingly high-budget Maybach Music Group video shows large-scale panoramic views of crisp blue ocean water and sky filling the screen, and even features Rozay and his woman taking time to enjoy their speedboat ride by lifting their arms in the air as if they’re on a Disneyland ride.
Passion Pit: ‘Carried Away (Tiesto Remix)’
Baggies full of colored Fun Dip candy or mind-altering substances? The heavy visual-effects video for this new indie-rock-meets-trance Passion Pit remix shows a group of kids ingesting these powdery goodies and experiencing body-splitting explosions—a Multiplicity of sorts.
Shugo Tokumaru: ‘Katachi’
This video is a visual delight, showing stop-motion at its finest in swoops of mesmerizing paper cutouts moving seamlessly to the beat of Shugo Tokumaru’s song. “Katachi” means “shape” in Japanese, and shapes are an understatement for what this video delivers. From making the hand cutouts clap (see 0:10) to a head rotating 360 degrees (see 2:22), this genius display of art complements the gifted Japanese multi-instrumentalist’s talents.
Divine Fits: ‘My Love Is Real’
Divine Fits—the super rock band composed of members of Spoon and Wolf Parade—released this hypnotic music video this week, showing members of the band diving fully clothed into a gorgeous, indigo-tiled swimming pool. Slow-motion camerawork captures the mood of this addictive track.
Xilent: ‘Boss Wave’
Obsessed with videogames much? Everything about this video brings nostalgia to gamers, including the sounds of this 8-bit dubstep track from U.K. music producer, Xilent. In the video, an avid gamer takes his imagination to the next level as he jumps into a real-life robot body and unleashes the ultimate destruction on his town.
50 Cent (featuring Snoop Dogg and Young Jeezy): ‘Major Distribution’
There should be a new drinking game where you take a swig of alcohol every time you see an object made of gold in this video. Golden guns. Golden dumbbells. Even a golden baby stroller (see 1:06)! 50 Cent and his big-name collaborators—Snoop Dogg and Young Jeezy—flow in this video with shots of booty-shaking girls and skulls donning handkerchiefs.
Crystal Castles: ‘Sad Eyes’
This haunting video feels like a voyeuristic look into glitchy security-camera footage set to the soundtrack of experimental electronic music. A combination of live Crystal Castles concert footage and creepy images (vacant doll-like stares and a masked couple) give you the feeling that something bad is about to happen…or already has.
Zak Waters: ‘Runnin Around’
Los Angeles musician Zak Waters goes from one sexy romp to another in this music video about one-night stands and finding the right one. The smooth and funky dance track meets an impressive use of camera tricks that show different love scenes on a rotating bed.