Showing Out

Let’s face it: New York rap has fallen off in recent years. And over the past few years, East Coast rap fans have been waiting for the one track to put NYC back on the map. Lloyd Banks has done just that, catching the unexpected hit “Beamers, Benz or Bentley” with a little assistance with Dipset’s own Juelz Santana. Now, the two team up for a music video for the anthem, a clip that, though it doesn’t necessarily bring NY back, it does a good job of at least promoting the one track that has the potential to put it back on the map. Hit the play button above and ride out, regardless of whether or not you’re down for the cause.

Trina has been pretty silent recently, but she’s gearing up for the release of her upcoming album Amazing with the big ballin’ video for her lead single “Million Dollar Girl.” The Diamond Princess grabs Keri Hilson and Diddy and hits the hangar for a plane-themed clip, which is basically an ode to all things that fall into the lifestyle of the rich and famous. Though there’s nothing special to write home about here, the clip is relatively sheen and gorgeous, a nice prelude to what we can expect on the upcoming release (which features guest appearances from Trey Songz, Monica, Nicki Minaj, Lady Saw and a handful of others). Look out for this joint when it drops in the next few months.

Everyone seems to be putting their own spin on Lloyd Banks’ unexpected hit “Beamers, Benz or Bentley,” so it only make sense that someone would make the more recession-friendly version of the track. Joell Ortiz happens to be that dude, enlisting the Capo for his new joint “Nissan, Honda, Chevy” for which they just shot the video care of director Dawud Gaston. With some nifty color correction, the clip is a basic tales-of-the-street type of clip, showing a drug deal gone wrong when some plainclothes cops put down the sting. Hit the play button and ride out to this one - anything is better than a Lloyd Banks version of anything.

NahRight.com continues their one-shot series by enlisting Kidz in the Hall to do a single-shot video for their track “Introlude,” which goes by the name “Intro” on their freshly released junior album Land of Make Believe. Directed by Court Dunn, the clip sees Double-O and Naledge hopping in the backseat of a cab in the top-half of the screen, while they chill in a limo in the bottom-half. There’s not much to write home about here, but it’s a pretty nice concept that’s executed well. And if this gets your head nodding, then be sure to pick up their new full-length, which features guest appearances from MC Lyte, Amanda Diva, Just Blaze, Colin Munroe and a handful of others.

The wait is ova. Above is the new video by Lady Gaga featuring the other biggest pop star in the world (Beyonce) for their collaboration track “Telephone” off Gaga’s most recent EP release The Fame Monster. And, since the video runs for more than nine minutes, it plays like a movie - and it’s themed like one, too. It all begins with Gaga being brought into a prison by two tranny guards who lead her - dressed in couture - through a prison ward filled with sharply dressed inmates. Their exit line? “I told you she didn’t have a ****.” “Too bad!” Brilliant. The Jonas Åkerlund-directed video soon sees Gaga willingly becoming some other inmate’s bitch (full makeout sessions ensue) before one inmate beats up another as the girls look on. Then, the song kicks into gear - and that’s only up to the three minute mark. Hit the play button and seriously, do yourself a favor, carve out another 20-minute block to watch this on repeat a few times.

Word? Teairra Mari is being given another shot? OK, we’ll take the bait. Above is the ex-Roc star’s new video for “Sponsor” featuring Gucci Mane and Soulja Boy, the second single off her forthcoming sophomore album At That Point. The Yolande Geralds-directed clip shows Mari posted up in a mansion while Gucci raps about keeping her decked out in diamonds (he, of course, doesn’t appear on the video, as he’s currently do a bid) before Mari takes over and flosses extra hard. How hard? She hops in a pricey whip, flaunts a black card with her name on it and gets treated to a spa day at her own home. To put it bluntly, Mari is living a lavish life that we frankly didn’t know she was capable of living. Shrug.

The world has been waiting on Big Boi’s solo album Sir Lucious Leftfoot the Son of Chico Dusty for more than a year now, and finally, it gets a video ahead of its March 23rd release date. The Outkast emcee teams up with Too $hort and funk master George Clinton for the Zach Wolfe- and Dirty Dr.DAX-directed clip for “Fo Yo Sorrows.” The clip is extra funkay - so funkay, in fact, that an extra “a” had to be added to the word to convey just how thwacking and out there it truly is. We would have much rather have had a video for “Shine Blockas” featuring Gucci Mane, but baby steps are needed here considering that we’ve waited more than five years for another solo album from Big Boi (here’s lookin’ at you, Speakerboxxx).

As if “A Milli” weren’t enough, here’s Soulja Boy with “2 Milli.” The S.O.D. chief continues on with his recent string of video releases with the new clip for his joint “2 Milli,” which sees him stepping into the future in this technology-laden visual. While his lyrics are still very, very below average (”I spit hot flames, bitch / Just like a dragon / And my pant’s saggin’”), we’ll hand it to him that the graphics in this joint are actually pretty on point. The only problem? It’s a Soulja Boy video. We’d rather listen to a Flo Rida record than sit through this again. And that’s saying a lot.

And the wheels have begun to turn for B.o.B aka Bobby Ray. Above is the video for his first official single “Nothin’ On You” off his upcoming Atlantic Records debut Adventures of Bobby Ray, which is slated for a retail release April 27th. The clip sees B.o.B spitting game at a gaggle of fine fems, walking across the screen as if he’s a crumpled piece of paper that’s come to life. But he brings it back to the basics by playing with his 2-D band, strapping on his electric guitar and rocking out to this joint. If this doesn’t burrow itself under your skin, then you might need to check yourself for a pulse.

Who knew that Jagged Edge was still in it to win it? They might not be winning it with their newest video “Tip of My Tongue,” but at least they’re trying. Above is the new clip for the single off their upcoming album The Remedy, which sees them pairing up with Trina and Gucci Mane for a video filled with about every single cliche you would expect in a rap video. There are half-naked women, club shots, scenes by the pool, bottles popping - this is one big yawn. Not gonna lie, though, the song is pretty hot, it’s just that we don’t believe Jagged Edge anymore. To say that they need more people is an understatement - and that’s saying something for a group that has four members.