Long before Soundcloud, virtual reality, and "Cash Me Ousside", music videos were one of the most organic forms of artistic expression for those in the music industry. They still are a form of expression, to be sure, but artists also have plenty of other avenues where they can share themselves with their fans, because the internet.
Since it's Valentine's Day and MTV is probably too busy playing Catfish reruns, we decided it was probably a good time to give you lovebirds a look back at ten of the most iconic music video couples, each involving hip-hop and r'n'b artists.
Nelly & Kelly Rowland in "Dilemma"
Now, this is nostalgia. There was simply no escaping this song when it came out in late 2002. "Dilemma" spent 29 weeks on the charts and would become Nelly's second #1 single off his sophomore album, Nellyville. In the classic video, Nelly tries to win over his favorite Destiny's Child, Kelly Rowland, from her current boyfriend as she confesses to always thinking about him. In the end, Kelly can't seem to resist the band-aid and Gucci bucket hat combo even as her mother (Destiny?) is yelling at her from the porch.
Ol' Dirty Bastard & Marah Carey in "Fantasy (Remix)"
Mariah Carey undoubtedly has one of the deepest catalogs of hits in the history of music. Ol' Dirty Bastard's enigmatic existence was unfortunately cut all too short, but not before this classic 1995 cut with Carey. While the recording sessions for "Fantasy (Remix)" apparently required some additional Moet and Newports for Dirty's liking, the video is as inherently innocent as it gets.
Ja Rule & Ashanti in "Mesmerize" and "Always on Time"
Ja Rule & Ashanti in "Mesmerize" and "Always on Time"
Ja Rule and Ashanti really had the formula down (for a while). In under a year, the duo had two of the biggest hits of their careers with "Mesmerize" and their chart-topping single "Always on Time". With Ja's raspy rhymes and Ashanti's angelic vocals, these two polar opposites were an unexpected match that provided the yin to each other's yang, and it translated in their music videos together.
Drake & Rihanna in "What's My Name," "Take Care" and "Work"
Drake and Rihanna are among music industry's biggest artists, with chemistry that's proved obvious time and time again. These two have been carefully crafting hits for a few years now. From 2010's "What's My Name" to their most recent collaboration,"Work," Drake and RiRi play off of each other like very few of their contemporaries. Complete with a few real romantic rumors and one epic curve these two have certainly had an interesting relationship both off and on the screen.
PARTYNEXTDOOR & Kylie Jenner in "Come and See Me"
"Come and See Me" is PND's biggest song to date. With the help of frequent collaborator Noah "40" Shebib behind the boards and lines like, "hear you talking bout we a lot, oh you speak French now?" this track is sure to have you in your feels. While Kylie Jenner is the object of PARTYNEXTDOOR's affection in the video, there's rampant speculation that the song was actually written about previous bae Kehlani. What isn't speculative, however, is the success of the single. It earned Party his first Grammy nomination and has been his highest charting song to date.
A$AP Rocky & Lana Del Rey in "National Anthem"
So unfortunately for us, A$AP Rocky doesn't have any lines on this track. That being said, he stills plays an important acting role in Lana Del Rey's vision for the "National Anthem" visual. Lana creatively reimagines the infamous John F. Kennedy and Marilyn Monroe affair with Rocky and herself as the leads in her alternative reality. From birthday serenade to gruesome assassination, and everything in between, "National Anthem" is a retelling of one of the most iconic couples in American history with two artists at the top of their respective games.
Method Man and Mary J. Blige in "I'll Be There For You/You're All I Need To Get By (Remix)"
This might be the most classic pairing on this list. The song is a remix of Method Man's "All I Need" from his debut album, Tical, with an interpolation of Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrel's hit "You're All I Need to Get By". The combination of Meth's gritty rhymes with Blige's soulful chorus led to one of the biggest hits of their illustrious careers. The track would go on to win a Grammy, go platinum, and of course successfully launch Method Man's historic career as arguably the most successful solo member of the Wu-Tang Clan.
Fabolous & Tamia in "So Into You"
Fabolous's 2003 jam "So Into You" featuring Tamia remains his highest charting hit to date (#4) and that's thanks in no small part to Tamia's assist. The song is based off of Tamia's original track of the same name. While Fab flaunts his signature bravado and spits bars about Tamia's culinary game, Tamia brings the soulful sound that few can match. The video gets a little aquatic as the two are shown living it up on their yacht while trading lines.
A power couple if ever there was one. Since their initial "03 Bonnie & Clyde" collaboration Bey and Jay have been a force of nature. Jay Z founded Roc Nation, acquired his own streaming service Tidal and even delved into sports management with elite athletes like Kevin Durant and Robinson Cano while continuing to deliver hits. Beyonce, on the other hand, is without a doubt the most powerful woman in music today despite her Grammy snub for Album of the Year. Beyonce and Jay continue to evolve as artists and people. All they need in this life of sin...well, you know the rest. These three music videos highlight the evolution of their relationship, from the very beginning to present day. Which is your favorite from these three cuts?
The Notorious B.I.G. & Faith Evans in "One More Chance"
The Notorious B.I.G., born Christopher Wallace, is one of the most gifted lyricists to ever grace a microphone and has become one of the most iconic emcees of all time. The song "One More Chance" was originally featured on Big's aptly named Ready To Die album. Following his death, the song was re-released with added vocals from his wife Faith Evans. Biggie's posthumous popularity has taken on a life of its own as he's become a cultural icon synonymous with the golden era of hip hop. Enjoy this classic.