In the first half of the decade, D.I.Y., low budget videos had a home on SMACK DVDs, BET Uncut and local video shows like Video Music Box. But after the rise of YouTube in 2005, and the cancellation of BET Uncut in 2006, the hip-hop world finally warmed up to the idea of releasing music videos exclusively for the internet, brimming with not-safe-for-TV content. Watch Complex’s picks for the 10 best below…
#10: Cam’ron “Curtis” (2007) When it comes to beefing in the internet age, you can thank Cam and 50 for popularizing the low-budget “diss video.” Curtis’ “Funeral Music” came first (shot in 50’s Connecticut garage—LOL!), but Killa got the best of him in this response, where he got all of Harlem holler out the now-infamous nickname “Currrrrrrtisssss!”
#1: Prodigy “Mac 10 Handle” (2006) The clip that arguably started the whole low-budget internet video craze also happens to be the best. After the disaster of Mobb Deep’s G-Unit debut Blood Money, many of the group’s fans were starting to wonder if Hollywood Hav and V.I.P. had lost their gritty NYC-essence for good. But after linking up with director Dan “The Man” Melamid to make this horrific video—filled with smoke, Henny, Satan and a bloody round of couch-stabbing—there was no question that P was going to deliver on Return of the Mac.
by Daba
