Welcome to FACT’s weekly video round-up.
As we note at the end of every year, music videos have never been better. But too often, music videos — along with documentaries, live sets and interview clips — get lost in the shuffle of news and new music.
With that in mind, FACT is doing what it does for mixes, mixtapes, vinyl and more: rounding up the internet’s best videos on a weekly basis. And to remove our bias, we won’t be including our own content — you’ll have to stay tuned to FACT TV for all your Against The Clock, FACT Freestyles and Confessions needs.
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Thundercat
‘Them Changes’
Dir: Carlos Lopez Estrada
Thundercat (with assists by Flying Lotus and Kamasi Washington) delivers heartbroken lyrics in a funkified package on ‘Them Changes’, and the video uses a samurai-ronin metaphor to represent all sorts of emotional dismemberment.
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Purple
‘Let Me Stay’
Dir: João Retorta
Purple’s non-linear ‘Let Me Stay’ video evokes memories of Irréversible. João Retorta intercuts steamy, Skinemax sex scenes with the travels of a bloodied man-on-a-mission, but there are no easy answers or cheap pay-offs.
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Dam-Funk
‘We Continue’
Dir: Jeff Broadway
Dam-Funk joyrides around Los Angeles and boogies in smoke-filled rooms, armed with his soulful voice and a killer keytar. “Don’t you ever stop… don’t you ever quit” — we hope Dam takes his own advice.
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Newham Generals feat. Wiley
‘Scars’
Dir: Luke Carlisle and Broken Antenna
A ten-year-old grime track gets an appropriately nostalgic lyric video, with lyrics “typed” on old school Nokias amid vintage copies of RWD and various paraphernalia.
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KeithCharles Spacebar feat. Father & RichPoSlim
‘Always 1’
Dir: Pomp & Clout
Awful Records tears down a house party in this 360-degree video by Pomp & Clout. Even if you don’t move the screen around, there’s enough motion and action to keep things interesting.
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Darq E Freaker feat. Dai Burger
‘Choppin Necks’
Dir: Thrift World Order
Darq E Freaker, Dai Burger and friends share a video for their own bitch-better-have-my-money anthem, mixing sex and violence as they roll joints and brandish knives.
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Pharrell Williams
‘Freedom’
Dir: Paul Hunter
Pharrell takes his message of freedom global, giving a pristine view of life — and its injustices – around the world. From sweatshops to Tiananmen Square in Lego, this one has its share of striking shots.
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Prince feat. Eryn Allen Kane
‘Baltimore’
Dir: Ralston Smith
Prince and company go documentary-style for ‘Baltimore’, mixing footage of the city’s #blacklivesmatter protests and his surprise concert in support of them for the easy-listening protest anthem’s lyric video.
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Janet Jackson feat. J. Cole
‘No Sleeep’
Dir: Dave Mayers
Miss Janet is back with the video for her comeback single, all smiles as she readies for bed. The first half — with a pseudo one-take look — fares better than the second, where digital duplicates of J. Cole muddy the waters — one is more than enough.
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Natalie La Rose feat. Fetty Wap
‘Around the World’
Dir: Hannah Lux Davis
Amsterdam pop riser Natalie La Rose takes her choreography around the world with some looks (the one that looks like Britney circa ‘I’m A Slave 4 U’) better than others (the requisite geisha styling). Sadly, Fetty appears in voice only.
