TOP 8 VIDEOS OF THE YEAR

1. BJORK 'WANDERLUST'.....
Bow down to this bish. Leave it to my girl to have you saying wtf and that was amazing after seeing a video. From the puppets to the landscapes to the crazy cartoonish deity....no one things a mile from the box like her. This ish had me trippin.... For me that's what an artist is.....creative, original and leaves me thinking. She's on some beyond futuristic ish. She's so in her own league she has no peers. You have to see it in 3d to get the full experience. Directed by Encyclopedia Pictura. WATCH HERE

2. SIA "SOON WE'LL BE FOUND"....
Leave it to the Australian native to make sign language interesting. Mixed with shadow puppets and fluorescent latex, Sia provides one of the most creative efforts this year. Directed by Claire Carre. WATCH HERE

3. GNARLS BARKLEY 'GOING ON' ....
I liked 'who's gonna save your soul,' which was critically acclaimed for them, but I felt like I could see that in any documentary. The video for "Going On" however took me somewhere....it led me on a journey and left it for interpretation. It had me thinking of issues involving african culture, cultural retention, etc. And then it led to this doorway....facing that trippin odyssey. You can interpret it how you want but what I took from it was people running away from their culture. Needless to say it hit home. Too often we want to be accepted, to follow the trend. The message "don't follow him." Directed by: Wendy Morgan
WATCH HERE

4. SANTAGOLD "LES ARTISTES"....
BK's own Santagold gives us a look at self-fashioned "artistes" with this effort. The originator of the 'fresh to def artist' look gave us a different look with a video filled with destruction, carnage, and violence in a colorful way and done with fake materials. Directed by Nima Nourizadeh
WATCH HERE

5. ERYKA BADU 'HONEY'......
Erica shouts out past hip hop cover art in this video. Talk about taking an okay song to the next level. The video is a shot of someone going thorough a music store and looking at old albums in which the covers include her in the remake. It helps to be a fan of hip hop to get the music and image references sprinkled throughout the video but she keeps it entertaining enough with her anticdotes and comedic appeal for anyone to enjoy. The idea is fresh, as you would expect from the hip hop hippie. Directed by Erykah Badu & Mr. Roboto WATCH HERE

6. KANYE 'LOVE LOCKDOWN'.....
Frankly, the song hits it out the park. The only way the video would not have been in the top 8 this year was if he made a homemade video of the ground. The song is infectious and the video imagery just puts you in the mindset and the mood of the song. The video doesn't match the lyrics but it gives you the appropriate vibe. That contrast from semi accapella to heavy hitting base goes with the soft white on white to the tribal references of the video. The drums also goes with a lot of african music, hence the reference. Directed by Simon Henwood.
WATCH HERE

7. FIEST ' I FEEL IT ALL'....
The video was done in one take. The underrated artist combines pyrotechnics with her sheep like vocals, and manages to paint the images of her lyrics. Directed by Patrick Daughters. WATCH HERE

8. ASHANTI "THE WAY THAT I LOVE YOU"...
CSI or Cops made as a music video is the best way to describe it. I enjoyed the storyline and the unique take on the murder scene as if you're watching it on one of those tv shoes. The most innovative effort (in video) from an RnB artist this year.
Directed by Kevin Bray
WATCH HERE

**************HONORABLE MENTION******************************
Go Girl-Ciara Feat T-Pain
This would definitely make my top 10 for the cinematography, dancing, style and theme. The transformation from a regular girl to a fictitious character known as 'super c.' This was a clever way for Ciara to introduce this character of her Fantasy Ride of an album to come spring 2009. And needless to say her moves are unmatched. Directed by Melina
WATCH HERE

Solange "Tony"
Short and sweet, but to the point. It develops the story of discovering the fella you had a one night stand with is your baby fatha. Reminds me of Amy Whinehouse's "Rehab" but it has it's own tic. Her best effort from her album currently in stores. Directed by Vashtie.
WATCH HERE

Beyonce "Single Ladies"
This video has been the craz in the past month because Beyonce puts it down as only she can in this over sexual gyrating with heels spectacle. Despite the Fosse rip off, it's certainly entertaining to watch. Directed by Jake Nova.
WATCH HERE