When the hip-hop movement first started it was all about the art of MCing, which mostly involved live performances, word-of-mouth and rap battles. As it grew and gained popularity in the 80s, the visual medium also became a tool of expression in the culture for artists to connect with their audience. Merging their lyrics with a visual narrative, artists like LL Cool J and Run-D.M.C. were among the first ones to experiment with the medium.
But the 90s were when music videos really blossomed as a phenomena. Artists like Missy Elliot, Snoop Dogg, The Wu Tang Clan and Tupac took over MTV. And who could ever forget the golden era of Slim Shady, who broke just about every trope that had freshly formed when it came to music videos.
Over the years visuals have become an inseparable part of hip-hop culture, going through different eras and waves and transforming MCs and musicians into auteurs. On this occasion of World Hip-Hop Day, Homegrown has curated a list of the best videos that accompanied the music of hip-hop artists from India over the years. These videos don’t just highlight the creativity of artists here at home, they also put a cultural lens on their expressions while building a distinct homegrown hip-hop movement.
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