Videography Evolution Of Jay-Z

Top 10 Music Video Evolution

1.) In My Lifetime (1995)

Jay-Z’s debut single that isn’t featured on either of his first two albums. After the song’s release, Jay-Z had royalty conflicts with Payday Records and decided to start Roc-A-Fella Records.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9Cg4C766Ec

2.) Dead Presidents (1996)

The first single off Jay’s debut album, Reasonable Doubt. It was a commercial success.

3.) Big Pimpin (ft. UGK) (2000)

The most successful single from Jay-Z’s fourth album. The music video was shot in Trinidad during its Carnival. Most of the video shows Jay and UGK partying on an expensive yacht and throwing money at a crowd.

4.) Dirt Off Your Shoulder (2003)

“Dirt off Your Shoulder” is the second single released from Jay-Z’s 2003 album The Black Album. The video features cut scenes and intense thermal vision.

5.) Roc Boys (And The Winner) Is.. (2007)

The video was shot in New York City in Jay-Z’s The 40/40 Club. It features a great amount of cameo appearances such as Nas, Rick Ross, and Diddy.

6.) Empire State of Mind (Feat. Alicia Keys) (2009)

The video is shot primarily in black-and-white, Jay-Z and Keys are shown performing the song in various locations in New York. There are several aerial shots of skyscrapers and stadiums.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCINmOZGV6Q

7.) Ni**as in Paris (2012)

From Jay-Z’s and Kanye West’s collaboration album, Watch the Throne. The music video is taken from one of their live performances of the song. The video also features strobe effects, kaleidoscopic mirrored images, and shots of Paris.

8.) No Church In The Wild (Feat. Frank Ocean) (2012)

The video does not feature any of the performers featured on the song and instead features anarchic riot footage and large street fights. It received positive reviews from critics.

9.) Holy Grail (Feat. Justin Timberlake)

The first single from Jay-Z’s twelfth studio album, Magna Carta Holy Grail. Dubbed a “visual” rather than a “music video”, the piece is a remixed version of the original album version, featuring pitch shifted vocals and a change in the song structure.

10.) The Story of O.J. (2017)

One of Jay’s recent releases from 4:44. The music video is a reference to how the media used to portray African-Americans in the past with over exaggerated features. It’s also a take on the current political climate.