Saying that some good rap videos came out this week would be a lukewarm understatement. Between Prodigy and Icadon are about 5 other rappers who put out dope videos within the past 7 days, the most important being Bun B's. "That's Gangsta" featuring Sean Kingston ranks as his first high-quality solo video, stylized to a point that seems almost too mainstream for the only remaining Underground King.

The authentic street shots, filmed from a car driving through Bun B's home of Port Arthur, really make this video pop. You can tell that half of the guys caught on camera are real dudes from the city chuckin' up a deuce in mad respect. Also, you have to love the Bun B tour bus, the UGK graf mural, and the "Smart Is the New Gangsta" black-tee. II Trill is shaping up to be a stellar fucking album.

The next, almost equally important video, comes from Gilla House's Icadon. "Cock Back (Dump A Clip)" appears on its face to be a shoot-em-up track that has gone way over the top: witness the chicks in bikinis firing automatic weapons, donut-spinning in European supercars, and the stoned gun-waving. At the end of the video, though, Icadon does something unexpected. The title, "Introducing: Back To Real Life (Rap Life Is Fake)," pops up, and then Icadon gives a short interview about how a Discovery Channel show on gun violence changed his perception of firearms. I'm not sure what the takeaway is from this whole thing, but I generally like it and think I respect Icadon.

The other big deal this week in rap videos is of course Kidz in the Hall with hip-hop's newest reimagining of the Beastie Boy's classic, "Sabotage." The hit, "Drivin' Down the Block" could have taken any form as a video, but somehow Naledge and Double-O settled on a tongue-in-cheek used car commercial for their theme. Hipsters and nervous white people are feeling great about this video. It's everything the borderline rap fan wants: hipster kitsch with bleeding edge beats. That's what its all about, right? (No disrespect though, song is hot.)

And then there's this: Keak Da Sneak, "That Go (Remix) f. Prodigy and Alchemist," What a fucking beat on this thing. The video is nothing really, just low budget nonsense, but the song is hot as hell, and Keak Da Sneak actually sounds decent. Pay attention to his voice, it's freaky. If he moves over to these darker, sparser beats, he might have a chance at the mainstream.

Hot Dollar comes hard with "I Luv Tha Streets." The short intro, full of mean mugs and guns, represents the video to be something grimier than it actually is. The beat is a soft, spaced out loop that seems inappropriate with all of the gun imagery. Yet somehow, the scene--Hot Dollar and his sign-flashing comrades parading around with guns--comes out feeling eerie and eulogistic. The best part of this video must be the final 2 minutes of local gang-member cameos. WG fucks with Hot Dollar for sure, been down since "Streez on Lock."

Last but not least is R. Kelly and his most recent hit/style change, "Hairbrader." I can't say that I'm feeling the song, but Kels and the director must have had fun getting bent and experimenting with studio lighting. Just to be clear, I love the new hairstyle. R. Kelly is an icon; let the haters keep on hating.

Finally, Prodigy put out four videos this week. Seems efficient enough to me--if you're headed in for a bid, why not film some shit for your forthcoming album? H.N.I.C 2 is a winner, by the way. P comes hard and sounds a lot like his old self. I'm keeping this one in mind for year-end lists.

Update: Yeah, I left off the most recent vid by the Roots, as well as B.O.B. and Rich Boy's "Haterz Everywhere." The beat for that song definitely reminds me of the stuff Wiz Khalifa has been spitting over lately: heavily influenced by trance. A new rap subgenre emerging, perhaps?