From Missy Elliot To Tinashe, Hip-Hop And Horror Have Always

Hip-hop and horror are a beautiful couple.

Horror and music have always been an item. I think of them holding hands like Goblin and Suspiria. Whether the score of a movie carries the viewer throughout the film or to the next scene, many of us can link music to horror imagery.  Horror influences can also be seen in music videos. Many forms of rock and electronic music are often linked with horror. However, I would like to highlight horror imagery present in the videos of Black artists from the Pop, R&B, or Hip-Hop genre. 

When we think of Black artists and horror ‘Thriller’ is probably the first music video that comes to mind. I searched Beyoncé’s internet for lists of music videos with horror elements. I kept finding the same songs. So, I decided to narrow the search to hip-hop and R&B. I found several lists, but many of them overlapped. The lists had older songs or artists that were quite popular overall. That leaves so much room for other artists to be left out. I decided to make an ongoing list. Here’s the first round of videos that tap into horror elements. 

Bali Baby – Bloody Mary 

 Bali Baby makes the hot goth aesthetic look easy. She typically has simple raps over beats with bass and guitar. Many of her songs have hooks that are memorable and easy to chant. In, this video, Bali Baby is dressed as an evil nun. You can see white eyes, kidnapped victims, fistfights, etc. I can often feel the influence of Lil’ B in her music. While the budget of this video shows, it does have charm. You can do a lot with red lights and a few filters. 

Doja Cat – Streets 

Doja uses futuristic and interesting themes in her music videos. In this video, she uses ghoulish characters that come from the underground. They have dead eyes and surround Doja as she sings in the rain on top of a car glittered with rust. It looks like a scene from a zombie apocalypse musical and I would love to see it! This video is also known for its silhouettes and use of light.   

BbyMutha – Sick

If you don’t know BbyMutha, now is a great time to check her out. She has a unique flow and voice. She uses dark imagery, violence, sex, and witchcraft in her lyrics. These themes can also be seen in some of her videos. In the video ‘Sick’ the viewer can see cauldrons, hex bags, dead animals, aggressive vomiting, and a stylized version of ‘The Birth of Venus’. This music video gives the viewers a lot to see with a small budget.  

Tinashe –  Naturally

Tinashe has transformed in regards to her aesthetic and image. She has come a long way since her song ‘2 On’ featuring Schoolboy Q, and I love it! Her most recent video ‘Naturally’ is heavily influenced by The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. Tinashe can be seen in the video as a butcher eating raw meat, but she’s also seen riding away in a truck covered in blood like Sally. She’s playing all the roles while dripped in blood and pearls. It’s worth a watch.

Drake ft. Project Pat & 21 Savage – Knife Talk 

This hip-hop song was dropped shortly after Halloween (2021). This music video is shot like a found footage slasher flick with intercuts of black and white scenes of older horror films. Drake can be seen standing outside of someone’s house with a knife in his hand. The lyrics of the songs involve plenty of violence so the imagery fits the song well. Many of the scenes reminded me of the Paranormal Activity franchise. Check it out!

Usher – My Way 

This is a music video that I used to watch all of the time without recognizing how it linked to horror. The video is upbeat and colorful with plenty of dance routines. The song itself is about Usher taking someone’s girlfriend, so I was surprised to see A Clockwork Orange referenced. Seven-year-old me hadn’t realized it a the time, because I hadn’t seen the movie. Now it’s easy to see the costume influence. 

Missy Elliott – Get Ur Freak On 

Missy Elliott is known for her hip-hop music videos. Her videos from the 90s still look very futuristic! She uses special effects, CGI, awesome costumes, and great set designs. You will see Missy referenced multiple times during this series of articles. This time I would like to highlight ‘ Get Ur Freak On’. Most people are too busy dancing to see the horror imagery used, but it’s there. This video shows what it would look like if the people from C.H.U.D. had a block party underground instead of getting eaten by monsters. Viewers can see people rising from the ground, Missy’s outstretched neck, and creatures with white painted faces partying underground.

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