The Best Music Videos That Came Out Of Lockdown

NEWS | June 18, 2020

They may have been in quarantine, but today's creatives weren't going to let a little lockdown dampen their artistic spirits. From the safety of their homes, performers and musicians had to get inventive to turn out clips that were aesthetically on-point, all without setting foot outside. Here, proof that good things come in threes.

The most surreal: Charli XCX, "Claws"

Less than a year after releasing her third album, Charli, Charli XCX returned on May 15th with how I'm feeling now, a masterpiece of eleven songs recorded in her home studio. Among them fans will find heady single "Claws," for which the English pop star recently released her most otherworldly video. Directed by Charlotte Rutherford, whose 3D universe has already seduced artists like Grimes and Diplo, inspiration was drawn from green-screen vlogs. Rutherford's video leads the songstress through a series of spaces and landscapes, from enchanted waterfalls to fluorescent race cars. Since its drop, Charli XCX has also shared a non-edited version of the clip — just Charli and the green-screen — allowing her fans to have some fun creating new backdrops themselves.

The most opulent: Drake, "Toosie Slide"

It's late at night and the Toronto streets are dark. Suddenly, the windows of a luxurious mansion flare with lamplight. This is Drake's introduction to "Toosie Slide," the single off his latest album Dark Lane Demo Tape, released May 1st. Directed by friend Theo Skudra, the video follows the Canadian superstar as he walks through his stunning home, also nicknamed "The Embassy." The founder of OVO Sound raps throughout the mansion's vast spaces, interpreting choreography by the Toosie dancers Hiii Key and Ayo & Teo, with moves that had already turned "Toosie Slide" viral before it was ever officially released.

The most DIY: Kiana Ledé, "Chocolate" ft. Ari Lennox

A rising star on the American R&B scene, Kiana Ledé dropped her first albumKIKI on April 3rd to critical acclaim. Featuring artists like Lucky Daye, 6LACK, Bia, and Moneybagg Yo, the newcomer had a solid crew to back her up. For its release, the 23-year-old musician unveiled her clip for "Chocolate," enlisting Ari Lennox to collaborate on the album's fourth track. Filmed with FaceTime, it invites us into the two artist's respective homes where, from their quarantine spaces, they both share their interpretation of the track. A simple, effective, and truly delightful piece. In fact, it just so happens to have racked up over a million views on Youtube.