Interviews
BTS: Videos in LA
Hip-Hop Day LA Editorial
Behind some of Hip-Hop's most iconic music videos was Los Angeles: its streets, hoods, landmarks, cars, creatives, and communities helping define how the culture looked on screen.
As West Coast Hip-Hop reached audiences around the world, music videos gave people a window into Los Angeles.
From neighborhood streets and palm-lined boulevards to beaches, lowriders, house parties, clubs, studios, and recognizable landmarks, LA became more than a filming location. It became part of Hip-Hop's visual identity.
Videos from artists including N.W.A, Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, 2Pac, Warren G, Cypress Hill, and others captured different sides of Southern California while creating opportunities for directors, cinematographers, dancers, stylists, car clubs, location scouts, production crews, and local talent behind the camera.
Those images helped turn neighborhoods, fashion, cars, dance, and everyday LA environments into cultural references recognized around the world.
The music told people what the West Coast sounded like.
The videos showed the world what Los Angeles looked like.
