Many locations in the Bronx have been a source of inspiration for artists. They can be seen in feature films and, of course, in music videos. After all, the borough of New York is famous for its “musicality”. Probably the first association that comes to mind when you think of the Bronx is rap music. Each borough street seems to be created for beautiful atmospheric videos. We have prepared for you a selection of the most famous videos that were filmed here. Find out more at bronx-trend.com.
Same Girl by Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lopez was born and raised in the borough of New York. The celebrity has often talked about this in various interviews, as she does not want to forget about her own “roots”. The singer also filmed some music videos here, including one of the most famous, Same girl. The video was released in 2014. In it, Jennifer admires the scenery of her native Bronx, communicates with locals and sings about being the same simple girl.
Later, Lopez noted that this filming was her most crazy experience. The idea for the video came spontaneously and the process started quickly, there was no long preparation stage. The singer herself admitted that it was incredible.
Empire State of Mind by Jay-Z and Alicia Keys
The creative duo of the American rapper and soul singer has become extremely successful. Everyone has heard the composition Empire State of Mind, released in 2009. The song took the first place in the famous Billboard Hot 100 chart. It was also performed at the MTV Video Music Awards 2009. Movie fans could hear it in many famous films, including Step Up, Men in Black 3 and others. The performers also received a Grammy Award.
The video for the iconic song was shot in various locations in NYC. You can see the Bronx in it. The filming took place at the famous Yankee Stadium, one of the most famous local landmarks. The “home of sports” was not chosen by chance. After all, the song mentions many prominent American athletes: LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and others. The lyrics also refer to the New York Knicks and New Jersey Nets teams, which are partially owned by Jay-Z. The video was directed by Hype Williams. Years go by, and the composition does not lose its popularity and relevance.
So Fresh, So Clean by OutKast
The duo of American rappers was formed in 1991. The band chose g-funk and classic southern soul as their main direction. All hip-hop fans have probably heard of Outkast. Their activities are very close to the general atmosphere of the Bronx. Of course, some of their works were filmed here. The performers also filmed one of their most famous music videos, So Fresh, So Clean, in the borough of New York. The setting of the area helped to bring all the ideas to life and create a real incendiary mood.
No me ames by Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony
Bronx native J. Lopez was inspired by her native land and created here. So she chose the borough of New York to shoot the video for her duet with her husband Marc Anthony. The video features several American locations, but some scenes were filmed here. Lopez decided that such a personal and special work should feature places that are important to her.
The composition turned out to be very tender and soulful. The video was awarded the Latin Grammy Award in the Best Short Form Music Video nomination. Probably, in 1999, everyone danced to this song at least once. Everyone turned it on while reliving the romantic moments of their lives.
Lean Back by Fat Joe, Remy Ma and Terror Squad
Since its inception, Terror Squad has been based in the Bronx. This is where the band finds inspiration, records tracks and, of course, shoots music videos. The video for their hit song Lean Back was also filmed in the borough. The rapper Fat Joe later called what is happening in the video throwing your shoulder back to the beat of the song. The incendiary composition “demanded” an incendiary video. And so it was.
The song itself reached stunning heights in the year of its premiere. This is evidenced by the fact that it entered the lists of the best compositions in many countries. For a long time, it led the popular Billboard Hot 100 chart.
National Anthem by Lana Del Rey
The popular singer’s single was presented in 2012. The song corresponds to the general style of Lana Del Rey. It combines sophistication and deep sadness. The video was conceived in the same way. The clip was partly shot in the Bronx, the locations of which helped create the right mood.
Filming was done by director Anthony Mandler, but the main idea belonged to Lana. The clip is based on the tragic story of the assassination of American President John Kennedy. An aesthetically beautiful video sequence, an interesting idea and, of course, a beautiful musical accompaniment ensured the video’s high popularity. Later, Billboard magazine called the work one of the best videos of its time.
Papa Don’t Preach by Madonna
The song Papa Don’t Preach is very famous, but also one of the most scandalous works of the singer. It was released in 1986 and immediately caused a lot of discussion. Madonna sang about teenage pregnancy and the lyrics contained many “loud” statements. Someone accused the singer of having a bad influence on young people, while others supported her. The composition even caused a conflict between the girl and the Vatican, as it mentioned Pope John Paul II.
The music video for the song was just as bright and ambiguous. The main character of the video is a young girl from a poor family who informs her family about her pregnancy. The atmosphere of the simple life of representatives of the working class prevails in the clip. It was possible to achieve realism precisely in some locations in the Bronx.
After the premiere, the clip was watched and discussed by everyone: schoolchildren, believers, music critics, representatives of health care organizations. Opinions were extremely contradictory, but one fact remains – the clip became very popular. The track stayed on the top of Billboard for several weeks.
Many Men (Wish Death) by 50 Cent
The popular rapper’s song was presented in 2003 and was included in his debut album. The clip resembles a real gangster film. Such characters as a hired killer and detectives appeared here. By the way, the roles of the latter were performed by Adam Rodriguez and Rory Cochrane. The actors at that time played in the famous series CSI: Miami. To convey the necessary “street” mood, the creators of the video went to the Bronx. Some scenes were shot here. All action fans will definitely like the clip. It has everything: showdowns, shooting, “good” and “bad” guys.
The work caused a furor and became a real standard of gangsta rap. Such authenticity could be achieved only in the “capital” of real rap, the Bronx.
The Bronx is the undisputed birthplace of hip-hop, fiery dance and street style. This is evidenced by the huge number of outstanding celebrities who started their career here. The atmosphere is so special that it cannot be embodied in artificial decorations. Therefore, many representatives of the musical world rush here to create. The streets of the Bronx, its houses and even ordinary residents can be seen in many clips of the most famous artists. Narrow streets, stylish graffiti – every part of the borough seems to be imbued with the spirit of creativity. The Bronx is style, courage and openness. It is noticeable everywhere.
