I gotta be quick here, but I thought I would throw out a couple music videos you’re unlike to see on MTV anytime soon, lest they disturb their apparently uninterrupted idiot programming. I should also note I have seen both of these artists live, and they provided (along with Clipse) for the best hip hop concert experiences I have ever had. Commanding, charismatic, and confident, I would highly suggest you drop your hard earned dollars on a ticket next time they come ’round.

You’re unlikely to see this video, Sirens by Dizzee Rascal, for two reasons: 1) Despite a Mercury Prize and a couple of pretty phenomenal albums underneath his young belt, Dizzee is British, and British rappers have never really taken off with the American public. It’s a shame, because he could teach them a thing or two - on a good note, he is apparently featured on the upcoming UGK (when when when?) album, and they will be on his next one, Maths and English, due out in June. 2) This video is pretty incendiary - casting himself as the prey of Britain’s execrable fox hunters, Dizzee has made a politically and racially charged video here, one that will likely find only confusion amongst American viewers and distaste amongst (some, most?) British ones. It’s a beast of a song though, a sneering, defiant cousin of Jay-Z’s 99 Problems. I can’t recommend him enough.

Next is Uncle Sam Goddamn by Brother Ali. A Muslim albino from Minnesota representing the Rhymesayers crew, he’s three albums and an LP deep (I have two of the albums and the EP - all terrific), and just released his third album, The Truth Is Here. He’s a special breed of emcee - funny, poignant, intelligent, righteous, and he’s got a wise preacher flow that floats and dips into all the right breaks in the heavily soul-inspired beats his producer and co-conspirator, Ant, cooks up for him. I don’t like this as much as the Dizzee video - it’s a little more obvious and heavy-handed - but the song’s pretty terrific, and peep the third verse - damn.