Top music videos filmed in Houston

Houston, an ethnically and aesthetically diverse city, has frequently served as a filming location for music videos. It was occasionally used as an impromptu filming platform, but more often interesting locations in the city were carefully picked for this purpose. Houston has been popular not only among local bands and singers but also among those from other states who wanted to shoot music videos here. Let’s take a closer look at some of the most well-known works by artists that were filmed here at houston-trend. 

Megan Thee Stallion — Bigger In Texas (2024)

Let’s start our collection by reviewing one of the most well-known music videos by local bands and singers. Our list is headed by Megan Thee Stallion, who takes pride in being from Houston. Many of her works are dedicated to and feature the city in some way. This includes the tracks themselves, music, lyrics and even album covers. Thus, Meghan’s creations serve as a vivid reflection of her love for her hometown of Houston and its culture.

In the music video for the hip-hop song “Bigger In Texas,” she demonstrates her dedication to the late 1990s and 2000s style. With a hint of irony, it emphasizes the love of jewelry among 1990s artists. In the video, the singer rides around the streets of Houston in a red convertible. The visual accompaniment to the song also includes some earlier recordings of the musician. The video features major figures in the Houston hip-hop scene, including Slim Thug, Paul Wall and Sauce Walka.

The clip is from her album “Megan”. It earned positive reviews for its deep connection to the author’s hometown culture and humorous lyrics. Furthermore, Megan frequently highlights Houston’s significance as the center of hip-hop and its creative identity in her live performances and music videos. The singer stated that she created this piece as an anthem for the city of Houston.

Beyonce — No Angel (2013)

It is known that the world-famous and beloved singer Beyonce is also a Houston native. She never forgets her roots, frequently coming to the city with concerts and filming the music video for “No Angel” in Houston. Lil Internet, a director known for his unique ability to capture the beauty of urban environments, was specially invited to shoot the video. Filming went as long as 8 days, which is quite a lot for this format. The video production team filmed around the city, filming residents going about their daily lives. Scenes from urban areas, such as Third Ward and South Park, hold great significance for Beyonce and take up a substantial portion of the video.

As a result, a captivating clip was created with the goal of demonstrating Houston’s natural beauty without bias or stereotyped cliches.

Travis Scott — Sicko Mode (2018)

Scandalous rapper Travis Scott was also born, as well as has lived and worked, in Houston. He also paid tribute to the city by filming a music video for his song Sicko Mode in his hometown. Interestingly, he also co-directed the picture. Although the musical film incorporates surreal elements, the viewer may easily identify several Houston locations, including the Astrodome. By the way, the rapper won several awards for the video for this song, including a Silver Clio Music Award in the music video category in 2019.

Chamillionaire — Ridin’ (2005)

The music video of hip-hop artist Chamillionaire for the song “Ridin’” gained social significance and sparked a strong reaction in society. The video addresses the fight against racism and police bias. Throughout the video, the singer illustrates the unfair treatment of African Americans by the police. The video’s creators aimed to highlight common stereotypes and social injustice. As a result, the video for the song “Ridin'” became a kind of social manifesto, a hymn of the fight for justice and equality.

The song became the rapper’s most popular single, propelling him to international fame. In addition, the song originated the expression “ridin’ dirty,” which refers to the image of persecuted youth based on their appearance or lifestyle.

Bun B Ft. Slim Thug — Draped Up (2005)

“Draped Up” is the first single from Bun B’s “Trill” debut solo album. The song pays tribute to Houston’s hip-hop culture and celebrates the city’s distinct style. Along with Bun B, musicians such as Lil’ Keke, Slim Thug, Z-Ro, Lil’ Flip and other renowned hip-hop icons contributed to the video’s creation. The music video is set against the backdrop of well-known Houston landscapes, highlighting the city’s identity as well as its ethnic and cultural diversity. 

Paul Wall — Sittin’ Sidewayz (2005)

The song “Sittin’ Sidewayz” is an example of Southern hip-hop, which originated in Houston and reflects its aesthetic. The picture features a significant variety of cars with large wheels and non-standard modifications, including powerful subwoofers. The musical video depicts the lives of youth in early nineteenth-century Houston. This video was the driving force behind this song’s commercial success.

DJ Screw tribute videos

DJ Screw, a well-known Houston DJ and producer who died tragically at the age of 29, had an enormous influence on music in the early 2000s. DJ Screw rose to prominence for his distinct “chopped and screwed” style, which slowed and distorted the music to create a hypnotic sound. A number of his music videos shot in his hometown are compiled to bring attention to his work and his contribution to the development of the local music scene. There is an entire collection of such clips.

Destiny’s Child — Bug A Boo (1999)

The music video for “Bug A Boo” was created for the single from the album “The Writing’s on the Wall”. In the video, the directors were able to skillfully combine humor with stunning visuals. The video tells a funny story about an annoying partner. The video was directed by Darren Grant, who has worked with the band on their other works. According to Grant’s plan, the video was recorded in various cities throughout Texas, although they did not skip Houston. Thanks to the humorous clip, the band got into rotation on television and cemented its status as a 1990s R&B icon.

Mike Jones — Still Tippin’ (2004)

The video for Mike Jones’s song “Still Tippin'” paved the way for international recognition of Houston’s hip-hop style. The video for the song depicts cars driving through Houston’s streets. Producer Salih Williams contributed to the track’s production, and his work on the instrumental part gave the song its distinct tone. The song’s success was partly fueled by the sense of regional pride it evoked by bringing together different parts of Houston.

Solange — Almeda (2019)

“Almeda” is more than a music video, it is a true visual masterpiece. The plot revolves around the singer’s coming home, and on a deeper level, it is a study of origins and cultural heritage. The song’s title and the video clip itself are references to the same-named Houston neighborhood, which is home to the African American population. This piece incorporates many symbols, such as horse-drawn carriages and black cowboys, alluding to slavery and the history of Texas’ struggle for independence.

Kirko Bangz — Drank In My Cup (2012)

It was thanks to this video that Kirko Bangz gained fame and broke into the Billboard Hot 100 chart at 28th position. Although the clip does not feature any deep references or hidden allusions, people enjoyed it. Perhaps its popularity among music lovers was due to an ordinary, albeit a little intimate atmosphere.