Loads of cash, a fair share of guns, lots of ass, and a couple scenes with the artist reciting lyrics next to his crew--just like that, you have the modern-version of a hip hop music video. With today's music videos feeling like recycled copies of one another, it takes two key factors to truly distinguish a music video from it's peers:

1. Originality: It's perfectly fine to put together a bunch of clips of hoes twerking next to some mean mugging dudes with straps and drugs--just don't let it be the only thing. In this context, being original has less to do with doing something big and crazy, and more related towards doing anything other than what we expect. It could be something as complex as a deeper meaning within the video or something simple like including a storyline. Just don't be basic.
2. Great music: A music video is practically an unnecessary complement to the music--you can have a song without a music video, but you can't have a music video without a song. A great record does wonders for a mediocre music video--it makes good scenes seem great, while also making it easier to look over flaws. On the contrary, it certainly doesn't help your chances of watching and enjoying a music video if you think the song is trash.
   

Give me a music video of a decent song that does something a little different, and I'll give you my eyes and ears. Even though it's only a couple weeks into July, some artists have already done what it takes to rise above their peers, providing us with four music videos that deserve your attention.

"Alright" – Kendrick Lamar

It’s the first music video, and I’m already breaking the rules by choosing something that was released a day before July 1. Big whoop, want to fight about it? If there’s anybody to make an exception for, it’s Kendrick Lamar. The music video for the actual song, "Alright," doesn’t start until the 2:40 mark, but that doesn’t mean you should skip over the intro. Starting off the music video with a part of his thematic poem from "To Pimp A Butterfly," you soon see K-Dot in a car with fellow TDE counterparts Schoolboy Q, Jay Rock, and Ab Soul. From there, Lamar tackles the relationship between cop and civilian (more specifically, young African-American males) through clever uses of role reversal, proud displays of his peers, and a fearless “man of the people” vibe. Kendrick also literally flies through the streets of Oakland and Los Angeles, and even raps in broad daylight atop a traffic light on Figueroa and 11^th Street, one of the busiest intersections in Los Angeles. Kendrick did more than alright with this one, putting this music video in contention to be the best of the year.

"With That" – Young Thug ft. Duke

You might be thinking, “How the hell is this writer going to follow Kendrick Lamar with Young Thug?” Usually I’d agree, but trying to compare K-Dot and Thugger is like comparing apples and oranges. They’re both in the same category, but they’re completely different from one another. Young Thug may lack in lyrical talent and sophisticated music, but he’s a master of melodies and rhythm patterns, seamlessly complimenting Atlanta’s current wave of trap music. He’s done the usual money-flaunting routine with videos like "Check," but "With That" features huge cartoon heads on regular bodies, random birds flying across the screen, an OG feelin’ himself in the middle of a street, and other random, trippy scenes. It’s a great beat on a video that has enough to keep you interested, and certainly includes more than any of Young Thug’s recent video releases.

"Energy" – Drake

For a song where he literally says, "My acting days are over," Drake does a lot of acting in this one. From portraying the likes of Oprah, Justin Bieber, Kanye West, Rob Ford, OJ Simpson in the infamous white Ford Bronco, Barack Obama, and… I can go on for days. Just watch the video.

"Jump Out The Face" – Meek Mill ft. Future

It’s been two weeks since the release of his sophomore album "Dreams Worth More Than Money," but more importantly, it’s been two consecutive weeks that Meek Mill’s album has stood as the number one album in the country. While "Jump Out The Face" combines the talents of Meek Mill, Future, and Atlanta-based producer Metro Boomin, the music video follows the "Breaking Bad" lifestyle of the trio, with police and federal investigators heavy on their trail. Some may find the narrative a bit underwhelming, making this is a prime example of a great song doing wonders for an average music video.