Seeing Sounds: New NC Music Videos, February 1
Fresh visuals from a quintet of Charlotte and Raleigh acts, new and old.
The devil has been hard at work lately, but NC hip-hop has arguably been working even harder. These five visuals—two for new songs, one "Tiny Desk" live set, one track from '25 and another from back in '24—all dropped in the past week, a testament to the hungry prolificacy of the state's established and emerging artists alike. From the streets of Brooklyn, to the bed of a pickup truck on a nondescript NC road, to the cockpit of a prop plane, they don't disappoint. If we have no other good news to lean on, we at least have this: the art of the music video, once again, lives to see another day.
"Instagram Highlights" - Lord Jah-Monte Ogbon
Director: Devin Johnsons (@dopeoverdose)
Charlotte, NC
The latest accompaniment to Jah-Monte's long-promised As of Now, released on Friday with Lex Records—the focus of more coverage on SE soon.
"Minea The Great" - Cheeno Ghee
Director: Malik Gist
Charlotte, NC
As evidenced by her full-on R&B release last year, the MIDSEASON EP, Cheeno has a number of different bags she can get into. But the veteran emcee's most natural habitat might be the kind of subdued, instrumental set constructed here for "Minea The Great," a submission for NPR.
"The Syndicate" - Kooley High (from 2024's All Infinite)
Director: @thebrojackson
Raleigh, NC
Comprised of the unpretentious BK/Raleigh regulars (at least, three-fifths of them), loitering around the Barclays Center and trading verses on empty subway cars, the video for "The Syndicate" benefits from the timeless, true-school feel of its source material. Almost two years removed from the song's initial release, the pairing is an effortless fit.
"Lying Flying" - Ducee' Droptop & leroy (from 2025's Money Talk, Vol. 1)
Director: Stitch Collective
Charlotte, NC
Two phones, BMWs, and a prop plane that (disappointingly) remains on the tarmac—these are some of the basic ingredients for another crisp video from leroy & Ducee' Droptop, who continue to have as much fun with their music as anyone out.
"4everland" - Bobby James ft. 3amsound
Director: @TilDeathDoUsArt
Raleigh, NC
An Oak City affair all the way around—Bobby and 3am jostling around in the back of a pickup truck, Raleigh Denim cofounder Victor Lytvinenko driving, Artist Plott shooting the one-take visuals—"4everland" might just be a one-off, or it could be the cinematic start to something more. In the meantime, between its stark visuals and beatific sound, it's moving enough to stand on its own.
