Tone loc - funky cold medina

What this video is

Released March 18, 1989 as the second single from Tone Lōc's debut album Lōc-ed After Dark on Delicious Vinyl, 'Funky Cold Medina' arrived on the crest of hip-hop's first mainstream pop breakthrough. The single reached #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became the second ever platinum-certified rap single — following Tone Lōc's own 'Wild Thing.' The video's bar-set narrative and comedic tone mirrored the track's…

Why it matters

This video is a foundational document of the late-80s pop-rap crossover, demonstrating how hip-hop's visual vocabulary — street fashion, comedic narrative skits, direct MC address — was being packaged for mass MTV consumption. Its sample-heavy sonic template (Foreigner, Funkadelic, Rolling Stones,…

The director

Tamra Davis (born January 22, 1962, Studio City, CA) is an American film, television, and music video director who directed over 155 music videos in her career. She launched her directing career with early hip-hop and alternative acts, then transitioned to…