Kanye West - Get 'Em High (feat. Common & Talib Kweli)

What this video is

Released in February 2004 as part of The College Dropout, 'Get Em High' represents the coalescence of Chicago's underground hip-hop ambitions with New York's conscious rap tradition, featuring Talib Kweli and Common — two of the most critically respected lyricists of the era. The video's low-budget, cipher-style performance aesthetic reflects the ethos of an artist and team still rooted in grassroots hip-hop…

Why it matters

Emblematic of the 2004 alternative/conscious hip-hop wave that challenged cash-and-cars rap orthodoxy. The collaborative three-MC format references golden-age cipher traditions (A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul) while the soulful sample-flip production signals the boom-bap-to-soul bridge that…

The director

Patrick Reynolds (born October 7, 1983), professionally known as Plain Pat, is an American record producer, talent manager, record executive, and DJ. He served as A&R on The College Dropout (2004) and is closely associated with Kanye West's early career,…