50 Forgotten Hip-Hop Clips on YouTube You Probably Haven't Seen

We dig deep into the hip-hop archives of YouTube. #rare

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Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

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When YouTube launched in 2005 many users utilized the platform as a vehicle for self-promotion, while others used the video-sharing site to upload rare footage that only previously existed on dusty VHS tapes. Searching through hip-hop's past on YouTube is dangerous work—the archives are seemingly exhaustive. For every iconic music video with one million views, there are dozens of forgotten clips, interviews, and live performances no one has ever seen. So we decided to do some digging.

The following videos help paint a more complete portrait of hip-hop—a teenage Kanye West performing in Chicago with star-like intensity, Lil Kim discussing the importance of family in the aftermath of Biggie's death, KMD's debut at Hard to The Left, a young Lauryn Hill speaking on racial politics, and one of Mac Dre's last ever performances in Seattle (to name just a few). We've only begun to scratch the surface—this list is in no way complete or definitive—but we hope you'll enjoy this trip down memory lane. Here are 50 Forgotten Hip-Hop Clips on YouTube You Probably Haven't Seen.

This feature appears as the first installment in an ongoing series on Complex Tech.

Outkast Interview With John Reed

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Jay Z, Dame Dash, and Roc-A-Fella Backstage

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Puff Daddy & Mase on The Rosie O'Donnell Show

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Eminem and Proof Freestyle

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Teenage Kanye West Performing

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Mac Dre at Tha Wood Shed

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Ice Cube on Pump It Up

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Black Star Perform in Watts

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LL Cool J, DMX, Red Man, Method Man on Apollo

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Nas and Biggie Smalls Freestyle

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The Roots on BET

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Leaders of the New School Interview

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A Tribe Called Quest on David Letterman

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Souls of Mischief Performing at Jefferson High

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KRS-One 'In Living Color' Performance

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Tupac Interview at 17

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ATCQ on Rap City

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Lauryn Hill And Jeru The Damaja Discuss Race

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D'Angelo on MTV Live

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Eminem's First Video Interview

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Missy Elliot Talks Music on MTV

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TLC on Fade To Black

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Mase and Kanye West Interview

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Eazy E. Disses Dr. Dre on Yo! MTV Raps

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Jay Z and Foxy Brown Interview on Rap City

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Schoolly D at the Latin Quarter

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Beastie Boys on the Chris Rock Show

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The Hot Boys at Teen Summit in '97

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Mystikal's First National TV Appearance

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The Firm Performs "Phone Tap" Live

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Pete Rock's and CL Smooth's First Performance at the Hard To The Left Rap Showcase

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Rakim Commercial For Gold Teeth USA

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The Pharcyde Live in Los Angeles

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Ol' Dirty Bastard on YO! MTV Raps

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LL Cool J Live in Maine

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"All About The Benjamins" Performance at the 1998 Soul Train Awards

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Al B. Sure and Slick Rick

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Lil' Kim on The Ricki Lake Show

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Cash Money and Puffy at The Tunnel

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Debut Performance of KMD

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Brand Nubian's First Ever Live Performance

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Nas Performs "Street Dreams (Remix)" on All That

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Harlem World on Soul Train

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Ras Kass' Infamous "Hiiiiii, Gaaaame" Video

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Grandmaster Melle Mel, Keith Cowboy, and Scorpio on Top of The Pops

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Black Thought and Questlove Freestyle

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Ghostface Killah With Big Tigger on Rap City

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The Diplomats in London

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DJ Khaled on South Beach in 1996

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Chris Lighty, Steve Stoute, Shakim Compere, and Dame Dash Speak at the How Can I Be Down? Music Conference

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