Image via Complex Original
If a picture is worth a thousand words, then how much more for an animated GIF?
The Graphics Interchange Format is more than just an assemblage of moving pixels twerking in your computer browser. It's a moment in time, reduced to its visual essentials and looped over and over until it starts to mean something else.
With the right GIF, all your thoughts and feelings on a particular topic can be conveyed with a single link. It all comes down to capturing the right moment. And luckily the world of music—hip-hop in particular—provides plenty of raw visual material to work with. So let's look back at some of 2011’s most remarkable (and bookmarkable).
Written by Alvin "Aqua" Blanco (@Aqua174)
Nicki Drops It Like It’s Hot
Just in case anybody forgot, the title of the song is Dance (A$$), with an extra emphasis on the ass thanks to Ms. Minaj’s dance in the remix video. Lord have mercy.
Rozay On Wheels
Rozay channeled his inner Wheelchair Jimmy in the clip for Lil Wayne’s “John.” (And don't get mad; this was months before he suffered a real-life seizure.) Rick Ross. Rapping. In a wheelchair. With spinning rims. Word to Robert T. Ironside.
Breezy & Busta
Busta Rhymes's scene-stealing speed rap pumped some juice back in his career, leading to a YMCMB signing. Breezy had to channel Mars Blackmon just trying to keep up.
Too Fly Guys
Kanye and Jay-Z obviously had a great time while making their “Otis” video. So if anybody has a problem with them stunting for the camera, ask them, “Why you mad?”
Bey's Baby Bump
Beyoncé scooped her own big announcement—bun is in the oven—with a sexy smile and a simple hand motion. This gif gave a whole new meaning to the term "navel gazing."
A$AP Rocky's White Chick
A$AP Rocky set the rap world on fire this year with his Harlem-meets-Houston flows that resulted in a $3 million record deal. The unsung hero of his breakthrough video "Purple Swag" was this white chick with gold fronts, who sounded even hotter chopped and screwed: "This is for my ninjas gettin' high on the regular."
Weezy In Jeggings
Lil Wayne's performance at the MTV Video Awards was an epic launch for Tha Carter IV. The album did big numbers, but somehow this GIF became more about the super-tight pants he was rocking than anything else.
All Falls Down
While performing in Bergen, Norway, Kanye West took a mean spill. Good thing he wasn't seriously hurt. (Ye already told y'all he's risking his life up there, fam.) Safe bet the new Air Yeezy 2’s have some serious traction on the sole.
Mos Def Screams "Swag"
Tyler, The Creator and Hodgy Beats performing “Sandwitches” with The Roots on NBC's Late Night with Jimmy Fallon helped take the Odd Future collective from Internet wunderkinds to the next big thing. Mos Def excitedly yelling “swag” into the camera sealed OFWGKTA’s ascension.
Big Sean Wins
Big Sean worked his magic and got Nicki Minaj to gyrate like she works at Sue's Rendevous and he was making it rain. This GIF sums up exactly how he should feel. Bottom Line: Sean won, while making it look easy. Salute that man!
