I’ve been kicking around this video in my drafts folder for sometime now. And though it has been out for awhile, I couldn’t shake it and just let it lie there, so let’s embark on a little journey we’ll call “A Good Video by Default”, for now. Also, I won’t try and front that we’ve been all about Erykah Badu and that we’ve listened to her stuff for some time now. Aside from “Tyrone” we haven’t really been up on her music and outings. Thats just the way things are sometimes. However, after this, we’re making sure she’s on our radar, but we won’t blame it on the video.

Just to get things out of the way, I’m going to point out four artists and videos that must be mentioned for a video like this. They include: Cornershop, Liz Phair, Ed Banger Records (kinda) & of course Morningwood. Don’t ask me or expect me to elaborate, just click and watch and you’ll know all you need to.

So basically, Chris Robinson is doing the inevitable Hip-Hop/R&B version of the record cover video. That’s essentially the video and maybe even a sly version of the treatment for the shot. That being said, this video already drops to lazy or mediocre at best. I’m not saying the production or work put into the shot was lazy, considering it was a 22 hour shoot, but the idea is. From here on out, its basically a back and forth battle to push the video to either the relatively good side, or the lame side. Where do you think it will end up? Let’s find out!

Good Times: The choice of albums is entirely fresh and original. I think if it were any other status quo rapper or pop-ish r&b artist, the albums chosen would be mostly predictable or promotable for the artists’ friends/entourage/label. To get a rundown on the entire hand-picked albums rock, skate, or roll over to SoulBounce and check the selections.

Sad Times: Bad acting. Its small, but having the clerk just knowing the price and grabbing the exact change without looking at the register or even trying to pretend there is work involved seemed kinda retarded to me. It’s petty, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t bug the shit out of me, which is the last thing a video wants to do.

Good Times: Omar Epps. Did you catch him on the De La Soul album cover?

Sad Times: “Support Your Local Record Shop” scroll. Why? What for? Hasn’t the Save the Record Shops cause been played out since the iPod blew up? We love records and therefore record shops, don’t misunderstand, but they are slowly going the way of Comic Book Shops (who we’re down with too), and they’re still alive, without the needless promotion. Lastly, if you’re gonna make a statement like that inside of a vision like the video, wouldn’t you want to step it up a bit? That’s like those stupid “Parental Advisory” stickers stuck on cd art. It ruins the shit. Incorporate that idea into something cool, it’s not like you don’t know how to do something with after effects or don’t know a graphic artist.

Good Times: “Hey Ya!” reference. Turning the seminal Bryan Barber helmed “Hey Ya! on it’s head and replacing it with Erykah Badu’s style, sends ripples for a few reasons and also raises some questions. First, “Hey Ya!” wasn’t randomly chosen as it is sung by Badu’s ex Andre 3000. Check out Ms. Jackson for the skinny. Also, Barber is one of the few mainstream African American directors and it seems not only is Badu tipping her hat to Andre 3000, but Robinson is to Barber as well. Lastly, there’s a casket in the middle of the set. We’re not sure if she’s using that to symbolize the death of something or if she’s playing different icons who’ve passed on. We say that due to the black outfit that reminds us of Aaliyah. Either way, her choice to look like Lenny Kravitz’s old school (living) drummer icon Cindy Blackman is impeccable.

Sad Times: The End. A fucking Planet of the Apes toy?! We know of one person who enjoys it, but he’s a schizoid maniac. Seriously, what does that have to do with anything? Such a tasteful video and you end it with “Do you sell giftcards?”? Are you fucking kidding me? I’d slap someone for that shit if I could. I’d say, if you wanna do that shit, do it with another video, but don’t fuck with this, ya heard! And the “Domo Arigato”! Who said this video could be fucked with during the last 10 seconds? I want names and numbers.

Sad Times: Missed Opportunities. With such a crowd in the “Record Sleeve Video” pond, it’s a wonder why Badu or Robinson didn’t opt to go the Sleeveface route. It’s a different version of the same thing with a little freshness and room for some crazy shenanigans. There are some things I could’ve done with the original sleeve for The Strokes Is This It?!

So it looks like we have a loser here, but wait! This is “A Good Video by Default!” which thus means this particular video is allowed to slide by. Why? Because its a different spin on what we’ve seen before, so however much the idea is jacked, it has yet to be portrayed on the hip-hop/r&b side, ergo it slides by on technicality. I wish I could tell you this was an extreme and isolated case, but sadly this is but one chicken of the sea. Class dismissed.