Few songs are as perfect as this one. It has that perfect mix of jazz and hip hop that was perfected in the 80's, but with an extra kick from what I imagine is better studio equiptment that the success of Paid In Full afforded them. But for all the amazingness of the song, the video falls pretty flat. I always find myself getting tense during this the video because the whole time I'm waiting for Rakim to smile. And Eric B looks really creepy with that mustache and pony tail, and there's all those awkward closeups for a guy who says nothing the whole time. It's funny how they try to bring attention to him. In the office shots he's reading some a book (you really expect me to believe he's reading that?), and then in another shot he spins a globe. Like someone who's never heard of these guys is going to see this video and put it together that he's the DJ because he's spinning a globe?! Oh the 90's. But don't you see what I'm saying about the seriousness? I mean it's 1992, these guys are already legends, they're at a video shoot with a bunch of really fine white woman in bikinis at a huge mansion --stacks of money everywhere-- and they can't even crack a smile? And oddly enough, I've heard Rakim is super friendly in person... and also a vegan.
This video came out about six months later. Doesn't this look like more fun? 2Pac's smiling the entire time -and rightfully so, soooo many girls. At times the video get's a little goofy with the speed ups that remind me of an early Will Smith video on Hennesy, and the song isn't nearly as good as "Don't Sweat the Technique," but I sure as hell don't feel tense when I watch it. I heard Digital Underground talk about the shoot for this video and they said that 2pac was laying pipe left and right. I can't remember the exact line, but it was something like 'We'd be about to shoot, and no one would know where Pac was, then two minutes later he'd appear form behind a bush or a bathroom with some honey limpin' behind him." Amazing.
SIDE NOTE. Is that Wyclef Jean on the stand up bass at the beginning of DSTT? If it is. Big ups WJ.
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