After a brief hiatus Music Video Friday is back just in time for Memorial Day Weekend. We here at AOL Video hope that you have a great weekend especially to our U.S. service members past and present. The heat is finally coming (and not just to the NBA Finals) so fire up the grill, break out the lemonade, and jam out to this week's playlist of music videos.-->
Fleet Foxes - "Helplessness Blues"
Hailing from the all over the American Northwest the folk revivalist six piece known as Fleet Foxes are bringing their sophisticated style and vocal harmonizing to the masses. Rising to fame in 2008 with the release of their EP Sun Giant and their eponymous debut full length have garnered widespread critical acclaim as well as a strong following of fans in the contemporary folk-harmony genre alongside bands like Mumford & Sons and, to a lesser folk degree, Grizzly Bear. Briefly inactive after a tour supporting Fleet Foxes in 2009 the band has avoided the sophomore slump with the May 3rd release of Helplessness Blues. Expanding upon their debut Fleet Foxes' second album forms a more cohesive vision for the band and a seamless listening experience from track to track likened to Van Morrison's Astral Weeks by band leader Robin Pecknold. Fleet Foxes take their acoustics on the road this summer including a headlining slot at this year's Pitchfork Music Festival. Be sure to check them out on the road this summer and avoid those "Helplessness Blues".
Lil Wayne - "John" (feat. Rick Ross)
The Bayou bred Young Money millionaire has made the most of his recent release from prison giving new meaning to the phrase "paying your debt to society". In fact with a full slate of summer shows already in full swing with openers like Rick Ross, Lloyd, and Keri Hilson and the hotly anticipated Tha Carter IV on the way it'll be hard not to embrace Lil Wayne back into his role as one of the best MC's in the world. Already more prolific this year than elite rappers like Kanye West or Jay-Z, who still have yet to release their collaborative album Watch The Throne, Weezy seems poised for world domination after watching the careers of his proteges Drake and Nicki Minaj take off during his time in prison. Most recently Lil Wayne hit the stage at the 2011 Billboard Music Awards with Mary J. Blige to perform Someone To Love Me (Naked). Picking up where the frenetic flow of single "6 Foot 7 Foot" left off here's "John" featuring the Teflon Don himself Rick Ross.
Nicki Minaj - "Super Bass"
The aforementioned Young Money princess Nicki Minaj has made the most of her indomitable talent and *ahem*...assets to rise up as the most prominent female artist in hip hop today. Her first album Pink Friday has already reached platinum status and became the first artist to ever have seven songs on the Billboard Hot 100 at the same time. Minaj first turned heads as a part of Lil Wayne's Young Money collective and has put her high heeled foot forward on her path to stardom. Blending a pop style with her unique rap delivery Minaj continues to gain both fans and respect. The latter of the two stemming from the guest verse she contributed to Kanye West's "Monster" that many have hailed as the best of 2010. This summer Minaj hits the road with Britney Spears as a part of her Femme Fatale tour. Turn up the "Super Bass" and check out this fun, flirty, and vibrantly pink video.
Beyonce - "Run The World (Girls)"
Stepping out on her own after announcing that she would no longer be managed by her father Mathew, who had been managing her since her Destiny's Child days, Beyonce Knowles has asserted herself as an indisputable super star. Since 2003 Beyonce has sold over 75 million records worldwide putting her on par with such legendary acts as Prince, Van Halen, and The Doors and lest we forget her staggering total of 16 Grammy Awards. Taking a break in 2010 after the success and worldwide tour of I Am...Sasha Fierce Ms. Knowles took some time to restore her creative energy and it shows in her latest, Major Lazer sampling, single "Run The World (Girls)". In advance of her fourth studio album aptly titled 4 and her headlining appearance at this year's Glastonbury Festival the singer has vilified Kanye West's VMA melt down once again with another iconic video replete with her signature, difficult to duplicate choreography. If this is what a world run by girls looks like than sign us up. Beyonce 2012?
Flaming Lips - "Do You Realize? / Can't Get You Out Of My Head / Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots, Pt. 1"
Now let's get those pool side Memorial Day Weekend vibes working. We couldn't think of anyone better to make you feel better than Oklahoma art-rockers the Flaming Lips. Lead by front man and band mastermind Wayne Coyne as well as the under rated, multi-instrumentalist Steven Drozd the Lips are entering their 28th year of existence and show no signs of slowing down. With a live show that is widely considered one of the best and a message of cosmic love and peace Wayne Coyne and Co. regularly make fans of non-believers wherever they take their traveling caravan party. Ever see the lead singer of a band roll out onto the crowd in a giant hamster ball while confetti and balloons are blown out of a cannon into the audience? And that description really is only the half of it. It is our pleasure here at AOL Video to pull from our archives a Sessions performance by the band from 2002, which explains the Kylie Minogue cover. Kick back, relax, and enjoy the weekend with The Flaming Lips.
