Video Battle: Black Sunn “Passing By” vs. Gucci Mane “Wasted”

Two videos hit my inbox this morning and they were they couldn't have been more different. "Passing By" from Baltimore indie artist Black Sunn is the definition of low budget, focusing almost entirely on the music. On the other hand, Gucci Mane's "Wasted" with Plies is an alcohol soaked ode to multi-millionaires featuring more groupies than a "For the Love of Ray-J" casting call. Put them side-by-side and the two videos become a testament to the current state of the hip-hop game.

First, Black Sunn's "Passing By", a promo for his upcoming album "GodSound."



Next, Gucci Mane's "Wasted" featuring Plies off Gucci's upcoming LP "The State vs. Radric Davis."



The Refined Take: Nothing like a little old-school compare and contrast. Let's review.

Set: The set of "Passing By" consists entirely of what appears to be someone's roof (we'll assume Black Sunn's). Oh, and there's also a cracked leather chair. "Wasted" on the other hand opens with a tour bus John Madden would be jealous of pulling into a mansion (we'll assume Gucci's). From there it's pretty much all pool party all the time.

Clothes: Black Sunn's rocking, from head to toe, a blue t-shirt, black vest, shorts, tube socks and what appear to be Reeboks. Mr. Mane is outfitted in a black cap, gold earings, black t-shirt, gold and diamond chains, gold and diamond bracelets and jeans (footwear unknown). I think it's safe to say Black Sunn's entire outfit costs less approximately the same as Gucci's hat.

Entourage: Black Sunn = some guy in a Tribe Called Quest t-shirt. Gucci = Plies plus more groupies than a "For the Love of Ray-J" casting call. Oh, and the only time you'll get this many white people in a music video is if there's an alcohol or "rockstar" angle. As you can see, "Wasted" has both.

Final verdict: Putting these videos side-by-side is an extremely revealing look inside the commercialization of hip-hop, a commercialization that hasn't been all bad (hey, people got to get paid). But what is has done is shift the focus of the genres from the places people actually live ("Passing By') to a fantasy world none of us will ever touch ("Wasted"), and that has been a loss not only for the artists, but more importantly the people who hip-hop was created to serve.