Since hip-hop was born in the 1970s, the genre has always covered a wide range of topics. But one of the things hip-hop is particularly great at is talking about sex. And as hip-hop went more mainstream during the 1980s and 1990s — and finally got the time it deserved on MTV — hip-hop's greatest stars started to make some very, very sexy music videos to match their lyrics. The tradition of sexy videos has continued to this day — though some women rappers have had to fight against misogyny in the process.
Take one of the biggest videos in the last five years: Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion's "WAP." The song is an unapologetic ode to women's search for pleasure in the bedroom, and the visual matches its sexy, fun energy. Megan Thee Stallion talked about the drama around the song in a 2020 interview with British GQ. "Some people just don't know what to do when a woman is in control and taking ownership of her own body," she explained. "I feel like for a long time men felt like they owned sex and now women are saying, 'Hey, this is for me. I want pleasure. This is how I want it or don't want it,' it freaks men the hell out. It just comes from a place of fear and insecurity, like why would anyone be mad about my WAP? It belongs to me."
Ahead, these are 45 of the sexiest rap videos of all time.
Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion's "WAP" has draw-dropping, incredibly catchy, and super-sexual lyrics, and it got a candy-colored music video to match. But make no mistake: here, women are in charge of their own pleasure, and it's all for their own enjoyment.
In the "Vegas" video, Doja Cat plays a lounge singer who welcomes patrons into her very sexy establishment. She brings a vital sensuality that brings the video to life.
Nicki Minaj and Ice Spice teamed up for the over-the-top "Princess Diana" video, which takes Barbiecore to sexy heights.
Ashanti is the picture of 2000s-era perfection in this video, which is one of many from the Ja Rule/Ashanti collab archive.
Young Jeezy's video about a couple trying to keep their relationship together is the Atlanta rapper's sexiest and goes perfectly with the mid-tempo song.
This may be Mase's song, but R&B group Total bring the bedroom vibes in this 1997 video.
The Roots have always delivered tasteful, high-quality music, and this video does sexy without veering into provocative.
Is there anything hotter than T.I. in a suit rapping about making your dreams come true as the sun sets over his shoulder? We think not.
"Frontin'" made the list because Pharrell is giving sexy bedroom eyes throughout the video and it's a throwback to the cool parties we wish we were invited to in college.
The romance between Common and Erykah Badu may not have lasted, but this romantic clip where Common spits lovely verses by candlelight will remain forever.
Rihanna makes everything sexier, and this video from Kendrick Lamar featuring our favorite bad girl is no exception. "LOYALTY" is just one of Kendrick's many exceptional visuals, and it's easily his sexiest.
Hova's 2002 video for his sensual track "Excuse Me Miss" is a classic and gets major points for being mature and sensual.
Mariah Carey in a bikini top and visor brings the heat in this 2002 video about a love triangle gone wrong.
Only Beyoncé and JAY-Z could outshine the most famous museum in the world, and Mrs. Carter's looks in the video for "APESH*T" are too hot to handle.
"Ready or Not" isn't your typical sexy video, but the lighting on Lauryn Hill's skin makes the video sizzle.
There's no such thing as too much Andre 3000, and a video that features Andre times eight is a dream come true.
No one makes a provocative video better than 50 Cent, and "Candy Shop" serves up major sex appeal that's sticky sweet.
How can a song about a hot nightclub be anything but steamy?
Any video set in Miami is sure to be smoking hot, and Will Smith's classic video even features a cameo from Eva Mendes before she was famous.
We're still waiting for our invite to a house party where everyone is as beautiful and cool as the crowd in this video. Diddy and Usher also get bonus points for the matching black leather jackets.
Take Wale's sexiest song, add a romantic, sensual storyline for the visual, and you have a sweet video that's beautiful and still steamy.
"Luv You Better" was a comeback song for LL Cool J in 2002, and the video reminded us that he still has the best lips and abs in the music biz.
2Pac will always be one of the sexiest rappers to grab a mic, and the video for "I Get Around" is him at his finest.
Every female rapper around today can thank Salt-N-Pepa for paving the way for strong female figures in hip-hop. The ladies are in control in the feel-good, empowering video for "Shoop," and their natural sexiness lights up the screen.
A classic song with a hypnotic beat and simple black and white video makes "Drop It Like It's Hot" one of Snoop's best videos ever made.
Ludacris is never short on creativity when it comes to his videos, but the visual for "Money Maker" is his foray to more mature, sexy video territory.
Big Boi led the way in the video for this 2003 song, which features an all-female car repair shop and a choreographed dance party for the grown and sexy.
Eve and Gwen Stefani's hotness can't be stopped in this classic song and video.
Before he was the father of three and husband to Queen Bey, JAY-Z was partying it up in mansions with models — well, at least, he was in his videos. The song and video for "I Just Wanna Love U (Give It 2 Me)" is just one of the works that captures the time and where he was as an artist, and while this video is undeniably hot, he's come a long way.
Foxy Brown ruled the hip-hop scene for the ladies in the '90s, and her video for "Hot Spot" is the perfect mix of edge and sex appeal.
The debut video from J. Cole is just as cool, relaxed, and sexy as he is.
If you want to see how JAY-Z has grown, split his videos into before Bey and after Bey. There's no question that she made him, his music, and his videos hotter.
No rapper was more popular than Lil Wayne in the late 2000s, and the video and song for "Lollipop" were his own brand of sexiness.
You can't talk sexiness in hip-hop without talking about Trina and the video for "Pull Over." The Miami rapper brought a new type of bad-girl hotness to the rap scene, owning ever aspect of sexuality and making sure everyone understood why she was "Da Baddest B*tch."
"What'cu Like" was the first time we saw a seriously sexy side of Da Brat, and while we love her tomboy style, this video showed that she can switch it up.
Cardi B proved she could go mainstream without changing who she is, and "Bodak Yellow" is one of her sexiest videos largely because of how fierce and fearless she is in it.
Missy Elliot doesn't make a bad video, and her clip for "Hot Boyz" is fun, sexy, and sizzling with assistance from Eve and Lil' Mo.
Nicki Minaj is a master at controlling how we view her, and the video for "Anaconda" is her best for both confronting the male gaze and daring the viewer to look away.
Another classic from Salt-N-Pepa, this video is a good time that proves that the '90s just may have been the most fun era so far.
Biggie had an undeniable swag, delivering lyrics with a smooth style that was never done before or since. The video for "Big Poppa," which is a New York party bathed in red light, is classic Biggie.
The song and video for the 2002 banger "Beautiful" never get old, and honestly, neither do Snoop Dogg or Pharrell Williams. It's not hard to bring the sexiness when a video is shot in Brazil, but the video's simplicity and gorgeous color make it timeless.
This futuristic video features Janet Jackson and Busta Rhymes dripping in liquid metal, and while Busta holds his own, it's hard to compete with a queen like Ms. Jackson.
Anyone who says they haven't wanted to go to the gym to re-create Teyana Taylor's superhuman moves in this iconic video is a liar.
Every LL Cool J video could be on the list, but "Doin It" is his steamiest song and sexiest video.
Thongs went truly mainstream with Sisqó's "Thong Song," and the song got a very sexy and fun video to match.