Before there was Auto-Tune-obsessed, out-of-tune-crooning, American Psycho-copping, Pee Wee Herman-dressing, love-locking-down Kanye, there was, actually, for one hot second, (kinda) humble Kanye. Really. If you self-sacrifice constitutes humility. Dude barely even put himself in his "Flashing Lights" video except for the final few seconds, when he got hacked to bits (for leaving the toothpaste cap off? Mispronouncing "Murakami"? BLOGGING IN ALL CAPS?).
"Flashing Lights" -- thanks to Kanye's willingness to get wacked, singer Dwele's hook, Spike Jonze's lenswork, Playmate Rita G., and a Zippo lighter -- is one of the best, most haunting, most unexpected, and most asstacular videos of 2008.
+ Runner-up: Britney's "Circus," but three VMAs and countless comebacks seemed like enough.
+ Pop Cultured's No. 3 video: Rihanna, "Rehab"
+ MTV's Best of 2008