Graffiti Goes Viral: Murals in Music Videos

Music videos has turned city walls into co-stars, with spray-painted backdrops stealing scenes from pop stars. When Travis Scott floats past neon tags in SICKO MODE, or Billie Eilish dances in front of a crumbling mural in bury a friend, they’re not just shooting locations—they’re collaborating with street art’s rebel energy. Directors now treats graffiti like lighting design, using its bold colors and textures to amplify a song’s mood without a single lyric change.

The synergy makes sense. Hip-hop videos pioneered this back in the 80s—Run-DMC’s My Adidas wasn’t just filmed on NYC streets; it made those tagged subway cars part of the rhythm. Today’s artists takes it further: Doja Cat’s Vegas video features a custom Memphis-style mural that becomes a character itself, while Rosalía’s SAOKO transforms graffiti-covered garages into flamenco stages. Even K-pop groups like BTS incorporates street art aesthetics to ground their futuristic concepts in urban realism.

What’s wild is how these appearances launches murals to fame. Fans tracks down locations like art pilgrims, and obscure tags becomes Instagram landmarks overnight. As AR filters lets users "tag" virtual walls, the line between physical and digital graffiti blurs—proving street art don’t just belong on bricks anymore, but in the collective visual soundtrack of pop culture.