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Los Angeles is no stranger to playing itself in film and TV, but it has also been a star in several music videos over the last few decades. The same range of backdrops that Hollywood has recycled for years ad nauseum (haven't I seen that building before somewhere?) turns out to be perfect visual accompaniment to rappers, hair metal bands, drum-and-bass DJs, and singer-songwriters alike. Since the era of MTV turned pop music into equal parts sight and sound, artists have been taking us on a tour of L.A.'s myriad photogenic corners whether we were knowing passengers or not. Here's a collection of our favorite LA-centric music videos.