Whether we're talking about artists that were born and raised in L.A., or who were just passing through, many of them have used the city as a character in music videos for their most popular songs. From 2Pac driving up to Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza and Tom Petty riding the escalators at the Westside Pavilion, from Guns N' Roses playing at the Orpheum Theatre and Michael Jackson dancing with zombies in Boyle Heights, here's a then-and-now look at L.A. locations featured in 20 classic music videos. To learn more about each video, read our ranked list of the best music videos shot in Los Angeles. All photos by Jared Cowan except where noted.
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