Although the landscape has shifted in how music videos are released, the memories of our favorite videos are the brainwork of some infamous directors who may or may not go unnoticed.
Thousands of music videos have been created since the first music video aired on MTV in 1991. These videos didn’t just define Hip-Hop and R&B, they sit at the epicenter of pop culture and influenced a generation of artists and creators who came later. Hip-Hop and R&B’s music video directors sat at the forefront of that revolution. Some faces may be unknown to many due to them being behind the cameras, but the names and resumés of this list of directors have made way for some of the greatest videos we've ever seen. Understanding the artist and the audience was evident in the best video directors. These Black directors collectively transformed what was considered a music video into something totally innovative, raw, and cinematic.
Here is a list of some of Hip-Hop and R&B's most significant directors.
F. Gary Gray
Director F. Gary Gray is responsible for the classic video such as Ice Cube’s It Was a Good Day. It became Cube’s most beloved single, and the video is one of the 1990s’ most memorable. The video made Gray a hot commodity, and he would go on to direct vids for Cypress Hill, Queen Latifah, Outkast, Whitney Houston, and JAY-Z, as well as TLC’s uber-acclaimed video for “Waterfalls” in 1995.
Gray also went on to Hollywood success in feature films, working with Cube on the stoner comedy classic Friday and other big hits, like Set It Off and The Italian Job. He eventually brought N.W.A.’s story to the big screen with the group’s Straight Outta Compton biopic. His ambition had always been to direct movies, and Hip-Hop gave him an inroad into that.
Ice Cube, "It Was A Good Day" (1993)
TLC,"Waterfalls" (1995)
Brandy, Gladys Knight, Chaka Khan & Tamia, "Missing You" (1996)
Outkast, "Ms. Jackson" (2000)
Honorable Mentions:
Coolio - "Fantastic Voyage"
Outkast - "Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik"
Jay-Z - "Show Me What You Got"
TLC - "Diggin' On You"
Chris Robinson
ATL-bred visionary, Chris Robinson, became one of Hip-Hop’s hottest directors in the late 1990s/early 2000s, when he delivered memorable visuals for hits like formerly known as Puff Daddy’s "Bad Boys For Life" and Busta Rhymes' “Make It Clap.” His prominence with rap superstars soon led to Robinson helming videos for virtually everyone; from Nas (“I Can”), JAY-Z (“Change Clothes”), a personal favorite, Busta Rhymes ("Pass The Courvoisier Part II"), and it was Robinson who directed the video for Snoop and Pharrell’s monster hit “Beautiful” and gave the world its first major glimpse of Alicia Keys in her classic video for “Fallin.’” Robinson also famously made the jump to the big screen with 2006’s ATL, a coming-of-age dramedy starring T.I. and Lauren London.
Busta Rhymes ft. P. Diddy, "Pass The Courvoisier Part II" (2002)
Nas, "I Can" (2003)
Usher, "Confessions Part II" (2004)
Drake ft. Chris Brown, "No Guidance" (2019)
Honorable Mentions:
Alicia Keys - "You Don't Know My Name"
Ginuwine - "So Anxious"
LeToya Luckett - "Torn"
T.I. - "What You Know"
Amerie - "1 Thing"
Nicki Minaj - "Moment 4 Life"
Bryan Barber
If you're anything familiar with the super-group, Outkast, you should know that part of their brilliance and artistry is thanks to director, Bryan Barber. Outkast fought for him to become their go-to video director. He would helm the video for their 1998 single “Skew It on the Bar-B” and became affiliated with the group’s visual aesthetic for the rest of their run.
Barber would go on to work with other ATL heavyweights like Jermaine Dupri and Ludacris, as well as R&B and pop stars like Christina Aguilera and John Legend. But he became most revered for his work behind the camera for some of Kast’s most memorable clips, including André 3000’s iconic video for the 2003 smash “Hey Ya!”
Bryan Barber is one hidden gem on this list whose resumé is immaculate like the others listed, but another personal favorite not only for his music video work but as well as his film directorial debut with the group for their 2006 musical film, Idlewild, which he wrote, directed, and co-produced.
UGK ft. Outkast, "Int'l Players' Anthem" (2007)
Andre 3000,"Roses" (2004)
Bow Wow ft. Omarion, "Let Me Hold You" (2005)
Destiny's Child, "Girl" (2004)
Honorable Mentions:
Jagged Edge - "Let's Get Married"
Missy Elliott - "I'm Really Hot"
Bow Wow - "Let's Get Down"
Director X
Julien Christian Lutz, known professionally as Director X, is a Canadian filmmaker, commercial director, music video director, and television director. Even back when Director X was still known as Little X, he was studying at the feet of one of the most accomplished names in music videos. X honed his chops working alongside the great Hype Williams (who is later featured on the list), and you can see that influence throughout his work.
Having directed more than 100 videos, X is widely known for his high budget and cinematic approach for popular hit singles such as Rick Ross' "Diced Pineapples" featuring Wale and Drake, Ciara's "Body Party," Usher's "U Don't Have To Call" and a long list of many unforgettable others.
Mario, "Let Me Love You" (2004)
Nelly, "Hot in Herre" (2002)
Sisqó, "Thong Song" (2001)
Usher, "U Don't Have To Call" (2001)
Honorable Mentions:
Ice Cube - "U Can Do It"
Case - "Happily Ever After"
Donell Jones - "Where I Wanna Be"
DMX - "What's My Name"
Deborah Cox - "We Can't Be Friends"
Mystikal - "Shake It Fast" & "Danger (Been So Long)"
112 - "Peaches & Cream"
Drake - "HYFR," "Worst Behavior," & "Hotline Bling"
Benny Boom
One of the music scene’s most iconic forces, Benny Boom has spearheaded over 200 videos for a slew of platinum-selling artists, including Nicki Minaj, Sean “Diddy” Combs, Ciara, Akon, and 50 Cent. Like X, Philly native Benny Boom is a student of Hype Williams — and of F. Gary Gray.
He officially broke into the music industry in the mid-90s, where his fresh perspective and vibrant edge revolutionized the then-stagnant music video scene. Boom helped announce Ciara with his videos for her early hits “1, 2 Step” and “Goodies.” He also delivered memorable visuals for hits like Busta Rhymes' "Touch It," Cherish's debut single, "Do It To It," Jazmine Sullivan's "10 Seconds," Nicki Minaj's "Beez In The Trap," and a countless list of others.
Ciara, "Goodies" (2004)
Busta Rhymes,"Touch It (Remix)" (2006)
Cherish, "Do It To It" (2006)
Amerie,"Why Don't We Fall In Love" (2002)
Honorable Mentions:
Birdman - "What Happened To That Boy"
P. Diddy - "I Need A Girl (Part 1 & Part 2)"
Bow Wow - "Fresh Az I'm Iz"
Jeezy - "Soul Survivor"
Monica - "Everything To Me"
Jidenna - "Classic Man (Remix)"
Joe - "Ride Wit U"
Hype Williams
The gold standard and still most legendary name in the world of music videos is Hype Williams. His use of color, his iconic work with the fisheye lens, and his gift for visual storytelling have been at the core of every Hype Williams vid. From the early ’90s until now, no one has become more synonymous with the art form itself. Hype injected so much into the world of Hip-Hop visuals that it’s impossible to imagine what the past 25 years of rap videos would have looked like without him and his influence. Hype Williams defined an era of pop culture, if you turned on MTV, BET, or VH1 during the 90s and early 2000s you were likely to see his work as he embodied the visual tropes fitting of the new millennium
In a short amount of time, the kid from Hollis, Queens became one of the most in-demand directors in the music business. To go along with his star-studded clientele (Jay-Z, Beyoncé, DMX, Ja Rule), Hype pushed music videos beyond their limits to a point where the creative possibilities were endless. He even flirted with Hollywood for a bit with his first and only feature film Belly, starring Nas and DMX. As the culture of R&B and Hip Hop saturated the mainstream, Williams’ work with artists like Missy Elliot "The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)" and "Sock it 2 Me)", Aaliyah ("Rock the Boat"), The Notorious B.I.G ("Big Poppa", etc.) provided sleek, often afro-futuristic and often beautifully cinematic and stylized visuals that defined an era of pop culture.
Missy Elliott,"The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)" (1997)
The Notorious B.I.G. feat. Puff Daddy and Mase, “Mo Money Mo Problems” (1997)
Busta Rhymes & Janet Jackson, “What’s It Gonna Be?!” (1999)
TLC, "No Scrubs" (1999)
Honorable Mentions:
2Pac feat. Dr. Dre, “California Love”
Jay-Z feat. UGK, “Big Pimpin'”
Busta Rhymes, “Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Can See”
Blackstreet featuring Dr. Dre & Queen Pen – “No Diggity”
The Notorious B.I.G., “One More Chance” (Remix)
Kanye West feat. Jamie Foxx, “Gold Digger”
Beyonce featuring Jay-Z, “Drunk In Love”
this pen would definitely run out of ink listing everything with Hype Williams' name on it.
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