Hype Williams

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Harold "Hype" Williams (born 1970 in Queens, New York) is an American music video and film director of African-American and Honduran descent. The son of working-class parents, he grew up wanting to be a painter. Williams displayed his work by tagging local billboards, storefronts, and playgrounds using HYPE as his graffiti tag. "That's probably what stimulated my interests in color," he says. "I wanted to be Basquiat or Keith Haring of the streets." ^[1].

Contents 1 Biography 2 Videography 2.1 1992 2.2 1993 2.3 1994 2.4 1995 2.5 1996 2.6 1997 2.7 1998 2.8 1999 2.9 2000 2.10 2001 2.11 2002 2.12 2003 2.13 2004 2.14 2005 2.15 2006 2.16 2007 3 External links 4 Notes

[edit] Biography

"Hype" Williams was so named by writing partner Muse One, who taught him the ins and outs of graffiti. He was also mentored by "Fargo" in graffiti culture. Williams began his film-making career when he left Adelphi University in Garden City, NY, and joined with fellow graffiti writers Mike "Muse" Alexander and Ricardo "Phyz" Springer to create SOTA (State of the Art Productions). Under that unbrella SOTA created logo and album cover designs for many hip-hop artists of the time. Their big break came when they began working with Classic Concepts Video Productions. Lionel "Vid Kid" Martin & VJ Ralph McDaniels used SOTA for art direction in many of their videos and created Hype's first opportunity with the "Filmakers With Attitude" moniker (FWA), which was Hype's first video company. SOTA's development of the "Rhythm Is The Master" promotion for Polygram/Van Gibbs/Chuck Chillout Album project projected SOTA and Hype's artistic foresight ahead of the rest. The writing and drawing of the comic book, with Michael "The Talent" Laing as main artist, set SOTA ahead of the pack, as their work on the video of the same title broke ground for animation in a hip-hop video.

Williams is notable for creating a number of groundbreaking and successful music videos for hip hop and R&B artists such as Craig Mack ("Flava In Ya Ear"), LL Cool J ("Doin' It"), Nas ("If I Ruled The World (Imagine That)", "Street Dreams"), Missy Elliott ("The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)", "She's a Bitch"), Busta Rhymes ("Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See"), Kelis ("Caught Out There"), and Jay-Z ("Big Pimpin'").

In 1998, he directed his first feature film, Belly.

Williams "signature style", although it is not exhibited in all videos, involves shots placed in regular widescreen ratio, while another set of shots is placed in the spaces which would normally be left blank in widescreen ratio videos. Videos that use this style include "Diamonds on my Neck" by Smitty, "I Ain't Heard of That" by Slim Thug, "So Sick" by Ne-Yo, and many others.

Awards Williams has received for his video work include the Billboard Music Video Award for Best Director of the Year (1996), the Jackson Limo Award for Best Rap Video of the Year (1996) for Busta Rhymes' "Woo Hah," the NAACP Image Award (1997), the 8th annual MVPA Award for Black Music Achievement (1997), MTV Video Music Award in the Best Rap Video (1998) category for Will Smith's "Gettin' Jiggy Wit It," MTV Video Music Award for Best Group Video (1999) for TLC's "No Scrubs,” Winner of the BET Award for Best Director (2006) for Kanye West's “Gold Digger,”^[2]

In 2006, Williams was honored by MTV with its Video Vanguard Award, presented in honor of his achievements, as Kanye West would put it, as a "film maker." He received a standing ovation.^[3]

2007 is in full gear for Hype Williams. In addition to his film and video endeavors, Williams has joined forces with Corbis Outline as a celebrity photographer, partnered with Havas, the 6th largest global advertising and communications group worldwide that insiders claim is a groundbreaking media deal for the distribution of video content over the internet, and heard entertaining offers to release a fashion line.

[edit] Videography

[edit] 1992

• Strickly Roots - "Duck the Boys in Blue"
• Zhigge - "Rakin' in the Dough"
• Cutty Ranks - "Living Condition"

[edit] 1993

• Eric Sermon – "Hittin' Switches"
• Positive K – "I Got a Man" (version 1)
• Mangu – "La Playa"
• K-7 – "Zunga Zeng"
• M.O.P - "How About Some Hardcore"

[edit] 1994

• Craig Mack – Flava In Ya Ear (Remix)
• Wu-Tang Clan – "Can It Be All So Simple?"
• Jodeci – "Feenin'"
• Mic Geronimo - "Shit's Real"
• Da Bush Babees - "We Run Things (It's Like That)"
• Gravediggaz - "Diary Of A Madman"
• Craig Mack – "Get Down"

[edit] 1995

• Naughty by Nature – "Craziest"
• The Notorious B.I.G. – "One More Chance" [version 2: remix]
• Warren G – "So Many Ways"
• Brandy – "Baby"
• The Notorious B.I.G. – "Warning"
• The Notorious B.I.G. – "Big Poppa"
• Brandy feat. Queen Latifah, MC Lyte, & Yo Yo – "I Wanna Be Down" (version 2:remix)
• Adina Howard – "Freak Like Me"
• Montell Jordan – "This Is How We Do It"
• The Notorious B.I.G. – "One More Chance" (version 1)
• Guru & Chaka Khan – "Watch What You Say"
• Montell Jordan – "Somethin' 4 Da Honeyz" (version 1)
• Brandy & Wanya Morris - "Brokenhearted"
• Boyz II Men - "Vibin'" (version 2)
• Brandy - "Sittin' Up In My Room"
• Blackstreet feat. SWV - "Tonite's The Night"
• Hodge - "Head Nod" [Remix]
• Mic Geronimo - "Masta I.C."
• OutKast - "Benz or Beamer"
• Ol' Dirty Bastard - Shimmy Shimmy Ya/Baby C'Mon"
• Sam Sneed - "U Betta Recognize"
• Ca$h Money Click- '4 My Click'

[edit] 1996

• 2Pac feat. Dr. Dre - "California Love" (version 2: Mad Max, version 3: remix)
• D'Angelo - "Lady" (version 1)
• LL Cool J feat. Boyz II Men - "Hey Lover"
• R. Kelly feat. Ronald Isley - "Down Low (nobody has to know)" (version 1)
• Busta Rhymes - "Woo-hah! Got You All In Check" (version 1)
• The Tony Rich Project - "Nobody Knows "
• R. Kelly - "Thank God It's Friday"
• LL Cool J - "Doin' It"
• Maxi Priest feat. Shaggy - "That Girl"
• Nas feat. Lauryn Hill - "If I Ruled The World (Imagine That)"
• Nas - "Street Dreams"
• Nas feat. R.Kelly - "Street Dreams (Remix)"
• A Tribe Called Quest - "Once Again"
• Blackstreet feat. Dr. Dre & Queen Pen - "No Diggity" (version 1)
• R. Kelly - "I Can't Sleep Baby" (If I remix)
• A Tribe Called Quest - "Stressed Out" (version 1)
• Jay-Z feat. Mary J. Blige - "Can't Knock The Hustle"
• LL Cool J featuring Total - "Loungin'" (remix)
• Foxy Brown featuring Blackstreet - "Get Me Home"
• R. Kelly - "I Believe I Can Fly"
• Group Therapy feat. Dr. Dre, RBX, KRS-One, B-Real & Nas - "East Coast West Coast Killaz"
• The Monstars (from Space Jam) - "Hit 'Em High"
• The Isley Brothers feat. R. Kelly - "Let's Lay Together"
• Total - "No One Else"
• Babyface feat. LL Cool J, Jody Watley, etc. - "This Is For The Lover In You""

[edit] 1997

• Missy Elliott - "The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)"
• Puff Daddy feat. Faith Evans & 112 - "I'll Be Missing You"
• R. Kelly - "Gotham City"
• The Notorious B.I.G. feat. Puff Daddy & Mase - "Mo'Money, Mo' Problems"
• Mary J. Blige - "Everything"
• Busta Rhymes - "Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See"
• Missy Elliott feat. Da Brat- "Sock It 2 Me"
• Jay-Z feat. Foxy Brown - "Sunshine (Always Be Mine)"
• Busta Rhymes - "Dangerous"
• Mase - "Feel So Good"
• Wild Orchid - "Supernatural"
• Will Smith - "Gettin' Jiggy With It"
• Usher - "Nice & Slow"
• The Firm - "Firm Biz"
• Refugee Camp Allstars feat. Pras and Ky-Mani - "Avenues"
• Scarface - "Mary Jane"

[edit] 1998

• DMX feat. Sheek of the LOX - "Get at Me Dog"
• DMX feat. Faith Evans - "How's It Going Down?"
• Faith Evans - "Love Like This"
• Mel B feat. Missy Elliott - "I Want You Back"
• Mariah Carey feat. Jermaine Dupri - "Sweetheart"
• Mýa feat. Noreaga & Raekwon - "Movin' Out"
• Kelly Price feat. R. Kelly - "Friend of Mine"
• Busta Rhymes - "Gimme Some Mo'"
• DMX, Nas, Method Man, and Ja Rule - "Grand Finale"
• R. Kelly - "Half On A Baby"
• R. Kelly feat. Keith Murray - "Home Alone"

[edit] 1999

• 112 feat. Lil' Zane - "Anywhere"
• Ja Rule - "Holla Holla"
• Ja Rule feat. Tah Murdah & Black Child - "Murda 4 Life"
• Ja Rule - "It's Murda/Kill 'Em All"
• Ja Rule feat. Ronald Isley - "Daddy's Little Baby"
• Ja Rule - "How Many Wanna"
• TLC - "No Scrubs"
• Method Man feat. D'Angelo - "Break Ups 2 Make Ups"
• Busta Rhymes feat. Janet Jackson - "What's It Gonna Be?"
• Nas feat. Puff Daddy - "Hate Me Now"
• Missy Elliott - "She's A Bitch"
• Mase feat. Blackstreet - "Get Ready"
• Noreaga - "Oh No"
• Missy Elliott feat. Big Boi & Nicole - "All In My Grill"
• Puff Daddy feat. R. Kelly - "Satisfy You"
• Mobb Deep feat. Nas - "It's Mine"
• Mobb Deep feat. Lil' Kim - "Quiet Storm" (version 2: remix)
• Dr. Dre feat. Snoop Dogg - "Still DRE"
• Ol' Dirty Bastard feat. Kelis - "Got Your Money"
• Kelis - "Caught Out There"
• Missy Elliott feat. Nas, Lil' Mo & Eve - "Hot Boyz"
• Sisqó - "Got To Get It"
• Q-Tip - "Breathe And Stop"
• Q-Tip - "Vivrant Thing"

[edit] 2000

• Jay-Z feat. UGK - "Big Pimpin'"
• No Doubt - "Ex-Girlfriend"
• Busta Rhymes - "Get Out"
• Macy Gray - "Why Didn't You Call Me"
• R. Kelly - "Bad Man"
• DMX feat. Sisqó - "What You Want"
• LL Cool J - "Imagine That"
• Wyclef Jean feat. The Rock - "It Doesn't Matter"
• Busta Rhymes - "Fire"
• Jay-Z "Hey Papi"
• Mýa feat. Jay-Z - "Best of Me (Holla Main Mix)"
• Funkmaster Flex feat. DMX - "Do You?"
• Roni Size & Reprazent - "Who Told You"
• Ja Rule feat. Lil' Mo - "Put It On Me"
• The Murderers - "We Don't Give A %^#$"
• The Murderers feat. Vita - "Vita, Vita, Vita"
• Kobe Bryant feat. Tyra Banks - "K.O.B.E."

[edit] 2001

• DMX - "Ain't No Sunshine"
• Busta Rhymes feat. Kelis - "What It Is/Grimey"
• Snoop Dogg feat. Tha Eastsidaz, Master P & Nate Dogg - "Lay Low"
• Eric Benet - "Love Don't Love Me"
• Babyface - "There She Goes"
• Vita - "Justfy My Love"
• Left Eye - "The Block Party"
• Jessica Simpson - "A Little Bit"
• Ginuwine - "Differences"
• FUBU feat. LL Cool J, Keith Murray, and Ludacris - "Fatty Girl"
• Busta Rhymes - "As I Come Back/Break Ya Neck"
• Shelby Lynne - "Killin' Kind"
• Stella Soleil - "Kiss Kiss"
• Method Man - "Party & Bull%#!*"
• Aaliyah - "Rock Da Boat"

[edit] 2002

• N*E*R*D - "Rock Star" (unreleased version)
• Nelly Furtado - "...On the Radio (Remember the Days)"
• Boyz II Men - "The Color of Love"
• Blu Cantrell featuring Sean Paul - "Breathe (Remix)"

[edit] 2003

• Ashanti - "Rain On Me" (version 1)

[edit] 2004

• Ja Rule feat. R. Kelly & Ashanti - "Wonderful"
• Ashanti - "Only U"
• The Game feat. 50 Cent - "How We Do"
• Teedra Moses - "Be Your Girl"

[edit] 2005

• Queen Latifah feat. Al Green - "Simply Beautiful"
• Slim Thug feat. Bun B - "I Ain't Heard of That"
• Kanye West - "Diamonds from Sierra Leone"
• Kanye West feat. Jamie Foxx - "Gold Digger"
• Smitty - "Diamonds On My Neck"
• Robin Thicke feat. Pharrell Williams - "Wanna Love U Girl" (version 2)
• Jamie Foxx feat. Ludacris - "Unpredictable"
• Beyoncé feat. Slim Thug and Bun B - "Check on It"
• Pharrell Williams - "Angel"
• Ne-Yo - "So Sick"

[edit] 2006

• LL Cool J feat. Jennifer Lopez - "Control Myself"
• Young Jeezy - "My Hood"
• Mary J. Blige - "Enough Cryin'"
• Hoobastank - "If I Were You"
• LL Cool J feat. Lyfe Jennings - "Freeze"
• Lil Jon feat. E-40 and Sean Paul of the Youngbloodz - "Snap Yo Fingers"
• Young Jeezy feat. Lil' Scrappy and T.I. - "Bang"
• Kanye West feat. Paul Wall, GLC and T.I. - "Drive Slow (Remix)"
• Pharrell Williams feat. Kanye West - "Number 1"
• Janet Jackson feat. Nelly - "Call on Me"
• John Legend - "Heaven"
• t.A.T.u. - "Gomenasai"

[edit] 2007

• Mariah Carey - "When I Was.."

• Jay-Z feat. Beyoncé´- "Hollywood"

[edit] External links

• Official Hype Williams site: view all Hype Williams videos and photography.

[edit] Notes