(December
31, 1999)
As 1999 comes to a close, we look back at Hype Williams's
contributions to hip hop video in the past year. From what I'm aware of,
Hype directed about 25 videos which were released this year. Among his
videos released this year, my favorite was Caught Out There
(Kelis). Other ones I liked were Breathe and Stop (Q-Tip)
and Hate Me Now (Nas). I was most disappointed with No
Scrubs (TLC) and Anywhere (112). Aside from other
great new videos, something I'd like to see Hype do this year is direct
a movie. Also, remember that his book Follow The Leader
should be released sometime in the next few months!
(December 21,
1999)
MTV2 has something
special planned to commemorate the new Millennium. Beginning at 12:01am
on January 1, 2000 MTV2 will air every single music video ever
aired on MTV and MTV2 music channels. Almost 19,000 videos
will air in alphabetical order, beginning with A Beautiful Day by
3 Colours Red and ending three months later with Zoot Suit Riot
by Cherry Poppin' Daddies. This is a good opportunity to catch those
rare or older videos you've only heard about but never seen, especially
ones directed by Hype Williams!
(December 19,
1999)
With the year and decade coming to a close in a few weeks, music video
stations are planning year-end and decade-end countdowns. BET
is planning a Top 100 Videos of the Century countdown on New
Years Eve between 11am-11pm. They have hinted that Michael Jackson's Thriller
is NOT the #1 video! (however, Michael and Janet videos take 15 of the
top 100 spots). Expect to see several Hype Williams videos to appear on
the countdown, (possibly) including Put Your Hands Where My Eyes
Could See (Busta Rhymes), I'll Be Missing You
(Puff Daddy), One More Chance (Notorious B.I.G.), etc.
(December 19,
1999)
VH1 has released its Top
90 of the 90's music video list and Hype Williams-directed videos
have made the list. They did not release the #10-1 positions, but I will
post it here once I find them out. (BTW, I'm not sure why Busta
Rhymes made it onto a VH1 list!)
83. No
Scrubs - TLC
56. Woo Hah! (Got You All In Check) -
Busta Rhymes
(December 12,
1999)
Nominations for the 31st NAACP Image Awards were announced last
week and Hype Williams received one nomination. He is nominated in the Outstanding
Video category for No Scrubs by TLC. Other
nominees in the category include Everything Is Everything by
Lauryn Hill (dir: Sanji), If I Could Turn Back Time by R. Kelly
(dir: F. Gary Gray), Unpretty by TLC (dir: Paul Hunter), & Wild
Wild West by Will Smith (dir: Paul Hunter). The Image Awards
honor work by Blacks in film, television, music and books. The awards
will be handed out on February 11-12, and broadcast on FOX
at a later time.
(December 6,
1999)
Hype Williams is in New York City to shoot a new commercial
for Mastercard on December 7, & 8.
(December 4,
1999)
According to MTV, Bush
has decided not to shoot the video for Jesus Online with
Hype Williams and has decided to release a totally new single &
video (directed by another director). It is unsure whether they will
team up with Hype Williams for the video at a later date.
(thanks to hotboy for the info)
(December 2,
1999)
MTV and TV
Guide have gotten together to compile The 100 Greatest Music
Videos Ever Made. The current issue of TV Guide (December
4-10; Michael Jackson on the cover) features a cover story for the list,
as well as an interview with Michael Jackson, whose Thriller was
selected as #1. The list was compiled with the following in mind:
creativity and innovation; longevity; performance; music; and cultural
impact. 4 Hype Williams-directed videos made it to the list, and all are
relatively high on the list!
9.
California Love - 2Pac/Dr. Dre
15. The Rain - Missy
"Misdemeanor" Elliott
20. Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Can See
- Busta Rhymes
23. Mo Money, Mo Problems - Notorious
B.I.G. feat./ Mase & Puff Daddy
All 100 videos are going to be shown
during MTV's weeklong
countdown special, 100 Greatest Videos Ever Made, kicking off
December 6.
(November 21,
1999)
Will Smith will release The Will Smith Music Video
Collection on December 7 for VHS and DVD formats. The video will
feature all seven of his videos from the past three years and
never-before-seen outtakes and bloopers. This includes the Hype
Williams-directed Gettin' Jiggy Wit' It music video.
(November 18,
1999)
It seems that Hype has directed another 2 new rap videos. Where does
this guy find the time to direct so many videos? Hype directed the new Ja
Rule video Daddy's Little Baby which features Ronald
Isley. He also directed the new Q-Tip video Breathe And
Stop, a performance video featuring lots of dancing women. Some
describe it as Vivrant Thing Part 2, with color. Ja Rule's video
recently premiered on BET's
Rap City and the Q-Tip video was seen on MTV
Jams!.
(thanks to Andrew & joefox for the info)
(November 16,
1999)
The 1999 Billboard Music Video Awards were held this past Friday
in Santa Monica, California. Hype Williams won one award, Director Of
The Year. Congrats Hype!
(November 11,
1999)
Hype Williams's movie Belly will be airing twice this
month on American movie channel Showtime
(it's 1 hour 35 minutes long):
- November 17, 1999 @ 9:35pm
- November 26, 1999 @ 4:00am
(thanks to Howard for the info)
(November 10,
1999)
In the current issue of the hip hop magazine Blaze (December
1999/January 2000), it lists the most influential people in hip hop
and Hype Williams is one of them. His picture, article, and interview
are featured in a two page spread on page 107.
(November 8,
1999)
This not really "news", but something worth sharing. I
happened to stumble upon a website for hip hop choreographer Fatima
Robinson and was surprised to find out how many Hype Williams
projects she has been involved with. Fatima is most well known for her
work with Michael Jackson ("Remember The Time"), Aaliyah
("Are You That Somebody") & Backstreet Boys
("Everybody Backstreet's Back"). She is also known for her
choreography of Busta Rhymes's Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See
(she was nominated for a 1998 MTV Video Music Award for this). However,
I did not realize that she also did the choreography for other Hype
Williams videos, including Brandy's Baby, Faith Evans's Love
Like This & 2Pac's California Love (in which she makes an
appearance). What was most surprising to me was that she also
choreographed Hype's Gap Khaki Soul commercial in whicn she also
makes an appearance! She replaced a dancer who didn't show up; she's the
girl with the headwrap in the very beginning and very end of the
commercial.
visit Fatima's
official website
(November 6,
1999)
On Thursday, news popped up on the Cinescape
Online website and E!
Online about the possibility of Hype Williams directing an upcoming Chris
Tucker movie Double-O-Soul. The following appeared on
the Cinescape website:
Tucker Back In ‘Soul’?
Chris Tucker is all over the place when it comes to his next film.
In spite of recent word of Rush Hour 2, Black Knight or Guess Who’s
President, word has it that Tucker may actually take on the starring
role in the previously believed dead and newly resurrected Double
O-Soul project. According to Variety columnist Michael Fleming,
Universal convinced Imagine’s Brian Grazer to redevelop the project.
Now, talks are going on with helmer Hype Williams (Belly) to direct.
read
article online
(thanks to derrick & Ramon for the
info)
(November 6,
1999)
Missy Ellioit's video for Hot Boys (remix)
(directed by Hype Williams) has begun playing on The
Box.
(thanks to Ramon for the info)
(November 4,
1999)
Hype Williams's new video for Got To Get It by Dru Hill
member Sisqo premiered on MTV's
Total Request Live on Tuesday (as part of Spankin' New Music
Week). As reported earlier, the video was shot in Hollywood in late
October, and features a Chinese New Year celebration.
view
a Real Video clip of the video on MTV.com
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