Hype Williams
Encyclopedia
Harold "Hype" Williams (born 1970; Queens, New York), previously known as HYPE, is an American music video
and film
director
of African-American and Honduran
descent. His nickname "Hype" comes from his hyperactive nature as a child.
Williams first 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."
), The Notorious B.I.G. ("Warning") & ("One More Chance
"), Craig Mack
("Flava in Ya Ear
"), LL Cool J
("Doin' It"), Nas ("If I Ruled The World (Imagine That)
", "Street Dreams", "Hate Me Now"), Missy Elliott
("The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)", "She's a Bitch"), Busta Rhymes
("Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See
"), TLC
("No Scrubs
"), Kelis
("Caught Out There"), Jay-Z
("Big Pimpin'
"), Kanye West
("Gold Digger
", "All of the Lights
"), Aaliyah
("Rock The Boat
"), Christina Aguilera
("Not Myself Tonight
"), Coldplay
("Viva La Vida
"), Hoobastank
("If I Were You"), Left Eye (The Block Party (Lisa Lopes Song)
) and t.A.T.u.
("Gomenasai
").
In 1998, he directed his first feature film, Belly
, released by Artisan Entertainment. In 1999, Hype signed a two year overall deal with New Line to produce and direct feature films. His first picture "Mothership" died in development. Later that year Hype was in serious negotiations with MTV to develop an animated series which was described as a behind-the-scenes look at the world of music and celebrities.
In 2003, Disney purchased a zombie horror pic "Thrilla" which was written by Hype. The project floundered in development with Gavin Palone attached to produce.
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
", and the BET
Award for Best Director (2006) for Kanye West
's “Gold Digger
”. In 2006, Williams was honored by MTV
with its Video Vanguard Award, presented in honor of his achievements as a filmmaker.
In the December 2007 issue of Playboy
magazine, Williams shot the photographs for cover subject Kim Kardashian
.
In 2010, Williams was the writer for Kanye West's film Runaway
. He later directed the music video for West's single All of the Lights, which premiered on February 19, 2011.
He is being nominated for Video Director of the Year at the BET Awards of 2011
.
which distorted the camera view around the central focus. This was used by the tandem Williams/Perez in "Gimme Some More
" by Busta Rhymes
and "The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)
" by Missy Elliott
; however, it was dropped by 2003, when he experienced his lowest level of production activity since the beginning of his career as a music video director.
Another "signature style" involves placing shots in regular widescreen ratio, while a second shot is split and placed in the upper and lower bars. 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
, "In My Hood" by Young Jeezy
, "Gomenasai" by t.A.T.u.
,"Check On It" by Beyoncé, "Freeze" by LL Cool J
, "Snap Yo Fingers" by Lil Jon
and many others.
Since 2003, Williams has adopted a signature style combining a center camera focus on the artist or actor's body from the torso upward and a solid color background with a soft different-color light being shown in the center of the background, so as to give a sense of illumination of the background by the foreground subject. This has been displayed in "Gold Digger
" by Kanye West, "Digital Girl
" (Remix) by Jamie Foxx
and Beyoncé's "Video Phone".
Music video director
A music video director is driven by a given music track. These are called music videos and are then used as promotional tools for popular music singles...
and film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
of African-American and Honduran
Honduras
Honduras is a republic in Central America. It was previously known as Spanish Honduras to differentiate it from British Honduras, which became the modern-day state of Belize...
descent. His nickname "Hype" comes from his hyperactive nature as a child.
Williams first displayed his work by tagging local billboards, storefronts, and playgrounds using HYPE as his graffiti
Graffiti
Graffiti is the name for images or lettering scratched, scrawled, painted or marked in any manner on property....
tag. "That's probably what stimulated my interests in color," he says. "I wanted to be Basquiat
Jean-Michel Basquiat
Jean-Michel Basquiat was an American artist. His career in art began as a graffiti artist in New York City in the late 1970s, and in the 1980s produced Neo-expressionist painting.-Early life:...
or Keith Haring
Keith Haring
Keith Haring was an artist and social activist whose work responded to the New York City street culture of the 1980s.-Early life:...
of the streets."
Early years
Williams graduated from Andrew Jackson High School of Art and Music in 1987. He later attended Adelphi University. Williams' big break came when he began working with Classic Concepts Video Productions. Lionel "Vid Kid" Martin & VJ Ralph McDaniels created Williams' first opportunity with the "Filmmakers With Attitude" moniker (FWA), which was Williams' first video company.Career
Williams has created a number of music videos for artists such as 2Pac (California LoveCalifornia Love
"California Love" is a hip hop song by 2Pac featuring Dr. Dre and Roger Troutman. The song was released as 2Pac's comeback single upon his release from prison in 1995. A popular remix version of the song appeared on his 1996 double album All Eyez on Me...
), The Notorious B.I.G. ("Warning") & ("One More Chance
One More Chance
One More Chance may refer to:A song:*"One More Chance", a 1975 song from Fairport Convention's Rising for the Moon*"One More Chance", a 1984 song from The Jacksons' Victory*"One More Chance" , a 1984 Pet Shop Boys song...
"), Craig Mack
Craig Mack
Craig Mack is an American Grammy nominated rapper, who gained fame on Puff Daddy's Bad Boy Entertainment record label in the 1990s. Although his first single was released under the name MC EZ in 1988, he is best known for his 1994 hit single "Flava In Ya Ear", which was released under his real name...
("Flava in Ya Ear
Flava in Ya Ear
"Flava in Ya Ear" is a single by Craig Mack. The original single was released first and the remix was followed soon after. It featured performances by labelmate The Notorious B.I.G. , Rampage, LL Cool J and Busta Rhymes. It also contains Puff Daddy as a promoter and brief appearances by Keisha Epps...
"), LL Cool J
LL Cool J
James Todd Smith , better known as LL Cool J , is an American rapper, entrepreneur, and actor...
("Doin' It"), Nas ("If I Ruled The World (Imagine That)
If I Ruled the World (Imagine That)
"If I Ruled the World " is a 1996 hit hip hop single by Nas featuring Lauryn Hill of The Fugees. It is based on the 1985 hit of the same name by rapper Kurtis Blow and samples the beat of "Friends" by Whodini. The single was Nas's first Top 20 R&B hit, and was also nominated for a 1997 Grammy Award...
", "Street Dreams", "Hate Me Now"), Missy Elliott
Missy Elliott
Melissa Arnette "Missy" Elliott , is an American rapper, singer-songwriter, record producer, and actressA five-time Grammy Award winner, Elliott, with record sales of over seven million in the United States, is the only female rapper to have five albums certified platinum by the RIAA, including one...
("The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)", "She's a Bitch"), Busta Rhymes
Busta Rhymes
Trevor Tahiem Smith, Jr., better known by his stage name Busta Rhymes ,Smith is an American rapper, producer and actor. Chuck D of Public Enemy gave him the alias Busta Rhymes after NFL wide receiver George "Buster" Rhymes...
("Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See
Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See
"Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See" is a song by American rapper Busta Rhymes from his second studio album When Disaster Strikes. Released as the lead single, the song includes samples from "Sweet Green Fields" by Seals & Crofts...
"), TLC
TLC (band)
TLC is an American musical trio whose repertoire spanned R&B, hip-hop, soul, funk, and new jack swing. Originally consisting of singer Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins, rapper-singer Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes and singer Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas it found success in the 1990s while also enduring a series of spats...
("No Scrubs
No Scrubs
"No Scrubs" is a 1999 song recorded by R&B girl groupTLC for their album FanMail. Released as the album's first single, "No Scrubs" became TLC's third number-one single and eighth top 10 single on the Billboard Hot 100. It also earned them their second Grammy nomination for Record of the Year...
"), Kelis
Kelis
Kelis Rogers Kelis Rogers Kelis Rogers (born August 21, 1971 is an American musical artist. She is a BRIT Award, Q Award and NME Award winner and has been nominated for two Grammy Awards. She has had nine top 10 singles on the UK Singles Chart...
("Caught Out There"), Jay-Z
Jay-Z
Shawn Corey Carter , better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having a net worth of over $450 million as of 2010...
("Big Pimpin'
Big Pimpin'
"Big Pimpin" is the last single from rapper Jay-Z's fourth album Vol. 3... Life and Times of S. Carter. It features rapping by Southern hip hop group UGK as well as production by Timbaland....
"), Kanye West
Kanye West
Kanye Omari West is an American rapper, singer, and record producer. West first rose to fame as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records, where he eventually achieved recognition for his work on Jay-Z's album The Blueprint, as well as hit singles for musical artists including Alicia Keys, Ludacris, and...
("Gold Digger
Gold Digger
"Gold Digger" is a song recorded by American rapper Kanye West featuring guest vocals by Jamie Foxx. Released as the second single from West's second album, Late Registration, "Gold Digger" peaked at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 on September 6, 2005, becoming West's and Foxx's second...
", "All of the Lights
All of the Lights
"All of the Lights" is a song by American hip hop recording artist Kanye West, released January 18, 2011, as the fourth single from his fifth studio album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy...
"), Aaliyah
Aaliyah
Aaliyah Dana Haughton , who performed under the mononym Aaliyah , was an American R&B recording artist, actress and model. She was born in Brooklyn, New York, and was raised in Detroit, Michigan. At the age of 10, she appeared on the television show Star Search and performed in concert alongside...
("Rock The Boat
Rock the Boat (Aaliyah song)
"Rock the Boat" is an R&B song written by Static Major, Eric Seats and Rapture Stewart for Aaliyah's third studio album, Aaliyah . It was produced by Keybeats and released as the album's second single in North America in August 2001 and as the 3rd international single during the first quarter of...
"), Christina Aguilera
Christina Aguilera
Christina María Aguilera is an American recording artist and actress. Aguilera first appeared on national television in 1990 as a contestant on the Star Search program, and went on to star in Disney Channel's television series The Mickey Mouse Club from 1993–1994...
("Not Myself Tonight
Not Myself Tonight
"Not Myself Tonight" is a song recorded by American pop singer Christina Aguilera. The song was written by Jamal Jones, Ester Dean, Jason Perry, and Greg Curtis, and produced by Polow da Don for Aguilera's sixth studio album, Bionic. The song was released on April 13, 2010 as the lead single from...
"), Coldplay
Coldplay
Coldplay are a British alternative rock band formed in 1996 by lead vocalist Chris Martin and lead guitarist Jonny Buckland at University College London. After they formed Pectoralz, Guy Berryman joined the group as a bassist and they changed their name to Starfish. Will Champion joined as a...
("Viva La Vida
Viva la Vida (song)
"Viva la Vida" , is a song by the British alternative rock band Coldplay. It was written by all members of the band for their fourth album, Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends , and was released as the second single from the album. On the album, this song segues directly into the next track,...
"), Hoobastank
Hoobastank
Hoobastank is an American rock band, best known for their 2004 hit "The Reason" and other hits "Crawling in the Dark" and "Running Away". They formed in 1994 in Agoura Hills, California, with singer Doug Robb, guitarist Dan Estrin, drummer Chris Hesse, and original bassist Markku Lappalainen. They...
("If I Were You"), Left Eye (The Block Party (Lisa Lopes Song)
The Block Party (Lisa Lopes Song)
"The Block Party" is the first solo single by rapper, singer, and songwriter, Lisa Lopes, and was the first and final single from her internationally-released debut album Supernova. It was written and produced by Lopes. The song did not do well in the U.S. but was released in other countries where...
) and t.A.T.u.
T.A.T.u.
t.A.T.u. was a duo formed in Moscow, Russia in 1999 by Ivan Shapovalov. The group consisted of Lena Katina and Yulia Volkova.Their debut single "Ya Soshla S Uma" was released in December 2000. The single had a huge success in Russia and Eastern Europe...
("Gomenasai
Gomenasai
"Gomenasai", is a ballad by t.A.T.u.. It is their third single from their second English album, Dangerous and Moving. There were two different videos produced for this single: animated and live action. t.A.T.u. stated that they did not want this song to become a single, but their record company...
").
In 1998, he directed his first feature film, Belly
Belly (film)
Belly is a 1998 film, the film directorial debut of music video director Hype Williams. Filmed in New York City as an urban drama, the film stars rappers DMX and Nas, alongside with Taral Hicks, Method Man dancehall artist Louie Rankin, R&B singer T-Boz...
, released by Artisan Entertainment. In 1999, Hype signed a two year overall deal with New Line to produce and direct feature films. His first picture "Mothership" died in development. Later that year Hype was in serious negotiations with MTV to develop an animated series which was described as a behind-the-scenes look at the world of music and celebrities.
In 2003, Disney purchased a zombie horror pic "Thrilla" which was written by Hype. The project floundered in development with Gavin Palone attached to produce.
Awards Williams has received for his video work include the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
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
Busta Rhymes
Trevor Tahiem Smith, Jr., better known by his stage name Busta Rhymes ,Smith is an American rapper, producer and actor. Chuck D of Public Enemy gave him the alias Busta Rhymes after NFL wide receiver George "Buster" Rhymes...
' "Woo Hah," the NAACP Image Award (1997), the 8th annual MVPA Award for Black Music Achievement (1997), MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
Video Music Award in the Best Rap Video (1998) category for Will Smith
Will Smith
Willard Christopher "Will" Smith, Jr. , also known by his stage name The Fresh Prince, is an American actor, producer, and rapper. He has enjoyed success in television, film and music. In April 2007, Newsweek called him the most powerful actor in Hollywood...
's "Gettin' Jiggy Wit It," MTV Video Music Award for Best Group Video (1999) for TLC's
TLC (band)
TLC is an American musical trio whose repertoire spanned R&B, hip-hop, soul, funk, and new jack swing. Originally consisting of singer Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins, rapper-singer Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes and singer Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas it found success in the 1990s while also enduring a series of spats...
"No Scrubs
No Scrubs
"No Scrubs" is a 1999 song recorded by R&B girl groupTLC for their album FanMail. Released as the album's first single, "No Scrubs" became TLC's third number-one single and eighth top 10 single on the Billboard Hot 100. It also earned them their second Grammy nomination for Record of the Year...
", and the BET
Black Entertainment Television
Black Entertainment Television is an American, Viacom-owned cable network based in Washington, D.C.. Currently viewed in more than 90 million homes worldwide, it is the most prominent television network targeting young Black-American audiences. The network was launched on January 25, 1980, by its...
Award for Best Director (2006) for Kanye West
Kanye West
Kanye Omari West is an American rapper, singer, and record producer. West first rose to fame as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records, where he eventually achieved recognition for his work on Jay-Z's album The Blueprint, as well as hit singles for musical artists including Alicia Keys, Ludacris, and...
's “Gold Digger
Gold Digger
"Gold Digger" is a song recorded by American rapper Kanye West featuring guest vocals by Jamie Foxx. Released as the second single from West's second album, Late Registration, "Gold Digger" peaked at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 on September 6, 2005, becoming West's and Foxx's second...
”. In 2006, Williams was honored by MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
with its Video Vanguard Award, presented in honor of his achievements as a filmmaker.
In the December 2007 issue of Playboy
Playboy
Playboy is an American men's magazine that features photographs of nude women as well as journalism and fiction. It was founded in Chicago in 1953 by Hugh Hefner and his associates, and funded in part by a $1,000 loan from Hefner's mother. The magazine has grown into Playboy Enterprises, Inc., with...
magazine, Williams shot the photographs for cover subject Kim Kardashian
Kim Kardashian
Kimberly Noel "Kim" Kardashian is an American socialite, television personality, model, actress and businesswoman. She is known for the E! reality series that she shares with her family—Keeping Up with the Kardashians, and its spin-offs including Kourtney and Kim Take New York...
.
In 2010, Williams was the writer for Kanye West's film Runaway
Runaway (2010 film)
Runaway is a 35-minute short film directed by and starring Kanye West. It serves as the music video for a compilation of songs from West's album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. It is inspired by other music-related films such as Purple Rain, Pink Floyd The Wall and Michael Jackson's Thriller...
. He later directed the music video for West's single All of the Lights, which premiered on February 19, 2011.
He is being nominated for Video Director of the Year at the BET Awards of 2011
BET Awards of 2011
The 2011 BET Awards took place at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California on June 26, 2011. The awards recognized African-Americans and other minorities in music, acting, sports, and other fields of entertainment over the past year. Actor Kevin Hart hosted the event for the first time. ...
.
Style
A signature style used by Williams throughout the vast majority of his videos (shot mostly with cinematographer John Perez) was the Fisheye lensFisheye lens
In photography, a fisheye lens is a wide-angle lens that takes in a broad, panoramic and hemispherical image. Originally developed for use in meteorology to study cloud formation and called "whole-sky lenses", fisheye lenses quickly became popular in general photography for their unique, distorted...
which distorted the camera view around the central focus. This was used by the tandem Williams/Perez in "Gimme Some More
Gimme Some More
"Gimme Some More" is the first single by Busta Rhymes from his third solo album E.L.E. : The Final World Front. The song is often considered to be the very summit of Busta's complex, breathless, high-speed rhyming delivery most prominent in his early work. The track was produced by regular Busta...
" by Busta Rhymes
Busta Rhymes
Trevor Tahiem Smith, Jr., better known by his stage name Busta Rhymes ,Smith is an American rapper, producer and actor. Chuck D of Public Enemy gave him the alias Busta Rhymes after NFL wide receiver George "Buster" Rhymes...
and "The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)
The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)
"The Rain " is a 1997 hit song recorded by American rapper Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott. It was written and composed by Don Bryant, Bernard "Bernie" Miller, Elliott, and producer Timbaland for her debut album Supa Dupa Fly and contains a sample of Ann Peebles' 1974 single "I Can't Stand the Rain",...
" by Missy Elliott
Missy Elliott
Melissa Arnette "Missy" Elliott , is an American rapper, singer-songwriter, record producer, and actressA five-time Grammy Award winner, Elliott, with record sales of over seven million in the United States, is the only female rapper to have five albums certified platinum by the RIAA, including one...
; however, it was dropped by 2003, when he experienced his lowest level of production activity since the beginning of his career as a music video director.
Another "signature style" involves placing shots in regular widescreen ratio, while a second shot is split and placed in the upper and lower bars. Videos that use this style include "Diamonds on my Neck" by Smitty
Smitty
Varick D. Bennet, better known as Smitty, is a American rapper and hip-hop ghostwriter from Little Haiti, a neighborhood in Miami, Florida.-Biography:...
, "I Ain't Heard of That" by Slim Thug
Slim Thug
Stayve Jerome Thomas , better known as Slim Thug, Boss Hogg or Thug Boss, is an American rapper. He gained mainstream attention for his contribution to the popular single from rapper Mike Jones, "Still Tippin'"....
, "So Sick" by Ne-Yo
Ne-Yo
Shaffer Chimere Smith, Jr. , better known by his stage name Ne-Yo, is an American pop and R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, dancer and actor. Beginning his career as a songwriter, Ne-Yo penned the hit "Let Me Love You" for singer Mario...
, "In My Hood" by Young Jeezy
Young Jeezy
Jay Wayne Jenkins , better known by his stage name Young Jeezy, is an American rapper. He is the member of the hip hop group United Streets Dopeboyz of America and a former member of BMF...
, "Gomenasai" by t.A.T.u.
T.A.T.u.
t.A.T.u. was a duo formed in Moscow, Russia in 1999 by Ivan Shapovalov. The group consisted of Lena Katina and Yulia Volkova.Their debut single "Ya Soshla S Uma" was released in December 2000. The single had a huge success in Russia and Eastern Europe...
,"Check On It" by Beyoncé, "Freeze" by LL Cool J
LL Cool J
James Todd Smith , better known as LL Cool J , is an American rapper, entrepreneur, and actor...
, "Snap Yo Fingers" by Lil Jon
Lil Jon
Jonathan Mortimer Smith , better known by his stage name Lil Jon, is an American rapper, music producer, entrepreneur, and occasional disc jockey who was a member of the group Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz. Lil Jon formed the group in 1997, and the group released several albums between then and 2004...
and many others.
Since 2003, Williams has adopted a signature style combining a center camera focus on the artist or actor's body from the torso upward and a solid color background with a soft different-color light being shown in the center of the background, so as to give a sense of illumination of the background by the foreground subject. This has been displayed in "Gold Digger
Gold Digger
"Gold Digger" is a song recorded by American rapper Kanye West featuring guest vocals by Jamie Foxx. Released as the second single from West's second album, Late Registration, "Gold Digger" peaked at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100 on September 6, 2005, becoming West's and Foxx's second...
" by Kanye West, "Digital Girl
Digital Girl
"Digital Girl" is a song performed by Jamie Foxx, along with Kanye West & The-Dream, who also produces the song alongside Tricky Stewart. The song is the fourth track on Foxx's third studio album, Intuition, and will serve as the fourth single on the album according to Jamie Foxx on a MTV News...
" (Remix) by Jamie Foxx
Jamie Foxx
Eric Marlon Bishop , professionally known as Jamie Foxx, is an American actor, singer-songwriter, stand-up comedian, and talk radio host. As an actor, his work in the film Ray earned him the Academy Award and BAFTA Award for Best Actor as well as the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a...
and Beyoncé's "Video Phone".