Hype Williams | |
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| Born | Harold Williams (1970-08-01)August 1, 1970 (age 55)[1] Queens,New York City, U.S. |
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| Years active | 1991–present |
Harold "Hype"Williams (born August 1, 1970) is an American music video and film director, film producer, and screenwriter.
Williams was born inQueens. He is of mixedAfrican-American andHonduran descent.[2] He attendedAdelphi University.[3] He first displayed his work bytagging local billboards, storefronts, and playgrounds using HYPE as hisgraffiti tag. His graffiti style was influenced by artists likeKeith Haring andJean-Michel Basquiat. His big break came when he began working with Classic Concepts Video Productions. Lionel "Vid Kid" Martin and VJ Ralph McDaniels created Williams' first opportunity with the Filmmakers With Attitude moniker (FWA), which was Williams' first video company.[3]
Awards Williams has received for his video work include theBillboard Music Video Award for Best Director of the Year (1996), the Jackson Limo Award for Best Rap Video of the Year (1996) forBusta Rhymes' "Woo Hah!! Got You All in Check", theNAACP Image Award (1997), the 8th annual Music Video Production Association Award for Black Music Achievement (1997),MTV Video Music Award in theBest Rap Video (1998) category forWill Smith's "Gettin' Jiggy wit It",MTV Video Music Award for Best Group Video (1999) forTLC's "No Scrubs", and theBET Award for Best Director (2006) forKanye West's "Gold Digger".[4] In 2006, Williams was honored byMTV with itsMichael Jackson Video Vanguard Award, presented in honor of his achievements as a filmmaker.[5]
In the December 2007 issue ofPlayboy magazine, Williams shot the photographs for cover subjectKim Kardashian.[6]
In 2008, Williams directedKanye West's video for "Heartless".[7] He also directed the music video for his single "All of the Lights", which premiered on February 19, 2011.[8]
As of 2014, Kanye West holds the artist record for working the most times with Williams; the two have collaborated on 20 music videos, beginning in 2005 with the music video for "Diamonds from Sierra Leone". Busta Rhymes is second behind West, collaborating with Williams on 16 music videos, beginning with debut solo music video"Everything Remains Raw" / "Woo Hah!! Got You All in Check".
In 1998, he directed his first and so far his only feature film to date,Belly, starring rappersNas andDMX, the film released byArtisan Entertainment. In 1999, Williams signed a two-year overall deal withNew Line Cinema to produce and direct feature films.[9] His first film with New Line,Mothership,[10] died in development. Later that year, Williams was in negotiations withMTV to develop an animated series which was described as a behind-the-scenes look at the world of music and celebrities. The project also died in development.[11]
In 2000, Williams was hired to direct theWarner Bros. filmSpeed Racer. He left the project the following year, with the film being released in 2008 under the direction ofThe Wachowskis.[12]
In 2003,Disney purchased the zombie horror filmThrilla, which Williams wrote. The projectdied in development, withGavin Polone attached to produce.[13]
In 2010, Williams was the writer for theKanye West-directed short filmRunaway.[14]
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