yeah "99 problems" was really hard to top…

         

He should of got Romanek to direct this video, creating a positive view of New York as a companion piece to 99 Problems.

I would like Jay to really take a risk and have someone like Akerlund direct this.

         

sorry true, u gotta leave that chance taking to Kanye, even tho that Andelman's I know video for Jay was pretty risky and amazing

         

I guess this could have looked really great with an even higher budget. I liked all the hype williams moments in the video: the flying shots, the performance. Did not like the photo stuff - this would have been great if the sequences would have been "filmed". the red staircase did not feel glamorous to me either. -Bur overall one of the better hype williams videos of the last time.

         

wtf the answer here is for someone to be brave enough to work with a white scandinavian who doesn't live in NYC? gimme a break.

         

Sigh. Textbook Hype Williams clag. Helicopter shots with fades a-plenty. Doesn't even compare to 99 problems... and why is Alicia playing out front of McDonalds?

         

hey aaron, i really hope true responds to your comment and sets you straight

         

Aaron, what's your answer as you really didn't give one? If you got nothing to say, keep ur fingers off the keyboard.

That white Scandivian makes videos about Americana better than most people born in the states. Hype (born in Queens) fell short with this video as he just fell back to typical Hypeisms (more helicopter!). An outsider view of New York is what this video could of use....or get Rik Cordero

         

here's my answer: people on antville consistently revert to wishing the same ten directors did the same thing over and over again. the track is anthemic, earnest, high flying. there's nothing in Akerlund's work whatsoever that shows he's equipped to handle sentiments such as those. Akerlund's good at pop glam and subversion. This is a very weak vid by Hype but Hype gets shat on way too much at antville. It's just really boring to have the same directors suggested over and over and over again. Especially when their cool cachet isn't a fit for the track, likewise in case you haven't noticed the world of videos is fucked right now.

A Romanek follow up to 99 problems would've been ace. I agree with that.

What I really wish is that NYC would've given us a great new young director or two in the past few years.

         

I have to disagree with aaron. It's a pretty bland video from Hype, the stills just look cheap and it was pretty generic. "Especially when their cool cachet isn't a fit for the track"; this is exactly, the reason this video's dull (Hype does Jay Z vid; didn't see that one coming), your argument doesn't stand, you're essentially saying directors should stay in their pigeon holes, where they're tried and tested, I think that's more boring then antville saying Scandinavians should make hip-hop videos.

         

Am I reading this wrong benreed? You disagree with aaron but then basically paraphrase his argument as your own?

         

Saddy, I think you've misunderstood, I quoted his argument to show how conservative it; it seems like he's saying "stick to your own genre" to directors.

         

What seems to be the problem with this video? I think it's a perfectly acceptable video for the song. I'm not going into the Royal Rumble above except to say it's Hype, and Jay Z, and videos have gotten very conservative. He's getting back his NY crown and thus vid must appeal to everyone in this age. VH1 eyes. Work done. Next.

@ True Fiction: Rik Cordero gets a lot of hate but he makes alot of vids, and his new Raekwon joint looks pretty solid. Aaron Stewart Ahn gave a good answer. Me thinks. Akelund would have given 3,000 edits and just not the style befitting the song.

         

There is a substantial difference between pigeonholing, and knowing that someone is a very poor tonal fit for certain material. Especially when it's someone like Akerlund who has a distinct, unique style that could be overwhelming to certain material. Sometimes the directors pigeonhole themselves.

But if I was a commissioner I would've let Gondry do hip hop videos far earlier in his career. I would let Keith Schofield do more.

         

Honestly I think Gondry and Schofield aren't great choices for this either.

Both of them seem to have a more lighthearted, playful tone to their work and this song is neither.

Basically whoever said the problem is that NYC is lacking fresh, young talented directors is right. All of the people I can think of who would have brought the right feeling to this aren't from NY or the US for the most part.

         

im not saying those two should've done this video - just that they're an example of directors who can and should do more hip hop videos but commissioners seem wary of giving them the shot. as in, i don't think anyone should be pigeonholed by genre or type of music. that's one of the worst things about major label videos. on the other hand, don't do the music video equivalent, of, say giving Watchmen to Zack Snyder. It's just not a good fit.

         

My bad Aaron I misread what you were saying.

I agree there should be more out of the box hip hop videos given to directors who don't always work in the genre.

         

admittedly i spoke poorly. i think it's just silly that that every video should be done by chris cunningham, jonas akerlund, or michel.