Jay-Z was almost charged $1.8million by Hype Williams for a music video: “Come on, bro”
nme.comJay-Z has revealed Hype Williams once quoted him $1.8million (£1.4million) to direct a music video for the rapper.In a Complex feature celebrating the work of the legendary music video director, Jay-Z spoke about their collaboration for the 1997 song ‘(Always Be My) Sunshine’.
The musician said back in the 90s, Williams often asked for between “$750,000 to $1 million dollars”. Jay-Z, on the other hand, was aiming more “around $20,000 (£16,400)”.According to Jay-Z, Williams’ vision for the music video was admittedly “grand”: “It was this whole circus.
I think he had elephants. I think he may have given the idea to Busta. I don’t remember exactly what it was, but I remember being blown away by it.”However, Jay-Z was not expecting Williams to ask for $1.8million for the video. “I was like, ‘Hype, come on, bro.’ Like I got mad at him,” said the rapper. “Like are you trying to play me?
You think I’m dumb?”The final video, which featured fellow Brooklynite collaborator Foxy Brown, was a “stripped” version of Williams’ idea (and a more suitable budget).“I learned a valuable lesson from that,” wrote Jay-Z. “Either I’m going to trust Hype’s vision or I’m going to go with another idea.
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