Over the last three decades, Hip-Hop culture has slowly, but surely made its way onto the big screen. The music, along with the fashion was and still has been undeniable, catching the attention of many. From the rappers dropping the lyrics with street messages, the producers with the beats and directors with their creative eye behind the lens thanks to music videos. In 1991, Director Mario Van Pebbles shook up Hollywood with the movie “New Jack City.” Though the movie chronicled rise & fall of the fictitious drug dealer Nino Brown, the movie contained elements and artists of the fairly new music genre at the time. It was only seven years later, music video director Hype Williams would turn Hollywood upside down in 1998 with his movie directorial debut, “Belly.”

In the late 90s, music videos were a cultural phenomenon and among those famed directors was Williams. Williams sculpted an unique and creative style with lavish, inventive videos for artists such as Busta Rhymes, Missy Elliot and the late greats 2Pac and The Notorious B.I.G. In an interview panel with Complexcon, Rapper Nas, one of the film’s stars, says “you know you made it when Williams directed one of your videos”. His work from this period offered a best case scenario for major projects matching big budgets with bigger ideas. Like many of his peers in that era, Williams’ parlayed his success from music videos to the big screen, and 1998, he did just that with “Belly.” The movie was filled with an all-star cast of hip-hop’s Rapper Nas and an up & coming rapper out of Yonkers, NY, DMX. Playing their female counterparts were Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins, 1/3 of the classic trio TLC, and the lovely, Taral Hicks. And filling out the cast with his standout role was Rapper Method Man.

Feeling responsible for the “shiny suit” era of hip hop in his videos, with the help of famous costume designer June Ambrose, the famed director wanted to go for an edgier and rough route with the film. The urban drama tells the story of two friends Sincere (Nas) and Tommy Bunz (DMX) who since childhood were involved in crime. As they get older, they went to build an empire off drug dealing and robbing. As time progresses, the two men would eventually come to a crossroads. Sincere becomes spiritually enlightened and grows jaded of the lifestyle he’s lived for so long. As for Bunz, he would go further in and eventually lands in jail. While released, Bunz is giving a proposition to assassinate a minister on New Year’s Eve. When the time comes, moments away from pulling the trigger, he is confronted and later, comforted by the minister. By the end of the movie, both men reached new beginnings and outlooks on life.

The elements of the movie capture the essence of what many considered the golden age of hip- hop. What many felt at the movie lacked in story line, the aesthetics of the film from the fashion, music, cinematic shots and an opening scene like no other movie kept the viewer intrigued and entertained.

Hollywood & hip-hop have been conjoined to one another, helping the genre tell its story from the beginning. From films such as “Beat Street” and “Krush Groove” in the 1980s, chronicling hip hop’s early form with break dancing and street art, to 2018’s up to date adaption of Blaxploitation film, “Superfly”, which was directed by another famous music video director, Little X. It was 20 years ago, Hype Williams helped changed the way the world viewed rap and rappers with ‘Belly”, a movie that was ahead of its time and has forever left a stamp on the culture.

By: Jamal Clarke

Disclaimer: The views, opinions and positions expressed by the authors and those providing comments, opinions on this website are theirs alone, and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions or positions of M-Lifestyle and their affiliates. M-Lifestyle does not claim ownership of any images used, unless otherwise specified.