Hype Williams Compares Original Edit for "Hate Me Now" to Childish Gambino's "This Is America"

Hype Williams sat down for a fascinating conversation for Red Bull Music Festival and he discussed a number of topics such as his start in music, Jada Pinkett Smith writing the treatment for 2Pac’s “California Love,” meeting Timbaland, memories of Missy Elliot and Ginuwine while they worked craft services for a Jodeci video, and so much more. Williams even shared that Beyoncé is his favorite artist to work with:

The reason I say Beyoncé, obviously because of who she is, but more so, she just works harder than me. At the time, I didn’t understand that. Like, I never met an artist that would run circles around me in terms of her work ethic, I’m used to dealing with guys I’d have to force to do stuff. She was just the opposite. She was young, driven is not even the word. She’s my favorite because she inspires me that way.

Williams and Beyoncé collaborated on several videos such as “Check on It,” “Video Phone,” “Drunk in Love,” and “Blow.” Williams also discussed the original edit of Nas’ “Hate Me Now” video, comparing it to Childish Gambino’s “This Is America”:

This is very important and I want everybody to know that this video was probably, for its time period, the equivalent to what Childish Gambino just did. The first edit of this video at this time had to be the greatest thing anyone has ever seen,” Williams added. “Because of who Puff was and where he was going, he needed a release so he had no restraints filming this video. The things that he did and the things we filmed him doing were so radical when edited to this music, I couldn’t even describe it, but at this time, the greatest thing we’ve ever seen was Puff as a special effect, something that I feel is happening with Childish.

Watch the full lecture above.