Kendrick Lamar's video for "Humble" arrived with a bang last week. The minimal, energetic single packed a furious punch, but it wouldn't have landed quite as cleanly without it's vibrant and inventive visual treatment. The clip, which uses both familiar and strikingly new techniques throughout, is the brainchild of The Little Homies (Kendrick Lamar and Dave Free) and seasoned director Dave Meyers.
Meyers is a well-known for his music videos, a medium he made a considerable impact in during the early 00s. Whether or not you know it, as a rap and R&B fan growing up during that era (which happened to be a time when music videos were regularly screened on music channels), you're probably very familiar with his work.
Meyer's touch was brought to incredibly distinct videos from Missy Elliott, Jay Z, Juvenile, Outkast, Aaliyah, and many more. While his output has slowed since that hot streak, Meyers has continued to deliver inventive visuals in recent years, including the likes of Missy Elliott's "I'm Better," Tink's "Ratchet Commandments," and Rihanna's "Where Have You Been." He has won 11 MTV VMAs including the 2003 award for Best Video Of The Year ("Work It" co-directed with Missy Elliott).
We could go on forever, but instead, we'll leave you with 15 of Meyers' most memorable music videos. Check them out below.
Lil Wayne - "Tha Block Is Hot" (Feat. B.G. and Juvenile) (1999)
Juvenile - "Back That Azz Up" (1999)
DMX "Party Up (Up In Here)" (2000)
Jay Z "I Just Wanna Love U (Give It 2 Me)" (2000)
Outkast - "B.O.B." (2000)
Aaliyah "More Than A Woman" (2001)
Mary J. Blige "Family Affair (2001)
Jay Z - "Izzo (HOVA)" (2001)
Janet Jackson - "All For You" (2001)
Jennifer Lopez - "I'm Real" (Feat. Ja Rule) (2001)
Missy Elliott - "Get Ur Freak On" (2001)
Usher "U Remind Me" (2001)
Missy Elliott - "Work It" (2002) (Co-directed with Missy)
Ludacris "Stand Up" (2003)
Dilated Peoples - "This Way" (2004) (Feat. Kanye West)