MTV: “99 Problems” is a graphic video. You see everything from naked men in prison to pit bulls fighting, and at the end you’re essentially being shot and killed. What made you decide to do that scene?
Jay-Z: First of all, I want to say no rappers were harmed in the making of that video. … I really just wanted to … do powerful images in Brooklyn. The last two videos, I mean, they’re cool, but I was pretty much just going through the motions. [This time] I was like, “Man, we can’t shoot the same old thing.” So I called Mark Romanek … he’s like the director’s director. Every director is like, “Mark is the one.” He’s the best right now.
Watch the “graphic” uncut video: Windows Media
Really, the only controversy is Vincent Gallo’s cameo.
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Not to mention the gratutious beard shots.
I have a random unrelated-to-this-post question. I downloaded a song from this site called Architect. I LOVE the song, but I have no idea who sings it. Can you help me out?
the video is fucking hot, Scott, thanks. Rick Rubin … he so crezzy
i’m on ass backward dial up but i’m very curious to find out gallo’s role. anyone care to tell me? if not, i’ll have to wait 34 hours for it to download.
Just a quick shot of him wandering the mean Brooklyn streets. Very odd.
ummm…pretty mediocre.
gotta love the randomness of the titty shots. i can imagine…”fuckin rick man where’s the titties?? you gotsta give me some titties man! sheeeit.”
the link isn’t working.
effin awesome. makes me wonder what romanek would have done with britney??
wait, didn’t vincent gallo call mark romanek a ” photographic/film plagerist?”
This is a great rap video if you’ve never seen a rap video before. Anyone see “Going Back to Cali”? The early Juvenile and B.G. videos? The budget on those probably don’t approach what it cost for (director) Mark Romanek to get the black level just right on 99 Problems.
would help if the uncensored video was accompanied by the uncensored track yes?
Man, who IS that white dude? Looks like a ZZ Top reject.
Oh, it’s Rick Rubin. Gotcha.
I don’t like the shots of the dogs fighting…Jay Z should not show that aspect of Brooklyn life, if only because too many stupid people will emulate it.
The beat is cool, very beastie… yeah, that song would be more entertaining with the whiny white boy snarl of the Beastie Boys. Rick Rubin is one hell of a nice guy but the sight of him trying to be all gangsta is just plain ole silly. Nothing controversial about this video, nothing shocking. Hard to be shocked these days after the Jesus Chainsaw Massacre and true life horrors like the war in Iraq.
Architect is by The Decembrists.
yes! he did in fact say he hated mark!
whatever!
my boy has been slipping lately, and going back on shit he said.
I just met Rick Rubin the other day, very intersting man. Funny to see him in the video.
Off topic, Scott, I cannot believe you have a link to Gordie LaChance’s blog. What would we do without you!
thanks for posting that. other than rick and vincent being at the forefront of early hip hop,and that rick produced a frusciante record, not too sure of their connection. love the song, jay is dope.
Rick Rubin is in the video because he produced it. And Vincent Gallo is in there becaue he’s Vincent Gallo; he’s everywhere.
“Vincent Gallo; he’s everywhere”
oh, you mean like cockroaches and rats? yeah, that sounds about right.
Who is Vincent Gallo and what makes him so controversal?
That’s the “uncut video”? It’s the sameone I saw on TV yesterday afternoon.
I saw gallo and rubin togethor years ago at a bonnie billy show. they’re friends.
I think Whitesnake is the best band evr! hello. ack like u no! bisch!!!
you suck
Like the Video love Jay but like Lindsay said he probably could of done without the dog fighting scene! I live in a city where they are attempting to ban pit bulls and responsible pit owners are fighting it and trying to prove that all pit bulls are not vicious but this video shows the exact opposite! IF he needed dog fighting he could of used different breeds of dogs or something I mean pit’s are already in enough trouble because of the actions of moron’s who fight them and teach them to be aggressive we don’t need Jay Z to influence some young idiots to do as they see in the video and ruin a few more good dogs!
Never been much of a hip-hop fan, but based upon the quality of writing on this album, and the strength of artistic merit involved in this video I must say I’ve discovered a new-found respect for Jay-Z.
U RULE MAN.U SHOULDN’T HAVE LEFT JA RULE
Vincent Gallo. Isn’t he that dumb f*ck that made the movie Brown Bunny? I downloaded it just to see how bad it was after reading some slating reviews and can confirm he is the biggest wanker in the world.
Pity he’s in the vid, otherwise outstanding.