Who Is Dave Meyers? 5 Facts About The Man Behind Your Favorite Music Videos
After having directed hundreds of music videos over the past two decades, Dave Meyers has solidified himself as one of the industry’s most prolific and highly touted talents to date.
You probably know Meyers’ work even if you’re unfamiliar with his name and face as he’s launched several of the biggest hits of the past two decades.
Outkast’s “B.O.B”; Jennifer Lopez’s “I’m Real”; Enrique Iglesias’ “Be With You” DMX’s “Party Up (Up in Here)” and Ja Rule and Ashanti’s “Always On Time” just scratch the surface of the types of memories he’s grafted into the minds of millions over this time.
And he’s still at it. This year alone, if you’ve seen Doja Cat’s “Best Friend” and Drake’s “Laugh Now Cry Later” or Anderson.Paak’s “Lockdown” videos, Meyers’ set of eyes are responsible.
As the 2021 BET Hip Hop Awards near, here’s a closer look into Meyers' work.
First Video Was For Slick Rick
Dave Meyers, who grew up in Berkeley, started making music videos while in high school. Although he’d eventually pivot his interest to film, he first shot Slick Rick’s “Children’s Story,” recruiting his friend to act out the story while Meyers did the camerawork.
Director of TLC’s “Waterfalls” Pushed Meyers To Music Videos
It wasn’t until meeting Gus Van Sant, the director of TLC’s “Waterfalls” and “Natural Born Killaz” with Ice Cube and Dre, that Meyers reminded him of his earlier days when he did the music video for Slick Rick.
“I sort of had a dormant music-video love that I don’t think I understood. [It was] kind of a perfect storm of meeting Gus and him saying do music videos.. ” he tells the magazine. “It tapped into my early days when I did the music video for Slick Rick. And I set my sights on directing a spec music video, which then led me to get signed.”
Was Demanding $500,000 To A Million A Video
When you’re the hottest hire in town, you get the highest bookings, which, he says, was a hefty amount.
Meyers reveals that when he first peaked in his career, for about two years, he’d rack in $500,000 to a million for everything.
Won the Grammy Award for Missy Elliott's "Lose Control"
Great artists bring greatness out of everyone around them and much is the same for hip hop’s living legend, Missy Elliott.
Her song “Lose Control” is convincing enough through the speakers alone, but once Meyers was brought on board as part of the video directing team, they were able to shape one of the greatest music videos of all time. The shoot even earned him a Grammy in 2005.
He also won Best Music Video at the 2017 Grammys for his work on Kendrick’s “Humble.”
Work Expands To Advertising and Film
Meyers' work expands beyond music videos into the world of advertising and film. Starting with the famous Apple iPod silhouettes campaign, Dave has directed notable and award-winning work for the world’s top brands.
Some of those reels include the Michael Bay produced film The Hitcher, 40 Thieves with Fox/21 Laps and the digital series Sneakerheads for Complex.
