A History of Spike Lee Music Videos

Eminem is the latest to work with the acclaimed director.

A History of Spike Lee Music Videos - After years of dropping critically acclaimed and cult-classic films, its almost easy to forget that Spike Lee has directed commercials and music videos as well. Thank goodness for Instagram, where Eminem recently posted a pic of him and Lee. "Spike came out to The D for the 'Headlights' video... Coming soon," he wrote. We can hardly wait. Meanwhile, read on for a look at a history of the ultra-shorts Spike Lee has directed for music stars.(Photo: Eminem via Instagram)

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A History of Spike Lee Music Videos - After years of dropping critically acclaimed and cult-classic films, its almost easy to forget that Spike Lee has directed commercials and music videos as well. Thank goodness for Instagram, where Eminem recently posted a pic of him and Lee. "Spike came out to The D for the 'Headlights' video... Coming soon," he wrote. We can hardly wait. Meanwhile, read on for a look at a history of the ultra-shorts Spike Lee has directed for music stars.(Photo: Eminem via Instagram)

Big K.R.I.T.: "Praying Man" - Big K.R.I.T. got a Twitter campaign going to get Lee down to direct the visuals for his "Praying Man" song, which features live vocals from B.B. King himself. An appearance on MTV's RapFix Live in August 2013 and an official hashtag (#SpikeLee4PrayingMan) eventually won the auteur over. Lee gave the go-ahead for the Mississippi MC to give his 40 Acres and a Mule office a call. The final results are still in progress.(Photos from left: John Ricard / BET, Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

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Big K.R.I.T.: "Praying Man" - Big K.R.I.T. got a Twitter campaign going to get Lee down to direct the visuals for his "Praying Man" song, which features live vocals from B.B. King himself. An appearance on MTV's RapFix Live in August 2013 and an official hashtag (#SpikeLee4PrayingMan) eventually won the auteur over. Lee gave the go-ahead for the Mississippi MC to give his 40 Acres and a Mule office a call. The final results are still in progress.(Photos from left: John Ricard / BET, Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

Others Who Didn't Believe the Hype - Public Enemy might get credit for ushering in the political era of rap, which they rightfully should, but there were other groups and artists who followed suit. Some were connected to their movement, others were inspired by them and continue to keep this style of rap alive. Ch-ch-check it out. (Photo: Motown Records)

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Public Enemy: "Fight the Power"  - Lee personally recruited Public Enemy to record this hip hop anthem for his hit 1989 film Do the Right Thing. When directing the music video, he captured the spirit of hip hop's late '80s social awakening by making the video one part political rally (with P.E. as leaders) and one part street performance.  (Photo: Motown Records)

10. "Crooklyn," Crooklyn Dodgers  - This supergroup of three generations of Brooklyn rap icons — Masta Ace, Buckshot and Special Ed — assembled to reminisce on Brooklyn's highs and lows over a sublime Q-Tip production for the soundtrack of the 1994 Spike Lee film Crooklyn.  (Photo: Courtesy MCA Records)

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Crooklyn Dodgers: "Crooklyn" - Brooklyn rhymers Special Ed, Buckshot and Masta Ace combined forces for this title song to the soundtrack for Lee's 1994 film Crooklyn. Keeping within the movie's theme of celebrating Brooklyn, Spike shot the video as an homage to the borough of kings.  (Photo: MCA Records)

Naughty by Nature: "Hip Hop Hooray" - Naughty by Nature delivered this 1993 hit, which celebrated hip hop, at the height of their reign. When helming the music video for this anthem, Lee made sure to mix Naughty's thuggishness with the group's ever-present notion of having fun. Hey... Ho!(Photo: Tommy Boy Records)

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Naughty by Nature: "Hip Hop Hooray" - Naughty by Nature delivered this 1993 hit, which celebrated hip hop, at the height of their reign. When helming the music video for this anthem, Lee made sure to mix Naughty's thuggishness with the group's ever-present notion of having fun. Hey... Ho!(Photo: Tommy Boy Records)

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Experience Unlimited: "Da Butt"  - The nation's capital is not only known for its politics, but also for its unique, indigenous sound: go-go music. And one of Washington, D.C.'s foremost bands, E.U. [Experience Unlimited] recorded this hit party jam for Lee's 1988 film School Daze. Filmed in Brooklyn Tech high school, the music video — directed by Lee — helped push the percussion-based genre (and the accompanying dance move — "da butt") to an international audience. (Photo: Double O Records)

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Experience Unlimited: "Da Butt"  - The nation's capital is not only known for its politics, but also for its unique, indigenous sound: go-go music. And one of Washington, D.C.'s foremost bands, E.U. [Experience Unlimited] recorded this hit party jam for Lee's 1988 film School Daze. Filmed in Brooklyn Tech high school, the music video — directed by Lee — helped push the percussion-based genre (and the accompanying dance move — "da butt") to an international audience. (Photo: Double O Records)

Arrested Development: "Revolution" - Lee enlisted the conscious hip hop super-group Arrested Development to craft this cut for his 1992 biopic Malcolm X. For the song's video, the controversial director intercut scenes from the film with scenes of AD continuing the fight for the same freedom advocated by Malcolm.  (Photo: Vagabond Records)

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Arrested Development: "Revolution" - Lee enlisted the conscious hip hop super-group Arrested Development to craft this cut for his 1992 biopic Malcolm X. For the song's video, the controversial director intercut scenes from the film with scenes of AD continuing the fight for the same freedom advocated by Malcolm.  (Photo: Vagabond Records)

Grandmaster Melle Mel: "White Lines" - While still a student at New York University, Lee filmed this unofficial video for rap pioneer Melle Mel's 1983 anti-cocaine classic "White Lines." Amidst the modern dancers kicking, spinning and sniffing white lines, actor Laurence Fishburne stars as the drug dealer supplying the powder.  (Photo: Sugar Hill Records)

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Grandmaster Melle Mel: "White Lines" - While still a student at New York University, Lee filmed this unofficial video for rap pioneer Melle Mel's 1983 anti-cocaine classic "White Lines." Amidst the modern dancers kicking, spinning and sniffing white lines, actor Laurence Fishburne stars as the drug dealer supplying the powder.  (Photo: Sugar Hill Records)

Anita Baker: "No One in the World" - Lee was hired to helm the video for this tune by '80s R&B superstar Anita Baker. In the clip, the chaunteuse is a World War II era singer getting her first singing break before an audience.  (Photo: Blue Note Records)

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Anita Baker: "No One in the World" - Lee was hired to helm the video for this tune by '80s R&B superstar Anita Baker. In the clip, the chaunteuse is a World War II era singer getting her first singing break before an audience.  (Photo: Blue Note Records)

Prince: "Money Don't Matter 2 Nite" - Prince put the director to work filming the video for his reflective 1991 cut "Money Don't Matter 2 Nite." In the clip, Lee intercut scenes of poverty and greed (keeping with the message of the song) while the Purple One perfomed with his band.  (Photo: Warner Bros. Records)

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Prince: "Money Don't Matter 2 Nite" - Prince put the director to work filming the video for his reflective 1991 cut "Money Don't Matter 2 Nite." In the clip, Lee intercut scenes of poverty and greed (keeping with the message of the song) while the Purple One perfomed with his band.  (Photo: Warner Bros. Records)

Michael Jackson: "They Don't Care About Us" - When MJ wanted to film his music video for "They Don't Care About Us," he had two versions made: one prison-themed video and one of him getting funky in Brazil. He went to Lee for the now classic clip in Brazil.  (Photo: Epic Records)

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Michael Jackson: "They Don't Care About Us" - When MJ wanted to film his music video for "They Don't Care About Us," he had two versions made: one prison-themed video and one of him getting funky in Brazil. He went to Lee for the now classic clip in Brazil.  (Photo: Epic Records)