Benny Boom

Benny Boom
Born
Benny Douglas

(1971-07-22) July 22, 1971 (age 53)
[Philadelphia], [Pa]U.S.
Occupations
  • music video director
  • film director
Years active2000–present
Websitebennyboom.com

Benny Douglas (born July 22, 1971), professionally known as Benny Boom, is an American director who has worked in music, television, and film. His most commercially successful film was the 2017 Tupac Shakur biopic All Eyez on Me.

Career

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Douglas was born in Philadelphia, PA. and raised between Mount Airy and West Philadelphia[1] He studied film at Temple University before moving to New York City, where he briefly collaborated with the hip hop duo Channel Live and adopted his nickname from that of boxer Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini.[2] After working as a production assistant on the set of the 1995 Spike Lee film Clockers, Douglas was hired in an assistant role for music video directors Hype Williams, Director X, and Paul Hunter.[2]

Starting in the 2000s, Douglas helmed videos for artists such as Nas, Nelly, LL Cool J, Busta Rhymes, Nicki Minaj, Sean Combs, Keyshia Cole, Akon, Ciara and 50 Cent. For his efforts, he was awarded B.E.T.’s Video Director of the Year in 2009 and 2013 and 3 wins for BET Hip Hop awards Video Director of the year.[3]The BET Award for Video Director of the Year is given to the best directors of music videos released in the same or previous year. The category was first created in 2008 and since its conception. The all-time winner in this category is Beyoncé with three wins. Benny Boom has received the most nominations with sixteen each. Benny Boom also directed the nine-minute visual by Nicki Minaj and Lil Baby called "Do we Have a Problem" featuring actors Cory Hardrict and Joseph Sikora and sees Minaj play a double agent.The official music video was released on February 4, 2022 and received the award for Best Hip-Hop Video at the 2022 MTV Video Music Awards.

He also helmed commercial spots for Jeep, Honda, Gatorade, Sears and others. In 2009, Douglas made his feature film debut with the comedy, Next Day Air, starring Mike Epps, Omari Hardwick and Mos Def. His second film, the action drama S.W.A.T.: Firefight was released in 2011. His third film, All Eyez on Me, a biopic about rapper and actor Tupac Shakur, was released in June 2017.

Douglas made his television directorial debut in 2013, with an episode of 90210 (Season 5) for the CW Network, followed by the entire Season 2 of Knock Out, a reality boxing show, for FuseTV in 2015. He continued his television career in 2016 with episodes of dramas NCIS: Los Angeles and Empire, starring Taraji P. Henson and Terrence Howard. In 2019, Douglas became the director for the second season of The CW show, All American.

Douglas is represented by Paradigm Talent Agency for television and film. Douglas is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha[4]

Filmography

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Films

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Television

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Music videos

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Glorilla

Burna Boy

  • Big 7 (2023)

50 Cent

Akon

Amerie

Avant

Benzino

  • Shine Like My Son (2001)

Birdman

BoA

B.o.B

Bow Wow

Busta Rhymes

C-Side

Cassidy

Channel Live

  • Wild Out 2K (2000)

Cherish

Ciara

Dappy

David Guetta

DJ Drama

Fantasia

G. Dep

Ja Rule

  • Clap Back/ The Crown (2003)

Jacquees

Jazmine Sullivan

Jibbs

JoJo

K. Michelle

Katerina Graham

Kelly Rowland

Keyshia Cole

Kirko Bangz

  • Keep it Trill (2012)

Lil' Kim

Lil' Mo

Lil Wayne

LL Cool J

Lyfe Jennings

Mario

Mase

Meek Mill

Mobb Deep

Monica

Mýa

Nas

Nelly

New Kids on the Block

Nicki Minaj

P Diddy

Prince Royce

  • Te Robaré (2013)

Rick Ross

Sean Kingston

  • Seasonal Love (2013/ft. Wale)

Sean Paul

Sheek Louch

  • Mighty D-Block (2 Guns Up) (2003/ft. Jadakiss)

P$C

Pussycat Dolls

  • Beep (2006/ft. will.i.am)

R. Kelly

Robin Thicke

Rooney

Sean Paul

Shyne

Snoop Dogg

Swizz Beatz

T-Pain

Teairra Mari

Tink

Trey Songz

Tristan Wilds

  • Love in the 90z (2016)

Waka Flocka Flame

Wale

Youngbloodz

Young Jeezy

Live DVDs

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References

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  1. ^ Thompson, Gary (June 12, 2017). "Philly native Benny Boom talks about directing Tupac Shakur biopic 'All Eyez on Me'". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
  2. ^ a b Marshall Lewis, Miles (May 27, 2017). "All Eyez on Me Director Benny Boom on Why a Fan, Not a Friend, Should Direct Tupac's Biopic". GQ. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
  3. ^ "BET Award for Video Director of the Year", Wikipedia, 2024-07-13, retrieved 2024-11-20
  4. ^ "ABOUT - Benny Boom". Retrieved 15 April 2023.

https://history.hiphop/benny-boom-the-visionary-behind-iconic-music-videos/

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