Martin Roker at Black Dog Films

Director

Meji Alabi

Stormzy is stuck in a loop in Meji Alabi's splendidly luxurious&nbsp;promo for Need You,&nbsp;featuring Ayra Starr and Tendai.&nbsp;In a lavish hotel full of high-end patrons, we see Stormzy and Ayra Starr head through a curtain into an enigmatic room, where a romantic encounter plays out. But then Stormz is back through the curtain into the main room, like he's just arrived, and it all begins again...In the main party, Tendai provides the entertainment for the rest of the guests, rounding off a&nbsp;tour de force&nbsp;of heavyweight performances.With a rich, opulent aesthetic and slick styling, it's a video packed full of striking&nbsp;moments, and a perfect complement to the track.&nbsp;Really classy&nbsp;stuff from Meji Alabi and his team.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Jimi Adesanya

JM Films

Toby Barber

Jack Green

Stefan Yap

Arran Green

Ricky Labib

Kieran Daley-Ward

Oliver Bingham

Stephen Ofori

Gary Kent

Black Dog Films

Stormzy ft Ayra Starr & Tendai 'Need You' by Meji Alabi

STORMZY - NEED YOU ft. AYRA STARR & TENDAI

Meji Alabi is raring to go. Like pretty much every other UK-based director,&nbsp;he has been stuck at home for the past twelve months. And that has been particularly difficult for a director who always seems to be on the move around the globe.With his connections in Nigeria - he co-owns <a href="https://www.jm-films.tv/" target="_blank">JM Films</a> with producer Jimi Adesanya,&nbsp;while being represented by <a href="https://blackdogfilms.com/" target="_blank">Black Dog Films in the UK and US</a> - Alabi (above right with Skepta on the Energy video shoot)&nbsp;has filmed in Lagos many times, and been hugely instrumental in bringing the new artists of Afrobeat to wider attention, though his exciting, colourful executions in authentic settings.He has shot elsewhere in Africa too - Ghana, Uganda and South Africa - and many other places, from the Caribbean, North and Central America, to Eastern Europe. So this past year has put his globetrotting to a complete stop, and he&nbsp;has been exploring locations on his doorstep&nbsp;in west London&nbsp;- and also doing the directing-over-Zoom&nbsp;thing.&nbsp;&nbsp;"I shot a couple of Burna Boy videos and Wizkid videos," he says.&nbsp;"Some remotely - like the Monsters You Made video for Burna Boy.&nbsp;It was quite an incredible experience. The connection was actually really poor, so we were sending videos back, take after take, really quickly. It was difficult, but we got there.&nbsp;"But obviously there’s nothing like being on location, on set. To be able to make last minute decisions, adjustments, conversing with your DP live. These things you just can’t substitute."My favourite part is often the recce's - because you get to see lots of places in a short amount of time. I normally just point at different spots and ask if we can shoot there. Once, an artist didn't turn up to a shoot in Barbados so I spent a week 'recce'ing'&nbsp;the island. Great times."His last trip overseas to shoot a music video was almost exactly a year ago - Chronixx's Cool As The Breeze, filmed in Kingston, Jamaica. It was one of his favourite experiences, and he has now produced a BTS film about this shoot.[vidtoken data:0]So we asked Meji to reflect upon his favourite places to shoot - and with the prospect of things opening up again, hopefully quite soon,&nbsp;where he is keen to return. And as he explains, it's not just the places themselves&nbsp;that is important - the attitude you take to those places is also crucial.<blockquote>Each location has its pros and cons – you just have to roll with it.</blockquote>"Everywhere has its advantages and disadvantages – in the UK sometimes it’s the weather (although last summer it was amazing); in Nigeria, sometimes you won’t have certain equipment available to you, and the crew is still improving, as is lot of West Africa. It's getting better all the time, but its not going to be the same standard as Ukraine or South Africa - yet."Each location has its pros and cons – you just have to roll with it. For example, Jamaica things can be moving quite slowly, but you can shoot some incredible, beautiful, amazing things. So you just have to give and take.&nbsp;"People often come up on set and say -&nbsp;'you’re so patient, you’re so calm'. I might be brewing up inside, but I know that how this place works. You just have to find the balance."MEJI ALABI ON HIS FAVOURITE LOCATIONS<a href="https://www.promonews.tv/videos/2017/11/15/tiwa-savage-ft-wizkid-ma-lo-meji-alabi/50528">Tiwa Savage ft Wizkid &amp; Spellz&nbsp;- Ma Lo</a>&nbsp;(location: Fela Kuti's New Afrika&nbsp;Shrine, Lagos)[vidtoken data:1]This was the&nbsp;first video I made where I felt the location gave a lot of feeling to it... It was shot in Fela Kuti’s Shrine - a legendary location in Nigeria.&nbsp;It’s one of those places&nbsp;- you're shooting on hallowed ground - and it does give a feeling, a rawness and energy that you can only get from shooting live there.It’s a free place, where you can go and be yourself, drink and smoke. It’s that kind of vibe, so in fact everybody is very chilled. But they’re also very protective of it because it’s a special place and they love Fela.&nbsp;There were loads of people around that weren’t part of the production, but filled the void, and kept us on our toes.[imgtoken data:1]Above: Meji Alabi (centre) with Wizkid (right) and Tiwa Savage on the Ma Lo shoot at Fela Kuti's New Afrika ShrineThat was [DoP] Stefan Yap’s first time in Nigeria actually, and I think he did a fantastic job. He was working with someone we call Mr Oluwale&nbsp;– one of our gaffers out there, and he created what I think they call a ‘ring of fire’ or ‘ring of light’. They built a really good power set-up that went around the whole location. So wherever Stefan wanted to put lights he could move them quite quickly, which was something new to me at the time.<a href="https://www.promonews.tv/videos/2018/09/14/skepta-wizkid-energy-stay-far-away-meji-alabi/55017" target="_blank">Skepta &amp; Wizkid - Energy (Stay Far Away)</a> (location: Agaja, outside Lagos)[vidtoken data:2]There are so many beautiful spots in Nigeria to film, its such an incredible place. Full of texture, full of colour, full of life. Its pretty much a case of pointing out a place and asking my team if we can shoot there and more often than not, the answer is ‘yes’.That the thing with Nigeria, the most random things will be there, but you have to be able to find it.&nbsp;They say if it's not in Naij then it doesn't exist. For example, the Skepta video that I did, we shot that in a beach house about an hour away from Lagos which you reach by boat. Incredible, you’re on this litte boat for the longest time, and then you pull up to this beautiful island where people have built these incredible beach houses. There are locals out there, take canoes out and fish – very peaceful and beautiful.Eko Atlantic is another cool spot. It's a manmade island, where they've filled in the sea – just like Dubai.&nbsp;They're building a whole bunch of apartments and hotels and stuff, kind of a slow process right now but its looking beautiful. It’s also a great option for a desert or type of desolate location.<a href="https://www.promonews.tv/videos/2019/01/22/popcaan-ft-davido-dun-rich-meji-alabi/56928" target="_blank">Popcaan ft Davido - Dun Rich</a>&nbsp;(location: Lagos Island &amp; Tarkwa Bay, Lagos)[vidtoken data:3]Obviously me going over to Nigeria with a different and fresh eye kind of helps me see things the way that perhaps a Westerner might have seen them. I was able to expose my eye, and work with amazing artists to bring that to the world. There are also great directors who are on the ground who are working with great artists and producing great work.[imgtoken data:2]Above: Meji (right) with DoP Arran Green on set of Dun Rich videoWe definitely have the personnel there. That was one of the goals of JM Films when we started, to bring attention that great films, great music videos could be made in Nigeria – by Nigerians as well. That also helped push the shift to producing things back home.George The Poet 'Black Yellow Red' (location: Kampala, Uganda)[vidtoken data:4]It was really interesting working with George. He’s very straightforward. But it was also like, ‘we don’t know what we’re about to do, but I want to go to Uganda and shoot this.’ And we did that, in 2018.We went to Uganda and shot that with Francis Lane. It felt old school, 'man+cam' type of vibe which is how I love shooting most of the time. Such a cool place... peaceful and cool and the people were really nice.&nbsp;Something happened at the start which was a real eye-opener.&nbsp;When I landed at the airport,&nbsp;a guy came to meet me to help me out.&nbsp;I had a rough beard, and my hair was just starting to grow out. He said: "Hey man, what’s with your beard? When you come to Africa, don’t be yourself, be like everyone else."&nbsp;I thought that sums up a lot of people’s dreams being killed, not allowed to be their own creative and authentic selves. I think we’re on a mission to try to change that.<a href="https://www.promonews.tv/videos/2020/08/04/chronixx-cool-breeze-meji-alabi/65942" target="_blank">Chronixx - Cool Is The Breeze</a>&nbsp;(location: Tivoli Gardens, Kingston, Jamaica)[vidtoken data:5]I shot&nbsp;two previous videos in Jamaica, but&nbsp;this one was a special one for me. Me and Jaime Ackroyd the DoP, and Mike Hannides the focus puller, went to Tivoli Gardens in West Kingston on our recce. Such a beautiful and colourful area, with such a colourful history as well.Once I was there I thought – this is perfect. Normally I’m not like that. Usually I like to see two&nbsp;or three locations – and did so, for my due diligence. But really once we landed in Tivoli Gardens&nbsp;I was like – this is where we need to shoot this video.[imgtoken data:3]Above: Meji (centre) on set of Chronixx's Cool As The Breeze shoot in Tivoli Gardens in Kingston, with focus puller Mike Hannides (right)One of the lyrics is ‘welcome to Kingston, every day is like summer'.&nbsp;I just wanted it to feel authentically Jamaican, to feel like ‘this is Kingston’. So we had to have real people from Kingston and Tivoli Gardens, and really most of the cast were locals from the area.That is something like to do in a lot of videos I shot on location, whether in South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, anywhere really.&nbsp;Gotta keep it real.<a href="https://www.promonews.tv/videos/2019/11/05/regard-ride-it-meji-alabi/61715" target="_blank">DJ Regard - Ride It</a>&nbsp;(location: Kiev, Ukraine)[vidtoken data:6]Me and my long-time collaborator and good friend Olan Collardy went out there,&nbsp;with Black Dog, Martin Roker and the crew, Manoela Chiabai producing, and it was incredible.&nbsp;I don’t think I’ve seen that level of organisation before, besides in commercials in the UK.Sometimes the resources can stretch and allows for that. It allows you to create, and the art department was out of this world. We ran two units and it was seamless as ever. We were working with Limelight as our service team out there. They killed it. I plan to go out there again as soon as I can to shoot once the world opens up. Not just Ukraine but Eastern Europe in general as some of the locations are epic.<a href="https://www.promonews.tv/videos/2020/07/08/tinie-ft-sofia-reyes-farina-whoppa-meji-alabi/65590" target="_blank">Tinie ft Sofia Reyes &amp; Farina - Whoppa</a>&nbsp;(location: Mexico City)[vidtoken data:7]That was my maiden voyage in working in Mexico, and it was beautiful. I grew up in Texas, close to Mexico - and I used to live with a Mexican family at one point. So it was a special experience shooting in Mexico City. Almost like a mini-homecoming. We worked with a fantastic local production team - the art department and attention to detail was really second to none.We were trying to create a whole festival in the street. When you write these things you think – oh man, I probably won’t be able to do this. There's many reasons why this shouldn't work...and then a flight and a few you're standing in the middle of the street and everythings happening around you.<blockquote>It was a special experience shooting in Mexico City.</blockquote>The whole time the cast were coming in different costumes I needed and it was automatic. Never saw where they were changing, just had them presented on set looking the part. The costume designer was in a costume the whole time himself. He wasn’t in front of the camera, he’d just appear the whole time in different flamboyant costumes!My Spanish is not that great and neither is Stefan’s. But we had a great 1st AD, Emilio, communicating with the cast. Really, you have to have a great AD, someone who’s great at getting your message across - so you don’t seem like the angry foreign director who doesn’t know what’s going on. Then you can focus on the art.There are three artists in this video, a lot going on - and we managed to do it all in one day. It was crazy. But that's testament to the team. Nancy Ryan produced that, and she was so calm the whole time. A very cool producer.<a href="https://www.promonews.tv/videos/2018/10/03/nasty-c-ft-aap-ferg-king-meji-alabi/55299" target="_blank">Nasty C ft A$AP Ferg - King</a>&nbsp;(location: New York City)[vidtoken data:8]We shot in some interesting areas in New York, we shot in the projects, in a place called the King Dome in Harlem. We shot on the top of the projects as well, where we all got arrested, and searched.I was actually anxious the whole time about getting arrested. I was just - do we have permits for this, and do we have permits for that?&nbsp;But overall it was a good experience. New York itself is inspiring. Even when you’re walking down the street, you feel like you’re in a movie - you just take that energy. Being able to film there, be in such an iconic city, felt good for me. I’m welcoming more American shoots, as the world opens up again. That’s something that’s on the horizon.<a href="https://www.promonews.tv/videos/2020/10/07/burna-boy-ft-stormzy-real-life%E2%80%99-meji-alabi/67055" target="_blank">Burna Boy ft Stormzy - Real Life</a>&nbsp;(location: South Acton estate, West London)[vidtoken data:9]The last three or four videos I’ve done on London have been shot on estates in West London that are all being destroyed. Most of them are close to my house to be honest. That one, the South Acton estate, was a derelict estate where even the working mens’ club where we shot the wake scenes in, was or is in the process of being demolished. Telling a story there was a form of preserving these locations in some way visually.Generally I’ve been more inclined to tell more stories, try to make something impactful, videos and narratives that really touch people. With the direction I like to pursue cinematically, that was something I felt I wanted to do.I guess council estates have been part of my childhood too, as with many other people. And on that location it felt really authentic. A lot of my friends actually grew up on that estate, where we shot it and lived those experiences within the video.When the location can amplify your story and really bring another level of authenticity and feeling to it. That can’t be substituted.• Meji Alabi is represented for music videos and commercials by <a href="https://blackdogfilms.com/" target="_blank">Black Dog Films</a>

Around The World with Meji Alabi - his favourite locations

CHRONIXX - COOL AS THE BREEZE BTS

Tiwa-Savage-Ft-Wizkid--'Ma-Lo'-by-Meji-Alabi

Skepta-&-Wizkid-'Energy-(stay-Far-Away)'-by-Meji-Alabi

Popcaan-'Dun-Rich-(ft.-Davido)'-by-Meji-Alabi

George The Poet - Black Yellow Red

Chronixx-'Cool-As-The-Breeze/friday'-by-Meji-Alabi

Regard-'Ride-It'-by-Meji-Alabi

Tinie-Ft.-Sofia-Reyes-&-Farina-'Whoppa'-by-Jim-Campbell

Nasty C - King (Official Music Video) ft. A$AP Ferg

Burna-Boy-'Real-Life-Ft-Stormzy'-by-Meji-Alabi

Meji Alabi creates a chilled-out dreamworld for Wizkid to inhabit, in the vibrant promo for No Stress.&nbsp;Dripping with luxurious art direction and ethereal colour palettes, the visual is gorgeous to look at, boasting high-energy performance and super-glossy cinematography from the redoubtable Stefan Yap.&nbsp; &nbsp;

United Kingdom

Matt Klemara

Linah Bensadok

Blair Barnette

Laurie London

Brenda Ford

Femi Konteh

Paume Paris

Jonny Tully

Tag Collective Art

Irene Ojo-felix

Sony Records

Charlie Rizek

Afro-Beat

Afro-Pop

Wizkid 'No Stress' by Meji Alabi

Wizkid-'No-Stress'-by-Meji-Alabi

Meji Alabi directs an intense and timely exploration of violence and inequality, in his video for Burna Boy's Monsters You Made, featuring Chris Martin.&nbsp;Having watched a devastating montage of traumatic&nbsp;events, a group of soldiers - led by Burna Boy - are training to revolt against the systems and people in power.&nbsp;The concept encapsulates the themes of the track, and is a timely meditation on an unjust society, where violence is bred from birth and is a matter of life and death for many people.&nbsp;

Nigeria

Kc Obiajulu

Anti Design

Daniel Obasi

Mah Ferraz

Forager

Big Buoy

Simon Dewey

Shadeh Smith

Atlantic Records

Leke Alabi-isama

Afrobeat

Burna Boy ft Chris Martin 'Monsters You Made' by Meji Alabi

Burna-Boy-'Monsters-You-Made-(ft.-Chris-Martin)'-by-Meji-Alabi

Meji Alabi has directed several videos for Burna Boy, including some proper blockbusters. But have any been as powerful as this?In visualising the sombre sentiments of the Stormzy-featured Real Life, Burna Boy gave Alabi licence to tell a story about the difficulties&nbsp;for Afro-Carribean people in London now. The result is a tour de force; a compelling mini-drama where the complexity of people's lives, navigating what is 'right' and 'wrong', is highlighted by the different routes taken by twin brothers, and a pointless murder.&nbsp;With a standout performances by Devontay and Dijon Graham as the brothers, Alabi&nbsp;creates a world on a West London estate populated with believable&nbsp;characters, sketched into life by his direction and Jaime Ackroyd's camera. Most painfully of all, Alabi stays firmly with the victim, as he dies alone. It is a departure for the director who has become one of the most adept at creating visually exciting pop videos, but a very confident and cinematic&nbsp;one.Alabi even pauses the drama to allow a spoken word section, written and delivered by George The Poet, to add weight to the whole piece, that already includes strong performance elements from Burna Boy and Stormzy. Powerful indeed.[imgtoken data:1]

Matt Klemera

Luke Goodrich

Jaime Ackroyd

Lawrence Beckwith

Ryan Monteith

James Middleton

Minna Attala

Paume

Tim Smith

CHEAT

Denova Media

Kharmel Cochrane

Joel Honeywell

Hip Hop

Burna Boy ft Stormzy 'Real Life’ by Meji Alabi

Meji Alabi directs a love letter to Kingston, Jamaica with his new video for Chronixx.&nbsp;Shot largely on 16mm, the colourful promo highlights the energy of the capital city, elevated by slick performance and an unabashed love for dance and music culture. Oh, and Chronixx travels serenely around Kingston on a floating armchair...&nbsp;DoP Jaime Ackroyd captures the unique vibe of the city - and the people within it -&nbsp;through energetic handheld shots and plenty of zooms, creating a dynamic and lively&nbsp;aesthetic.[imgtoken data:1]&nbsp;

Jamaica

J. Adesanya

Mike Hannides

Matt Newman

Trim Editing

Jason Wallis

Electric Theatre Collective

Oliver Whitworth

We Are Covert 

Grant Sandy Phillips

Cinelab Film and Digital

Reggae

Dancehall

Chronixx 'Cool As The Breeze' by Meji Alabi

Meji Alabi turns up the heat for Tinie's new single Whoppa, featuring Mexican popstar Sofia Reyes and Columbian artist Farina.The visual&nbsp;channels festival spirit for the ’lost summer’ of 2020, and&nbsp;was filmed in the streets of Mexico City.&nbsp; Vibrant, colourful and energetic, the breathless concept features dynamic performance and exquisite art direction, ever-evolving from the first frame to the last.&nbsp;DoP&nbsp;Stefan Yap matches the celebratory vibes with busy composition, packed to the brim with a lively cast of extras and a stream of glitter, confetti and traditional props.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Mexico

Nancy Ryan

Martin Roker

Lizy Ruiz

Emilio Tuero

Luis Luino

Gamaliel Islas

Sandra Migueli

Charlie Rothberg

Homespun

Hannah Whitehill

Sam Seager

Disturbed Records

Tinie ft. Sofia Reyes & Farina 'Whoppa' by Meji Alabi

He's one of the hardest working directors in music videos. Now he's forced into lockdown, Meji Alabi (above, with son Godwin) has been enjoying some R&amp;R at home with his family in London, and reflecting upon his achievements, and intense workload, of the past few years.But then,&nbsp;on top of that, he has also&nbsp;launched his own chat show, talking to music video creatives,&nbsp;on Instagram Live...What were you working on before the lockdown? I had quite a few music videos - Jamaica and Nigeria were on the books - and had a few commercials locked in before the lockdown. Also in the early stages of writing some scripts for shorts and such... But who isn’t? :D<blockquote>I’ve found it’s reignited my hunger to create even more.</blockquote>What are you working on now? I’ve just finished post on one promo. In the early stages of VFX for another promo. And just finishing up the final bits of an ad I worked on for a charity. So I spent the first few weeks of lockdown with busy with remote edits and going back and forth with agency. It’s actually been quite therapeutic to execute the process from afar...and also have more time to sit with things.What's the most surprising, or least predictable thing, that's happened to you during quarantine? I think the urge to cook my own food - and falling in love with it. And eating breakfast. I actually love going and buying food and making it. Something I’ll actively try and do more in post-corona days.[imgtoken data:1]Also starting up REAL TALK on my <a href="https://www.instagram.com/mejialabi/" target="_blank">Instagram page @MejiAlabi</a> - where I talk to my peers and other fellow creatives about life in the creative industry on Instagram Live. It’s gotten some traction, and I’m not necessarily a public speaker so I found that quite cool. So far we’ve had DP’s Olan Collardy and Stefan Yap, and directors Koby Adom, Olivia Rose Garden, Nabil, and my Black Dog compatriot Leonn Ward. So it’s been an awesome lineup so far. Next up is an absolute legend - Anthony Mandler... really looking forward to that.What's the favourite part of your daily routine? Getting outside. I’m up and out at 6:30am for the past week to try and reclaim/relive my former glory days. The weather has been so great that just going for a cycle or a run or to skate is super satisfying. Also playing with the kids outside and teaching them new things is great. I was travelling so much before COVID-19 every one of these moments is priceless for me. It’s my way of turning this negative situation into a positive.Are things getting harder/better/staying the same? I’m privileged to have worked a lot last year so I managed to put some aside, so economically I’m ok....for now. But mentally I’d say we’re all getting a little bit restless. It’s a big change. I’ve found it’s reignited my hunger to create even more. I think I’m going to start constructing little short films and camera tests in my house like I used to or something. I manage to keep myself pretty busy.[imgtoken data:2]What have you learned about yourself during quarantine? It probably sounds cliche by now. That there’s so much more to life to enjoy outside of the filmmaking music video world. It’s so easy to get wrapped up in everything. This quarantine has forced us to take a step back and re-evaluate the important things in life. Certain things that were so important have literally just disappeared so for me it was a much needed priority check. I’m going to make an effort to bring some of these elements into my lifestyle post-quarantine.Best meal you have eaten/are regularly cooking (send photo, if poss!) I’ve been on the grill quite a lot - Made some chicken shish-kebab things with pineapple. So good. Sorry for the low res photo :D[imgtoken data:3]Best thing you’ve watched, or heard, while on lockdown, and why? And the worst...? I’ve just finished Marvel’s Luke Cage.. I was skeptical at first but it’s really good. Also Atlantics which was great. A third into The Irishman as well.[vidtoken data:0]As for the worst thing I’ve watched....I tend to protect myself from watching stuff I don’t think I’ll like or hasn’t been recommended but I’ve been enjoying loads of memes. That’s bad enough. Shoutout @DirectorsContent.&nbsp;How's your Work/Life balance at the moment? Better than it’s ever been.• Meji Alabi is represented for music videos and commercials by Black Dog Films in the UK and US, and is co-founder of&nbsp;JM Films, based in Lagos and London. See Meji's showreel <a href="http://www.blackdogfilms.com/uk/directors/meji-alabi/" target="_blank">here</a>.

Quarantine Q&A: Meji Alabi, Black Dog Films 

Atlantics: A Ghost Love Story / Atlantique (2019) - Trailer (English Subs)

Meji Alabi's colourful and chaotic video for Banx &amp; Ranx&nbsp;and&nbsp;Kojo Funds' Traffic Jam shuts down the streets in Accra, Ghana.In a hot and sweaty queue of colourful vehicles, our artists are getting restless as the whole street comes to a halt. Taking a look inside other cars, we see a variety of characters, including a group of nuns, masked characters (with an especially horrifying caricature of Donald Trump among them) and a travelling dance act.&nbsp;Before long, the tension has spilled over into a massive party - people are dancing on top of their vehicles, and Kojo is taking the lead with a fierce performance down the middle of the queues. Feel-good and bursting with energy and vibrance,&nbsp;Dave Pienaar's cinematography utilises a kaleidoscope of rich colour, frenetic movement and even a few old school dutch angles to match the pace of the track.&nbsp;Lasting well into the night, when darkness has eclipsed the road, the group eventually stop worrying about wherever they were going, and instead embrace the chaotic party atmosphere.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Canada

Dave Pienaar

Dance

Banx & Ranx X Kojo Funds 'Traffic Jam' by Meji Alabi

Banx-&amp;-Ranx-X-Kojo-Funds-'Traffic-Jam'-by-Meji-Alabi

Meji Alabi takes us into the exciting underbelly of the city at night in his video for Kosovan DJ/producer Regards massive global hit Ride It.The dark, stylish underworld of the neon-soaked streets is seen through the twin perspectives of a driverless muscle car, and a relentlessly off-his-head raver, blazing through&nbsp;his own drug-fuelled trip. Alabi delivers a vision, where aggression, sex and humour sit side-by-side, laced with slick automotive action. Looks like a hell of a place for a party.&nbsp;

Manoela Chiabai

Max Matveev

Grits

Olan Collardy

Dima Mikhaylov

Serj Volniy

Marina Zhylova

D-fran

Emily Sonnet

Ministry of Sound

Regard 'Ride It' by Meji Alabi

Meji Alabi teams up with Eugy for the video for Hold Me Down - shot in the National Theatre of Ghana. It is the first time anyone has been permitted to shoot a music video in this spectacular theatre, and the team don't waste the opportunity.Using the impressive structure as a backdrop, every shot utilises the angular, imposing architecture of the location, and when paired with the subtle art direction it creates a bold, striking series of images.This theme carries through to the wardrobe, where a cast of extras wear uniquely shaped&nbsp;garments, full of straight edges and sharp contours, with a splash of colour and local flair. The performances are confident and assured, from both the artists and dancers, resulting in&nbsp;an exciting video packed full of ambitious concepts.&nbsp;The interiors are just as gorgeous, and&nbsp;Francis Lane does a great job of creating a dark and sexy atmosphere, utilising the deep red colour palette&nbsp;of the theatre, painting the characters in a vibrant silhouette. This is a project very much focused on form and design, and it's a must watch.

Francis Lane

James Woodbridge

Kusi Kubi

Sam Hardy

Disturbing London

Eugy ft. Wavy The Creator 'Hold Me Down' by Meji Alabi

Eugy--'Hold-Me-Down-(ft.-Wavy-The-Creator)'-by-Meji-Alabi

Coming off the back of Meji Alabi’s recent Pull Up&nbsp;video comes&nbsp;his next Burna Boy video - and a collaboration with&nbsp;Jorja Smith on Gum Body.&nbsp;The understated performances and a straightforward narrative make this an easy watch, chilled and relaxed to match the vibe of the track - taken from Burna’s new&nbsp;album&nbsp;African Giant.&nbsp;The intermittent dance scenes drive the video forward with great energy, and the ghosting effects on the exteriors lend a slightly surreal 90s edge to the project.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Andrei Croitor

Theo Somers

Danny Ormerod

Ash Halliburton

Jonny Thorpe

Glassworks

Xiaoxuan Zhu

Emma Backman

Benjy Kirkman

Burna Boy ft Jorja Smith 'Gum Body' by Meji Alabi

Burna-Bo-'Gum-Body-(feat.-Jorja-Smith)'-by-Meji-Alabi

With a nod to the indomitable Nigerian afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti's 'Shuffering and Shmiling, Meji Alabi shot his latest collaboration with Tiwa Savage&nbsp;49-99’ with an all African crew over one day in Ebutte Metta Railway Station, Lagos, Nigeria, and produced though Meji's JM Films.And the&nbsp;49-99&nbsp;video premiered with a marquee screening in Times Square and Sunset Boulevard in the US.

Tiwa Savage '49-99' by Meji Alabi

Tiwa-Savage--'49-99'-by-Meji-Alabi

Meji Alabi's latest video for Burna Boy - from the Nigerian artist's acclaimed fourth album African Giant -&nbsp;captures a vintage aesthetic with an array of vivid texture to accompany the lively Afro-fusion rhythm.The video, which also features models Aweng Chuol, Camille Munn, NyaLuak Leth, and Chanel Taylor, is Alabi's first production since signing with Black Dog Films in the UK and US.The hugely prolific London-based director has directed&nbsp;music videos&nbsp;for the likes of Skepta, A$AP Ferg, Goldlink, Burna Boy, Yungen, Kojo Funds, Raye, Tory Lanez, Popcaan, and Swizz Beats, and for African artists such as Tiwa Savage, Nasty C, Aṣa, Wizkid, and Davido.Working in a range of visual mediums including music video, photography, advertising campaigns, magazine editorials, and artist branding, Alabi (below) has blazed a trail in the past few years in bridging the gap between African and Western markets.[imgtoken data:1]&nbsp;

Sonny Horwell

PC Williams

Leannah Carer

Burna Boy 'Pull Up' by Meji Alabi - now signed to Black Dog Films

Burna-Boy--'Pull-Up'-by-Meji-Alabi

A girl see’s a man with a Godzilla mask lying asleep on a carpark floor and imagines what could happen if he was awake. In fact, he turns out to be Mr Eazi, and he's a lot of fun.Meji Alabi's latest for the Nigerian Banku star is bright and breezy, and gives a special focus to the clothing in Eazi's fashion brand, FashionNova. Appropriate for the track Supernova.

George Phull

Asia Rose Kilgallon

David Witchell

Sereeta Venkanah

Chris Bell

Creep Post

We Fix It In Post

Mr Eazi 'Supernova' by Meji Alabi

Mr-Eazi-'Supernova'-by-Meji-Alabi

Shot in Lagos and Atlanta, Meji Alabi&#39;s video for Casanova connects Nigeria to the US and the US to Nigeria - with Casanova being a big boss in two places.Shot in one of the roughest neighborhoods in Lagos (Shitta) - the sense of danger and excitement is palpable.And&nbsp;yes, those guys really do have pet hyenas...&nbsp;

Akpe Ododuro

Mark Meadows

Smoke & Mirrors

Roc Nation

Casanova ft Tory Lanez & Davido '2AM' by Meji Alabi

Casanova-'2am-(ft-Tory-Lanez-&-Davido)'-by-Meji-Alabi

Meji Alabi captures dancehall star Popcaan and singer/producder Davido in this vibrant celebration of Nigerian womanhood for the laid-back Dun Rich.Shot all over Lagos, and mixing documentary footage with the slicker performance stuff, it features all kinds of Lagos girl - cheerleaders, boxers, models, swimmers and bikers. It brings everything together at the national stadium with girl athletes and a formidable group in national costume.As usual, Meji Alabi (below centre, with Davido and Popcaan) packs a lot in three or so minutes.[imgtoken data:1]

Ben Plant

P C Williams

Alex Gregory

The Mill

Mixpak

Popcaan ft. Davido 'Dun Rich' by Meji Alabi

Meji Alabi helms a ferocious display of late night London energy, starring Swizz Beats and Giggs.With the performers wreathed in smoke, their crews wielding flares, East End locations, and a couple of old Routemasters used as a backdrop - all shot in black and white - this delivers masses of old school, neo-gothic London atmosphere. All aboard.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Steven Olugbenga Eniraiyetan

Kit Mckenzie

Jake Whitehouse

Amarjeet Singh

Tasha Leslie

Asad Naveed

Epic Records

Grime

Swizz Beats ft Giggs 'Come Again' by Meji Alabi

Swizz-Beats-'Come-Again-Ft.-Giggs'-by-Meji-Alabi

Meji Alabi smoothly charts the passage of time in Nigerian superstar Burna Boy&#39;s amourous relationship with a girl in long, sweeping takes, in his video for On The Low.

Meji Alabi

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