ABDUL MALIK ABBOTT’s story is one of inspiration, determination, and excellent timing, as he got into filmmaking just when hip-hop was about to rule the world. Working his way up from production assistant to sound technician to editor, he eventually became an in-demand director for music videos, especially those featuring Black artists. Among Abdul’s credits are a number of videos he made with Jay-Z, including the hugely popular “Dead Presidents” and the Platinum-selling video album “Streets Is Watching.” He also directed the feature film State Property and a number of award-winning short films.
In their wide-ranging conversation, Dan and Abdul discuss the impact of Star Wars, Abdul’s encounters with Jay-Z, Spike Lee, Luc Besson, Denzel Washington, and Will Smith – and what it’s like to be one of the few Black people on a film crew.
And a lot more. With an awesome, eclectic soundtrack.
