+The Amount They Charge
Often, we tend to appreciate and love music videos that are played on music Tv stations. Music video directors are responsible for various tasks. They assist artistes to create visual representations of their songs that help generate album sales. Music video directors who are highly skilled are paid substantially for their experience and ability to produce videos that make an artiste stand out in the music industry. These videos help to get the listeners even closer to the songs. Many video directors in the music industry have delivered quality, crisp, top-notch music videos for artistes in the music year. There are a few who have stood out, delivering numerous numbers of music-video projects without losing their spicy touch of quality. City People Entertainment Reporter brings you 10 of them who are considered to be the best video directors and the highest paid in the year under review. They have been the most sought-after directors and the directors with the best creative work.
TG OMORI
Born ThankGod Omori Jesam he is also fondly called Boy Director. He is from Cross-River State, Omori grew up in Agungi, Lagos State, from a middle-class background. He started directing at the age of 15 while overseeing stage plays in his school and church. Omori started making videos at the age of 16, but took it up professionally at 18, after graduating from PEFTI Film Institute, making him one of the youngest professional filmmakers in Nigeria at the time. In 2019, he came to the limelight as he was the brain behind most of the chart-topping music videos. Some of his popular works include Soapy and Am I A Yahoo Boy both by Naira Marley, Totori by Olamide featuring Wizkid, billionaire by Teni, Nobody by DJ Neptune featuring Mr Eazi and Joeboy, among several others. TG Omori is currently doing even better for himself. TG charges over N10 million to get a good music video out, with TG Omori, expect to get the best. TG Omori is currently one of the hottest video directors in Nigeria, directing most of the music videos in the Nigerian music industry.
DIRECTOR K
Director K or DK has worked with several musical genres and artiste including Wizkid, Tiwa Savage, Davido, Burna Boy, and many. Dirk whose real name is Aremu Olaiwola Qudus, is a music video director winning 2020 The Headies Award for best music video of the year.
MEJI ALABI
Born to Nigerian parents, Meji Alabi is largely influenced by diverse cultures, having grown up in London, Texas, and Lagos. He is behind all the creative videos from artistes like Wizkid, Maleek Berry, Tiwa Savage, Runtown, Asa, Mr. Eazi, Seyi Shay, and many more. Meji is also a photographer, Meji Alabi bridges the gap between African and Western markets, across a range of visual mediums including music video, photography, advertising campaigns, magazine editorials, and artiste branding. He has worked with the likes of Beyoncé on her 2020 ‘Black is King’ video project. Meji charges over N15 million to put good visuals out. Other recent projects include the remote-directed Monsters You Made by award-winning Grammy artiste, Burna Boy, featuring Chris Martin, 49-99 by Tiwa Savage, Smile by Wizkid featuring H.E.R, among others.
DAPS
Oladapo Fagbenle, fondly known as Daps, is a Nigerian-born British artiste, video director, and a former NCAA athlete. He is best known for directing music videos for artistes like Migos, Stormzy, Iggy Azalea, Kendrick Lamar, Willie xo, Wizkid, 2 Chainz and Davido. He began his career in the music industry as a video producer in New York and London. Earlier, he played collegiate basketball at Campbell University and Bellarmine University.
Daps began his video career in 2010 and began directing music videos in 2013. In 2016, he directed the video for Bad and Boujee by Migos featuring Lil Uzi Vert, which went on to become a US number 1 and generated hundreds of millions of views. Daps is the brain behind Davido’s Fall music video.
He has a large portfolio for working with A-list international artistes and this makes daps one of the highest paid as he charges over N25 million to bring out a good work or act. Some of his projects include Come Closer by Wizkid featuring Drake, Close Friends by Lil Baby, Double Tap by Jordin Sparks featuring 2 Chainz, to mention a few.
CLARENCE PETERS
His face might not be popular, but his name certainly does as he is the king of visuals. With over 20 years of experience, Clarence Peters is one of the biggest names in the Nigerian music video sector in the country, charging over N25 million for his work . He is also a filmmaker and cinematographer. Peters was born into a famous family. He is the son of legendary juju singer, Sir Shina Peters, and iconic actress, Clarion Chukwura. He obtained his primary education from BI Primary School and his secondary education from Government College Ikorodu. After finishing secondary school, he worked at Alpha Visions for three years. He graduated from City Varsity ¯ a film school in Cape Town, South Africa, where he majored in cinematography.
Upon returning to Nigeria from South Africa, Peters teamed up with a group of filmmakers to establish the Alliance Film Company, which is now known as the Allied Film Company.Peters worked with the company for a year and eventually started his own production company. The music video producer has worked with virtually every A-list entertainer in the country.
KEMI ADETIBA
Kemi Adetiba is a filmmaker, Nigeria music video director, and television director. She has many works that have been watched on a lot of music video Tv stations such as BET, Soundcity, Netflix, MTV Based and Channel O. Kemi began as a radio presenter in Rhythm 93.7 Fm, before transiting to a face in Television and later a music video director. She directed the music video for “Tease me” by Wizkid,”Lagos party” by Banky W, Olamide’ “Anifowose” and “Sitting on the throne.”She is also solely responsible for directing the prestigious Romantic Comedy “The Wedding Party and King of Boys” Kemi charges over 20 million to put out a good work of act.
MOE MUSA
Moe Musa, the full name is Mohammed Musa is a Nigerian music video director based in the UK. He has directed many top-notch music videos in and out of the shores of this country. He runs a film and video production house. It is called Online Video broadcaster of UK and Afrobeat music culture. He has done many music videos in countries such as France, Amsterdam, America, Cyprus, and South Africa.The first video that brought him to the limelight was the Antenna music video done in 2009 by Fuse O2DG. Some other videos he has created include Davido’s Skelewu, Wizkid’s “Azonto,” Tiwa Savage “Wanted” including the Tuface Idibia’s “Diaspora Video.” He directs music videos on an average of N10 million nairas. Mode is currently still one of the most expensive music video Directors.
DAMMY TWITCH
Dammy twitch who’s real name is Apampa Owo labi is one of the professional video producers in Nigeria. He is best known for the music videos, which he has produced, videos such as Zlatan Ibile’s Zanku. His expertise cuts across the pre-production of videos and promotions. He started as a Photo Editor, but now he found himself shooting videos for a living. His creativity has distinguished him in the creative industry since his inception in 2017. He boasts huge success, working with top acts in the music industry such as Davido, Burna Boy, and Peruzzi. He shoots most of Davido’s videos as he happens to be part of the 30BG gang.
UNLIMITED LA
Buari Olalekan Oluwasegun born 2 April 1987 professionally known as Unlimited L.A is a Nigerian Music Video Director. He has worked with several musical genres and artistes including Olamide, Phyno, Timaya, and many others. Unlimited is too good at what he does and he chooses his jobs very well, he doesn’t jump on just any job. He charges over N15 million to bring out a good piece of work.
MATT MAX
Mattmax whose real name is Mathew Abiodun Aina is among the heavyweight video directors in Nigeria. Some of his works include Olamide’s “Voice Of The Street”, D’Banj’s “Don’t Tell Me Nonsense” among other recent works.
–Precious Pomaa
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