There is a concept in a lot of hiphop lyrics about having no OGs. Freddie Gibbs talks about it on “Automatic,” Playboi Carti talks about it on “Stop Breathing,” and A Boggie talks about it on “Glory Bridge,” just to name a few.

It’s a concept I relate to in music videos. For a while, it felt anyone that predated me was not on my level. I assumed all the old heads were doing it worse and weren’t worth learning from. Too safe, too boring, too industry brained, too focused on the business to make good art. That kind of thinking is common in music videos. Maybe because it’s a space that’s constantly shifting and reinventing itself. Or maybe because there aren’t that many visible OGs around to look up to. A lot of the real pioneers either burned out, went Hollywood, or even worse, went commercial.

But one of the reasons we started this podcast was to challenge that. To talk to the people that stuck around. Not just for a year or two, but for a decade or two (or three). The ones who helped shape music video culture and are still shaping it now. Which brings me to this week’s guest: Kareem Johnson.

Kareem is the Vice President of Creative Strategy at Atlantic Records. His main responsibility is to commission music videos. That means he oversees the music video process and looks after the label’s interest. Not every commissioner is created equally, but Kareem has built a reputation as someone with taste, vision, stamina, and diplomacy. He’s commissioned videos for Wiz Khalifa, Cardi B, Jack Harlow, Kodak Black, Burna Boy, Don Tolver, and dozens more.

But what makes Kareem such an essential figure, and a perfect guest for this show, is that he isn’t just another label bureaucrat. He’s stuck around, yes, but he’s also stayed sharp and speaks his mind. And reassures us multiple times throughout this interview that music videos aren’t going anywhere. And he should know, he’s been working in the industry since he was 15 years old. All the way back in the very early days of hiphop videos in New York.

Kareem goes deep on how he’s survived in music videos for over 30 years. If you’re a young or old director, a producer, a grip, someone trying to break in, or someone who’s been doing it for years, Kareem shares some advice that is both helpful and unexpected. A lot of people offer big sweeping, grind mentality statements. But Kareem gives advice, rooted in gradual career advancement, community building, and earning your spot. He gives tips on getting attention from a label, and then what to do with that attention once you have it.

Whether you’re inside the industry or just someone who came up loving videos in the MTV or YouTube era, this is a good one. A wise, thoughtful conversation with someone who’s helped shape most of what we’ve see in hiphop video and beyond since the early 90s.

Show Notes:

• Kareem Johnson
• Hype Williams
• Brian Luvar
• Diane Martel
• Ralph McDaniels
• Rob Smith
• Julie Greenwald
• Phil Botti
• Video Music Box
• Music Video Festivals and Awards Show Tier List
• DJ Drama

Which award shows matter, and which ones are for kissing your own ass?

Subscribe to the newsletter: https://mvnd.co/subscribe
Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mvnd.co/

Last week, we posted our monthly music video roundup for May 2025, listing the best and worst videos of the month. In that post, you’ll find the new video for My Morning Jacket “Everyday Magic” directed by Amanda Kramer in the best of section.

Amanda Kramer is probably most known for her independent feature films, of which she had directed seven. Her most recent film, By Design, stars Juliette Lewis and premiered at the 2025 Sundance film festival.

But if you only know Amanda’s film work, then you’re missing an essential part of her practice. Because she’s also a prolific music video director, having directed 15 music videos for Magdalena Bay last year - although 12 are currently unreleased.

What makes Amanda special is she already had a successful, buzzy film and TV career when her music video career picked up. She doesn’t view music videos as a means to an end, she views them as a chance to be part of filmmaking history that dates back to En Vogue and TLC, and flows all the way the way to the modern greats like Hiro Murai and Erin Murray.

She’s not trying to network. She’s not hedging. She’s not pretending music videos are just a stepping stone to something else. She takes the form seriously, while also laughing at how unserious the industry can be sometimes.

That’s why I wanted her on the first episode back. Not just because she makes really good videos. But because she’s proof that you can choose this. Proof that some of the best filmmakers in the world are here because they want to be, not because they have to be.

Joining her is cinematographer Patrick Jones, her longtime collaborator that has shot most of her movies and music videos. Patrick is very tall, which comes up a lot in this episode.

Show Notes

• Amanda Kramer Website
• Patrick Jones Website
• The Vevo Bubble
• Vimeo’s Long Goodbye
• Bjork Volumen
• Veo
• Parker Lewis Can’t Lose on Daily Motion