Example - I don't want to

What this video is

Released in 2007 as part of Example's debut album cycle 'What We Made' on Mike Skinner's The Beats label (licensed to Warner Music UK), 'I Don't Want To' represents the transitional moment in UK urban music between the first wave of grime (Dizzee Rascal, Wiley, Kano) and the crossover pop-rap that would define Example's later career. The video's low-budget, street-shot aesthetic mirrors the self-funded, DIY culture…

Why it matters

A document of the pre-crossover UK rap underground circa 2006–2007. 'I Don't Want To' sits at the intersection of hip-hop storytelling and the emerging British indie-pop-rap hybrid that would become commercially dominant by 2010. As Henry Scholfield's first major creative collaboration, this video…

The director

British music video and commercial director. Self-taught — never attended film school. Began career documenting UK hip-hop subculture with a borrowed handycam before graduating to music videos. Early work was rooted in the UK grime and rap scene. Later…