Whodini - Freaks

What this video is

Released in 1984 as the second single from Whodini's album 'Escape' on Jive Records, 'Freaks Come Out at Night' arrived at a pivotal inflection point in hip-hop history. Whodini were among the first rap groups to fuse an R&B melodic sensibility with electro-funk production, laying foundational groundwork for what would later become new jack swing. The song and its video captured the energy of New York's nocturnal…

Why it matters

A canonical document of old-school hip-hop's transition from block-party and club performance into the music video medium. Whodini's R&B-inflected electro-rap synthesis, visible in both the song's construction and the video's warm, party-coded visual language, directly prefigured new jack swing…

The director

American filmmaker and Emmy-winning director. Began career directing documentaries; his documentary 'Wolves in Winter' received two Emmy nominations, and 'Color Me Blue' won an Emmy. Directed over 40 music videos for major acts including The Rolling Stones,…