Jennifer Lopez - I'm Real (Remix) ft. Ja Rule

What this video is

Released in summer/fall 2001 during the apex of Murder Inc. Records' commercial dominance, the 'I'm Real (Murder Remix)' video crystallized the early-2000s aesthetic of hip-hop and pop fusion. Shot in East L.A. with a deliberately unglamorous visual approach, the video represented a deliberate pivot in Jennifer Lopez's image from polished pop star to credible urban crossover artist. The remix topped the Billboard…

Why it matters

A landmark text in pop-rap crossover video grammar, this clip helped establish the visual template for the urban-inflected mainstream pop video of the early 2000s: street locations, casual fashion, multi-artist co-presence, and a deliberately gritty aesthetic standing in contrast to the glossy…

The director

David Charles Meyers (born October 19, 1972, Berkeley, California) studied Film Production and Philosophy at Loyola Marymount University. After working at Paramount and Fox, he pivoted to music videos and has directed over 200 clips. He holds 12 MTV VMAs…