Kanye West - Heard 'Em Say ft. Adam Levine

What this video is

Released in late 2005 as the third single from 'Late Registration,' 'Heard 'Em Say' arrived during a pivotal moment in Kanye West's ascent as hip-hop's most prominent crossover artist. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, selling 860,000 copies in its first week, and the single charted simultaneously with 'Gold Digger' at number one — giving West the rare feat of bookending the Billboard Hot 100.…

Why it matters

A landmark of mid-2000s conscious hip-hop, 'Heard 'Em Say' exemplifies the baroque pop-rap synthesis that defined 'Late Registration' — produced by West with film composer Jon Brion, the track fused orchestral arrangement, piano sampling, and introspective lyricism into a template that influenced…

The director

Michel Gondry is a French director born in Versailles (1963), internationally renowned for his inventive, handcrafted visual style and pioneering use of in-camera effects. He rose to prominence directing music videos for Björk, The Chemical Brothers, Daft…