Yesterday, Chance The Rapper shared an inventive, self-directed video for "How Great." Not much was known about the creation of the video at the time, except that it was shot on an iPhone, but Chance held a Twitter Q&A this afternoon to answer questions from fans. He stated that he won't be answering any interview questions about the video after today, but happily discussed everything from the inspiration of the video to how he got Jay Electronica to come out of hiding during the Q&A.
Chance revealed that his first video directed without the help of longtime collaborator Austin Vesely was inspired by "God, the movie The Prestige, the music video for Friends by Francis & The lights, the iPhone and my cousin Nicole" and said that he has "an insane idea" for a video for "Smoke Break" now that he's made his directorial debut. Watch the video here and see highlights from the rest of the Q&A below.
His overall inspiration for the video:
God, the movie The Prestige, the music video for friends by Francis &a The lights, the iPhone and my cousin Nicole https://t.co/3g208GwzXs
Why he wanted to recreate a studio feel:
I hate lip syncing on video sets, I thought this was more genuine and true to the song. Plus I liked updating and recreating art. #HowGreat https://t.co/upvmU5a8Qi
How he felt about the positive feedback after initial worries:
The best I've felt in awhile. I shoulda been confident from the jump but this being the first video I directed without Austin I got a scared https://t.co/OdtImqzyJs
His reasoning for using a choir of all black women:
to give the best praise & worship possible. I wanted to showcase strength and fragility. Thats how women who taught me how to pray look https://t.co/UB1qtLKIBn
Why the video had so many rotations:
Francis is using Prismizer on Nicole's vocal, originally my idea was just ONE rotation to visually match the change in vocal. But I liked it https://t.co/nsOEwQ6ogq
Where the video was shot:
At the Fillmore in Denver an hour before the show started where the crowd would stand. We put up white pipe and drape and pushed back doors. https://t.co/FKAL7NgTcc
When he came up with the idea and how the crew responded:
Dynamic i came up with the idea the day before but everyone understood what we were trying to do and took it very seriously. #HowGreat https://t.co/3fmbCnF1Aq
How he got Jay Electronica to come out of hiding:
The third act is called The Prestige https://t.co/GSAqLMncaM
Who directed the video:
Directed by Me and Francis, Shot by Oj Hayes and Bobby Backwoods, Colleen Mares and Marcus Hyde lighting by Michael Apostolos https://t.co/0Suv9iCAJ1
Why he put "How Great" on his album in the first place:
My cousin Nicole performed it at my grandmother's funeral, my uncle's funeral and my daughters christening and each time I cried. https://t.co/oB4TY0HyJ1
His favorite line on the song:
I spit on the Tidal it's tidal waves I spit on a Apple and kill a worm A fire in Cali will swallow a valley for every African village burned https://t.co/A4z7ti0Y5a
Problems encountered during the filming of the video:
We were recording live audio at venue before a show and the crew folks were setting up so a couple takes didn't work cuz of background noise https://t.co/Ty8fPsaKZ8
His plans for future directing work:
Absolutely. I have an insane idea for Smoke Break https://t.co/WXmKmZKlP4
