romain gavras · N^o8464

Jay-Z and Kanye West’s Watch The Throne is a powerful album, combining the incredible talents of the two hip-hop legends. So when the duo needed an equally gifted director to handle their “No Church in the Wild” video, they called Greek-French director Romain Gavras. At 31, Romain has created many socially conscious videos, which focus on the grittier side of French culture, and the influences of hip-hop and graffiti on its youth. Gavras’ videos often depict uncomfortably realistic clashes between French police and citizens, which has made his work controversial in France. He argues he’s just trying to show the truth in stylish and provocative ways, and we’re appreciative of his efforts.