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Music video director Benny Boom makes his directorial debut with this weekend’s release of “Next Day Air,” starring Mike Epps, Donald Faison, Mos Def and Wood Harris.
Although the movie has enough gun-toting violence surrounding street pharmeceuticals, Boom says he didn’t want to contribute to the negativity by adding racial epithets to the characters’ dialogue.
“It was me who told the cast that they couodn’t use the N-word in or out of character, not Mos Def as it was reported,” says Boom. “You should have seen Mike’s face when I told him; he’s like, N—– do you know how much money I make using that word?’ It was difficult for some, but in the end, we did it. I admit that I haven’t totally eliminated it from my vocabulary but I’m extremely conscious of it now if I do slip and immediately check myself.”
Boom is known for his artistic vision in the musc world and recently directed the video for Atlantic Records recording artist Trey Songz’s latest single. “I Need a Girl.”—KNB