Hype Reeves

In 1998, Hype Williams was in a crisis. Rapper Nas had thoroughly destroyed his once towering street credibility as the next Rakim by releasing 3 horrible albums in a row. With Nas bowing out of the main role as "Sincere," what was Hype Williams to do? The two hour music video that his intern spent 47 minutes writing the script for was in jeopardy. And while Hype did feel confident that DMX barking nonsensical pseudo-philosophical bullshit at T-Boz from TLC for two hours COULD carry a movie, he still wasn't completely confident in green lighting the project without a substitute for the disappointment that is Nasir Jones.

As fortune would have it, Hype turned to the man who ghostwrote Nas' 1994 classic album Illmatic: Keanu Reeves. Reeves' street cred? Deep. And since he was already a part of the Ruff Ryders, his chemistry with DMX would be undeniable. Seven people died from the immensity of the first script read through.

Keanu aka Sincere: Yo, did you not see that fucking red light, man?
Tommy 'Buns' Bundy: Man, you think I give a fuck about a motherfucking red light? Faggot cops can't touch me! I'm out here smoking weed, speeding, all that, dawg. Fuck that. That's me. Untouchable.

Years later, Hype Williams would look back and smile on his decision to allow Reeves to also score the soundtrack, leading Belly: The Album to sell more copies than Thriller.