In the fast-paced world of hip-hop, visuals are everything. Few understand this better than Dante Hillmedo, the man behind the lens at events where icons are made. From capturing hip-hop royalty to now stepping into the director’s chair, Dante is bringing his unique vision to the screen with his debut film, Butterfly. We sat down with him to talk about life behind the camera, the stories he’s most passionate about, and how hip-hop culture has influenced his evolution as an artist.
HH87: You’ve been in the mix, filming some of hip-hop’s biggest names. What’s the real vibe like behind the scenes at these exclusive events that fans would never get to see?
Dante: Honestly it’s like any other party, except more talking aka networking and business ideas being shared. Just people having a good time while also starting new ventures and collabs.
HH87: Coming from a background of shooting high-profile events, how did you bring that raw, gritty energy of hip-hop into your first film, Butterfly?
Dante: So Butterfly is a dance/drama film about a girl dealing with the stresses of high school and also poverty being in a single parent immigrant household, she relieves all her stress through dance. So we got some good dance choreographers on set; Empress CeCe teaching dancehall, Awa Ayesha teaching Afro Dance and Hip Hop, and LiteFeetJones teaching LiteFeet. We definitely aimed to bring the energy and the moves as much as we could.
HH87: Hip-hop is all about authenticity. How do you stay true to yourself and your vision while working with such big-name celebrities and brands?
Dante: I’m a humble guy, I’ve seen people at the top one day and beneath the basement the next. I know how quickly things can come and go so I don’t ever change up. I step out authentically me, every day that I breathe.
HH87: You’ve shot iconic figures like Jay-Z and Meek Mill. Do you see any parallels between your journey as a filmmaker and the grind it takes for hip-hop artists to reach the top?
Dante: Yea, definitely. You have to show and prove, network, grind for free when you start, be a starving artist almost. But as you get better and get around better circles, things start to change for you. And I feel that’s the same with artists as well.
HH87: In hip-hop, trust is everything, especially when it comes to capturing real moments. How do you build that trust with the artists and celebrities you work with?
Dante: I don’t get fanned out by celebs and they see that so they’re at ease when I’m around. Plus I respect people’s privacy, so if I see something that looks like it don’t need to be on camera, camera goes down. If I’m filming Jay and he gives me the signal, camera goes down. Before I film Beyonce I speak with her security first and he gives me the green flag. I step out here with respect and consideration, some people would be thirsty and pop a camera out to get a shot but I look at it as if I was them, I wouldn’t want a camera in my face all the time. And I think that’s why they continue to use me, there’s a level of respect and understanding when I’m around.
HH87: When you’re filming at events like the MET Gala or Michael Rubin’s All White Party, how do you capture the essence of hip-hop culture when it’s part of such a high-fashion, elite scene?
Dante: The music definitely has a lot to do with it. Choosing the right soundtrack will wet a video off the right way and tie in the visuals with authentic hip hop sounds.
HH87: What do you think the hip-hop world will say about Butterfly once it drops? How do you think your film speaks to the culture?
Dante: Good question, I would hope that they’d say.. “That was dope!”. I feel it’s relatable to a lot of the culture, especially when the key point is using dance as a way to escape stresses of the world or a way to use dance to elevate. I think that it’s as real as it gets in that respect.
HH87: From the block to the boardroom, hip-hop is always evolving. How do you keep your work fresh and relevant when the culture keeps moving so fast?
Dante: Staying familiar with current trends and songs that are hot on the charts, a song that ppl love will always get them watching at least the first 5 seconds of your video. It’s up to you to keep them there after that.
HH87: You’ve been in the room with legends and rising stars. Has working so closely with these artists influenced your style as a director, and if so, how?
Dante: Yea, you get to see what they like and what they don’t like. And sometimes those likes are parallel across other artists, so you get to learn what people are gravitating to in terms of editing styles and effects. So I’ve taken what’s worked and incorporated them in all things going forward, meanwhile still learning and adding to the toolbox.
HH87: As you step into filmmaking, do you think you’ll bring any of the artists you’ve filmed along with you into the world of film? Who could you see making the transition from rapper to actor in one of your movies?
Dante: Already did, I’ve had the amazing Lea Robinson feature as “Diamond Noire” in Butterfly. She’s an amazing spirit to work with. A pleasure all around and boy did she kill her performance! Yall gotta check her out and watch her shut shit down alongside our star Jesenia Pineda, who plays the role of our lead; Jericha. There’s a bunch of others I’d like to have in future films. I think I could do a dope film with Tinashe and also Teyana Taylor; whom we’ve already seen killing it as an actor. As far as rappers to actor? I can see Ferg killing a role for the right movie.
Dante Hillmedo’s journey is one of hustle, heart, and vision. With Butterfly, he’s taking the lessons he learned in hip-hop’s orbit and channeling them into a new, cinematic voice. As he moves forward, it’s clear that Dante’s work isn’t just about telling stories—it’s about capturing the soul of a culture that’s always pushing forward. Keep an eye on him; this is just the beginning.
Follow his Journey on Instagram and Check out his Website.
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