Belly

Belly (1998) is an American crime drama you can watch online on iFILM. It was the feature directorial debut of Hype Williams — the music-video auteur behind clips for Jay-Z and Missy Elliott — who brought that hyper-stylised visual language to a 96-minute street portrait. DMX and Nas lead the cast as Tommy Bundy and Sincere.

The two grew up together and clawed their way to the top of the game. Respected on the block, feared by rivals, with money and muscle behind them. But the walls are closing in: the feds are circling, new crews are hungry for a takeover, and both men are running out of room to manoeuvre. Method Man, Hassan Johnson and Tionne Watkins round out the ensemble as the street world around Tommy and Sincere starts to fracture.

Williams shoots every frame like a music video — deep greens, ultraviolet purples, Harlem and Omaha rendered as neon wastelands. The style is the statement. Stream Belly (1998) online on iFILM.