There are a couple of ways you can tell that a director is moving up the ranks in Hollywood. They’ll get offered a superhero movie, or line up a big studio remake, or in the case of Josh and Benny Safdie, they’ll get a phone call from Jay-Z.
READ MORE: ‘Good Time’ Directors Benny & Josh Safdie To Helm ’48 Hrs.’ Remake
The hip hop giant has enlisted the sibling brothers to direct the video for “Marcy Me,” the latest single from his new album, 4:44. The promo finds the Safdies continuing in their gritty “Good Time” mode, overhead helicopter shots and all, as it tells a simple yet affecting story of a young boy surveilled by the police as he goes to a bodega to get some more supplies for a neighborhood party. It’s a terrific video that packs a potent message about police profiling, without overselling the politics, or undercutting the message.
4:44 is now available everywhere.