By: Lex Lavish, Leafy Loveboat, and

AcE The Legynd

One can’t discuss Belly without acknowledging the iconic club heist opening sequence. As the acapella version of Back II Life plays, the viewer is taken into a time warp with the main characters as blue and a hint of red lights flash across their bodies as they walk in and rob the strip club. Shortly after that scene we learn more about the main characters, Tommy played by the late DMX and Sincere, played by Nas. Although they have been hitting licks together since childhood, these two men have two completely different ideologies about life. 

We can see their fundamental differences reflected in their living spaces. Sincere states in the movie “Tommy’s home is a phat new crib.” He was inspired to have a new home like Tommy. The vernacular used in the movie is also very indicative of the late 90’s. Tommy's Home is a sleek modern home with an open layout, high ceilings, and bright white walls with black and white paintings. The walls in Tommy’s home reflect his very black and white, all or nothing ideology where he states “the only reason that we are alive is to make money.” Sincere's home is a more intimate space, the walls are filled with books and warm wood detailing. Like his home, Sincere's ideology has more depth than Tommy’s. He is reading books and pondering the fact that there is more to life than the crime riddled way he is living. He wants more for himself and his family. 

The two characters both have moments of reckoning where it seems as though they are blatantly facing their revelations about the paths they are on. One of Sincere’s moments of reckoning takes place when he stops by the projects after finding out that Ox was murdered. He speaks with Shorty, a 12 year old drug dealer. “A real loser type who had no hope for the future” in Sincere’s words. Shorty tells him how he got arrested a few days ago for a shooting. Sincere tries to tell Shorty not to let the people in his neighborhood steer him wrong. He then sneaks a diamond chain in Shorty’s pocket and tells him to “Rise above all this madness out here.” He stresses the power of mind elevation and leaving “petty shit” behind. Tommy’s final moment of reckoning comes when he is about to murder the reverend. It is in these moments of the film that the impact is verbally cemented by Reverend Saviour. By ministering to Tommy he informs the audience of the vicious cycles that can devour them if they do not take their life seriously.  “We all play a grave role in our own destruction. Your money. Your lifestyles. The things that people value and covet so dearly… are the bait that lures them out of the light.” Any generation can benefit from the message especially as time progresses and people are still dealing with being enticed by a myriad of vices to fill the empty spaces in their lives.  

~ Lex Lavish

The camera work and framing in Belly are elements I feel are severely underappreciated by critics and audiences alike. Williams’ work as a music video director contributed to this film in a huge way, having the movie look and feel as if it were one long music video. Outside of the well-known intro, Hype Williams displays a side of his directing prowess not fully realized through his music video efforts. Conversations are framed in roomy wide shots where we feel like strangers listening in on a conversation or commentary is delivered in very minimal shot-reverse shot so as to not disrupt or distract from the story being conveyed. Williams also has a unique way of filming action. One standout scene would be when DMX and crew have their stash house raided by law enforcement. Shots are wide enough to capture the entirety of the scene with cuts only happening when the action moves off-screen or is changing the focus of the action. Williams’ utilization of shaky cam in this scene was remarkable with it adding to the chaotic and disorienting sense of a police raid and ensuing foot pursuit. To add to the masterful camerawork, the set design for this film is top notch.

The color palette and set pieces in certain scenes deserves to be celebrated. In the famous opening scene DMX, Nas and their crew are followed by the camera through a strip club that is lit only by blue lights. The only other sources of light being the disorienting strobe light pulsing energetically as the crew makes their way through the club and the eyes of our protagonist glowing almost cat-like in the oddly calming cerulean sea of the setting. I’ve watched this scene a disgusting amount of times and felt that even though the blue tint over the scene was always really cool, I felt it juxtaposed the action that takes place in the latter half of the scene. That is until I realized the whole point was for Nas, DMX and the crew to stay incognito and attack out of the blue (terrible pun I’m sorry)! This then led me to the scenes that took place directly after the club scene. We get a look at DMX’s house which is sleek, modern and houses black furnishings and paintings swathed in an all-white interior. The home looks like the equivalent to a home your favorite Instagram superstar would be inhabiting nowadays. Nas’ home is well-furnished, feels cozy and lived in and boasts warm lighting and a very brown interior. Even towards the latter end of the film there are memorable set pieces including the scene where Father Sha (played by Method Man) guns down Rico in a strip club that’s bathed in a foreboding shade of red almost as a kind of call back to the film's intro scene. Set pieces were given so much detail as not only to serve as an interesting backdrop but gives the movie a sense of style that is constantly referenced and reimagined to this day. This happens to extend to fashion as well. This film feels extremely 90’s with its Avirex jackets, mentions of Wu Wear, and overall baggy outfits really capture an accurate snapshot of NY fashion in the late 90’s.

The plot of Belly happens to be one of the weaker elements of the film. It starts off strong enough with a rift beginning to form between Nas & DMX‘s characters over moral and spiritual differences but begins to fall apart within the last 35 min of the film. A shootout between Ox and some Jamaican assassins, a shoehorned in Nation of Islam plotline, and Keisha murdering Father Sha seemed like a rather rushed way to conclude what was at one point a mildly engaging and entertaining story. Contributing to the shakiness of the plot, some acting in the film leaves a lot to be desired. DMX steals the show I feel in a performance that I feel didn’t get enough credit while Nas’ acting feels dry and almost miniscule when he shares the screen with his co-star.

The cultural impact of Belly can still be felt to this day. The film is still referenced and sampled constantly in songs today with some recent ones being Righteous Minds by Joey Bada$$, Belly by Lil Uzi Vert and Tiny Gun by Baby Smoove. Williams’ influence and contributions to the rap game can also be seen with him still being a prominent director in the music video scene having recently done work with Griselda, Future & Lil Uzi Vert, Megan Thee Stallion and Nicki Minaj. Hype Williams' stylish way of framing his subjects combined with visual effects and lighting to accentuate the way a story is told through visuals sent waves through the creative community and I believe a piece of that is captured in the movie Belly. It is a film that has its faults like any other but it is very clear to see the passion, talent and style that oozes from it to this day. 

-Leafy Loveboat

This film really does feel like a continuous music video. The lighting, the camera movements, the thudding sound effects all contribute to what I feel is one of the coolest movies I’ve ever watched. The soundtrack was elite, every selection successfully captured the emotion of the scene it was played in.  The voiceover by DMX in the final scene was the perfect example of how well supplementary audio was used throughout the film. 

I felt the plot did a good job showing the dichotomy between the good and bad of a fast lifestyle. You see in the beginning the luxury these guys live but you also see throughout the film the price that the ambition and luxury comes with. The ministers’ conversation with Tommy details what I perceived as the message of the film. He says “The majority of the youth roam the streets dealing in drugs, sex, and violence, thinking these things have no effect on life...” In Belly, every action has a reaction, no glory is sustained, everyone in the film either dies, goes to jail, or is traumatized for life. The film also does a great job of capturing the nuances of these consequences. You can visibly see characters becoming more paranoid as their lifestyle catches up with them with simple things like being fidgety, constantly looking over their shoulders, and you can hear the panic in their voices increase consistently. 

Culturally, Belly is a classic. We’ve seen many quotations of the movie be placed in music over time paying homage to its many classic lines. Starring Nas and the late great DMX, the film carries a lot of nostalgia. It was really filmed in classic places around NYC allowing the film to continue to live on through these places. The real life fashion, music, and locations used in this film adds a more tangible dimension to the film. To this day you still see Belly inspired photo shoots and video shoots continuing the legacy and impact of this film. 

Belly was definitely a cult classic. The film incorporated some of the top artists of its day, one of the best directors of its time, some of the best music in hip hop history, plus added a nostalgic 90’s twist. But it was more than just a time capsule, the plot was solid and the message was deep. I feel like the movie is a great piece of art, the principle of art is to do something your way and Belly was that, an unorthodox piece of entertainment.

-Legynd