Hip-Hop's Latino Connection

FAMILY BUSINESS
Terrero Brothers
Photo: Carlos Castillo
Words: Mercedes Sanchez

Amongst today’s most sought after music video directors, brothers Jessy and Ulysses Terrero’s résumés must be the most extensive. Their roster includes 2004′s major motion picture “Soul Plane” in addition to countless music videos for Wisin y Yandel, including Daddy Yankee’s “Rompe” and “Gangsta Zone,” and 50 Cent’s “Candy Shop,” among many others.

Their career began in the early-90′s, when they were offered assisting roles in the legendary street flick, “Juice,” which starred the late, great Tupac Shakur. “Whenever we took breaks we would go to the back and [shoot] cee-lo with him,” says Jessy of the film’s star. “I never heard someone who raps as much as Tupac did. At the time, he wasn’t even a star; he was a regular guy just like the rest of us.”

Though they were paid only $30 a day for “Juice”, their persistence paid off. Today, the brothers both direct and cast videos with budgets starting at $250,000 and up. Of their past accomplishments, Jessy says he was particularly excited about working with Daddy Yankee because he was Latino. “He saw all the videos we did for 50 and was interested in working with us,” says Terrero. “When he found out we were Dominican, he opened up even more. We started speaking Spanish, joking around, and from there it was a wrap. I think being Dominican helped us seal the deal; Yankee said Dominicans were one of the first people to embrace his music.”

Ulysses has also had his share of successful projects: he directed the video for Don Omar and Aventura’s hit collaboration, “Ella y Yo” and is the owner of T&T Casting, which has scouted talent for “ATL”, “Raising Victor Vargas”, and “Empire” as well as all of Jessy’s videos.

The Terrero brothers credit their mom for helping them develop their love for film. “My mom bought a video camera for us because she and my father were always working,” explains Ulysses. “My two brothers, my sister, and I grew up watching Video Music Box and after we saw a video we would take the camera and recreate it. We didn’t really know where it was going to go, but that’s where we developed the love for the whole film making process.”

For those aspiring to be directors, Jessy offers these words of advice: “If you’re going to be a director, be a director; it’s all about hard work.”

Aside from having another major motion picture in the works, the Terrero brothers hope to collaborate on music videos with A-list reggaetón artists such as Tego Calderon and Ivy Queen. The brothers are also shooting a documentary on skateboarder Stevie Williams, which is filming throughout the U.S. and Japan.