Hype Williams is a lo-fi music duo from the United Kingdom made up of Dean Blunt and Inga Copeland. Their name comes from the filmmaker Hype Williams, who directs Belly, the film featuring Nas and DMX.

Sound and style

The duo makes very lo-fi, home-recorded music that brings together hip-hop, 1980s references, psychedelic elements, electronic textures and noise. Their songs often use twanging Americana alongside a heavy sense of dread, and their overall sound is marked by a rough, collage-like approach.

Presentation and image

Hype Williams builds a deliberate sense of mystery through performance and public appearances. They appear online, on film and on stage with a cut-and-paste persona, and they perform in elaborate DIY masks, often made from aluminium foil. They are also known for avoiding straightforward interviews and for answering questions in ways that do not directly address the topic.

Art background

Both members have fine arts degrees and theoretical backgrounds, and they have worked across curation, writing, photography and other arts-related activity. The duo’s work is presented as part of a wider connection between music and visual art, with an emphasis on art and music sharing the same space.

Related activity

The pair also take part in art-world projects beyond their recordings, including a two-day residency at the Hackney-based art space SPACE.