Santa Barbara, CA – Director Marty Thomas, who shot a number of movies for Ruthless Information artists, 2Pac, Above The Legislation, Dru Down, Ice Dice and Skee-Lo, handed away in his sleep late final month. Information his passing is simply beginning to make the rounds, nonetheless, his sister Lisa Thomas confirmed his loss of life to HipHopDX.
Marty was the visionary behind Eazy-E’s “Actual Muthaphukkin G’s” video and Skee-Lo’s visible for the 1995 smash hit “I Want.” His relationship with Skee-Lo stretched over 20 years and Marty wound up doing a number of extra movies for the Grammy Award-nominated rapper.
“I simply obtained phrase Marty Thomas passing final evening,” Skee-Lo tells DX. “I need to take this chance to ship my condolences to his spouse and household and shut pals as he might be sorely missed. Once I take into consideration Marty Thomas, I take into consideration how we first met. I’d simply signed a file deal in 1994 with Scotti Bros. data. We have been releasing the primary single from the ‘I Want’ album and it was time to supply the music video.
“The file label offered me three administrators to select from and, if reminiscence recollects, I selected the one director contemporary out movie faculty — director Marty Thomas. Marty didn’t power any ideas with ‘I Want.’ He obtained to know me as an artist and he included my visions. After assembly him in particular person he mentioned he thought I’d be an incredible actor and that’s how he needs the world to see me on this video.”
Marty discovered Skee-Lo’s favourite film on the time was Forrest Gump and he found out a solution to incorporate the movie into the video.
“We’re each pure comedians however he went so far as to incorporate the Forrest Gump movie within the underlining ‘I Want’ story,” he says. “I consider that was a primary ever. We shot the ‘I Want’ video in Los Angeles, The Jungles and Leimert Park. I bear in mind having to make peace with the native gangs who sweated us the whole video shoot, however additionally they introduced their children to take photos with me as quickly as we have been achieved.
“Marty and I made historical past collectively. And though he’s labored with legendary artists earlier than me, he’s at all times credited the ‘I Want’ video because the launch his movie profession. In actual fact, each time I watch music movies immediately, if it has a film because the underlining theme, I take into consideration what impressed that! I take into consideration Marty Thomas and I take into consideration ‘I Want,’ the contribution our work and its impact on the music business immediately. Marty Thomas is a superb director and an excellent buddy. He might be sorely missed.”
Marty’s sister additionally remembers his sense humor and “enormous coronary heart, creativity and skill to succeed in individuals.”
“He had a rare expertise connecting with individuals and folks to one another by his unbelievable humor and creativity,” Lisa tells DX. “He transcended variations individuals had. It was uncanny at how he may attain the hearts individuals by his humor, opening and warming individuals’s hearts irrespective of who they have been relating to age, gender, race, nationality or socioeconomic standing.
“He approached full strangers when strolling on the road or consuming out or standing in line on the grocery retailer producing a laughter amongst easy strangers the place there was silence and indifference. He lifted individuals up, gave them pleasure and the sensation connection. His humor had depth. It was his software to succeed in individuals’s hearts by laughter.”
Throughout Marty’s time at MTV, he was liable for directing quite a few rap and R&B movies and ultimately went on to begin writing movies together with his accomplice and producer Jon Zuber.
Marty leaves behind the love his life Shelise, his sister and oldsters Ray and Sunni.
“Marty lived vibrantly,” she says. “He labored terribly arduous and performed simply as arduous. He introduced laughter and pleasure to 1000’s all through his life by his humor, creativity and skill to embrace full strangers whom then grew to become his comrades for all times. Relaxation in Peace massive brother. We’ll see you after we go the place you’re.”
West Coast rap vet Kokane can also be mourning Marty’s passing. He shared his ideas in an Instagram submit earlier this week.
“THIS REALLY CUTS DEEP!” he wrote in all caps. “REST IN HEAVENLY PEACE TO OUR FAM – MARTY THOMAS!!! MARTY WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR DOING ALL OF THE RUTHLESS ARTIST VIDEOS IN THE 90’s.
“VIDEOS LIKE SLOW BURNER, BLACK SUPERMAN, EAZY E ANY LAST WERDZ , REAL COMPTON CITY Gz and many others. HE ALSO WAS A BIG TIME DIRECTOR FOR THE BIG SCREEN! MOST IMPORTANTLY, HE WAS & WILL ALWAYS BE OUR DEAR FRIEND!”