Craig J. Williams
| Craig J. Williams | |
|---|---|
| Born | |
| 💼 Occupation | |
| 📆 Years active | 1990–present |
| Known for | Hubbard Street (2025), Black Legends and Legacies, The Demo (2016), The One (2006), MC Hammer Lost Tapes |
Craig J. Williams is an American music producer, composer, film director, screenwriter, music executive, and photographer. He currently serves as the Senior Vice President of North America at the Chinese-owned company Beijing Showcitytimes Entertainment Co. Ltd., headquartered in Beijing, China.
Career
Music production
Williams began his music career as a teenager in Chicago at PS Recording Studio, learning from many of Chicago’s legendary artists, like Ramsey Lewis, Earth Wind and Fire, before relocating to Los Angeles in 1993, where he worked with artists affiliated with Death Row Records until 1996.
In 2006, Williams produced the debut album The One by Chinese pop singer Jane Zhang, which sold over a million copies in China. He also produced her lead single, "Only for Love", the theme song for the Chinese film [Film Title Missing] composed by Klaus Badelt and featuring pianist Lang Lang.
Williams produced the MC Hammer Lost Tapes, a compilation of unreleased early recordings by MC Hammer. He described the project as capturing "the raw energy of Hammer’s early days"—a "true gem" for fans. A former Death Row Records producer, Williams confirmed in an interview with KRON4 that he worked on the recordings discovered in a storage unit auction. His contribution was also highlighted in a YouTube interview.
He was also a producer for the Mim Kardashian podcast for Spotify and Audacy titled The System, which explores the case of Kevin Keith’s wrongful conviction.
Film and television
In 2014, Williams directed the documentary Michael Jackson: The Last Photo Shoots, chronicling final photo sessions for Vogue and other outlets.
In 2016, he wrote, directed, and produced the independent film The Demo. He also contributed additional music for a 2015 television series on the Oprah Winfrey Show.
Williams is the director of the docu-series Black Legends and Legacies, which profiles influential African American figures, including Danny Glover, Cab Calloway, Eartha Kitt, Maya Angelou, Lou Gossett Jr and many others.
His feature film directorial debut, Hubbard Street: A Summer of Fear, is set for release in 2025. The crime thriller dramatizes the 1985 Night Stalker murders in East Los Angeles. The film stars Danny Trejo, Matías Desiderio, and real-life detective Gil Carrillo.
Personal life
Williams was previously married to singer and performer Anna Fantastic. The couple have two children together: AJ Williams and Star Williams. Both children have pursued careers in the entertainment industry, working in music and film.[1]
References
External links
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