JLShotThat is the Visual Director Behind the New York Drill Scene
Not many people can say that they’ve helped document rap history. However, Jeremi Lam, better known as JLShotThat, has been the director for not one but two tracks that would define this generation of rap and bring New York drill to a global fanbase. The music video director has a knack for visuals and knowing what works.
Lam is responsible for videos like Pop Smoke’s “Dior” and Fivio Foreign’s “Big Drip” as well as countless other videos for New York heavyweights like Lil Tjay and Young M.A.
Music has always been a part of the Hollis Queens native’s life. Before directing videos, JL was a recording artist who was able to sing and rap as well as engineer, produce, and arrange all of his own music. However, he soon realized being an artist wasn’t what he truly loved and decided to shift to becoming a director.
“Ultimately I knew I had to make a change in my life and I knew that I had a talent,” Lam said. “My mother was struggling at that point, and my back was against the wall … I actually put my all into one thing, and that ended up being directing/videography.”
However, JL was still at a low point in his life and had just had a home invasion, leaving him with no gear to pursue his dream.
“…a friend of mine asked me to do a photoshoot for his brand. I used his sister’s camera because I had no equipment,” he explained.
Later on, Lam’s friend decided to gift him a Sony A7sii camera and since then he hasn’t looked back. In fact, his career has taken off in a way that sets the tone for what people can expect next from him.
With all of the success JLShotThat has had, he continues to grind and wants to one day own “a well-established production enterprise, and/or record label.” He is also aspiring to shoot his first feature film in the near future.”
Stay tuned for more from JLShotThat on Instagram @JLShotThat and check out his most recent Fivio Foreign video “Self Made” below.