Craig J. Williams
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Craig J. Williams | |
|---|---|
| Occupation(s) | Music producer, Composer, Film director, Screenwriter, Music executive, Photographer |
| 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
[edit]Music production
[edit]Williams began his music career in Chicago, producing for various local artists. In 1993, he moved to Los Angeles and continued producing music until 1996. During this time, he collaborated with multiple artists and contributed to various television projects.
In 2006, Williams produced Chinese pop star Jane Zhang’s debut album, The One, which sold over a million copies in China. He also produced her debut single, "Only for Love," the theme song for the Chinese film The Banquet, composed by Tan Dun and featuring pianist Lang Lang.
In an interview with Essence, Williams discussed his early years working with R. Kelly in Chicago, stating: “I had not seen or spoken to him until 2003.”[1]
Williams also produced the MC Hammer Lost Tapes, a collection of unreleased recordings from MC Hammer’s early career. Currently, Williams is producing a podcast for Spotify and Audity titled The System, which explores the wrongful conviction of Kevin Keith.
Film and television
[edit]As a composer, Williams contributed additional music to the documentary The Resurrection of Jake the Snake (2015).
He wrote, directed, and produced the film The Demo (2016), as well as the documentary Michael Jackson: The Final Curtain Call (2014), which chronicles the pop icon’s final photo shoots for Vibe and Ebony magazines in 2007.[2]
In 2014, Noval Williams Films, with Williams as director, filed a lawsuit against the Michael Jackson estate, seeking a declaration that the documentary did not infringe on the estate’s copyrights related to the 2007 photo sessions.[3][4]
Williams is also the creator and executive producer of the docuseries Black Legends and Legacies, which highlights the contributions of overlooked Black pioneers in entertainment, science, and politics.[5]
In 2025, he directed and co-wrote the feature film Hubbard Street, a crime thriller set in East Los Angeles during the 1985 Night Stalker murders.[6]
Personal life
[edit]Williams was previously married to singer Anna Fantastic. They have two children together, A.J. Williams and Star Williams, both of whom work in the music industry and film industry.
Career
[edit]Music production
[edit]Williams began his music career as a teenager in Chicago at PS Recording Studio learning from many of Chicago’s legendary artist 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.
Also was a producer for Mim Kardashians podcast for Spotify and Audacy titled The System, which explores the case of Kevin Keith’s wrongful conviction.
Film and television
[edit]In 2014, Williams directed the documentary Michael Jackson: The Last Photo Shoots], chronicling final photo sessions for Vogue in [[Vogue Magazine[] 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 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 Jrand 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
[edit]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. [7]
References
[edit]- ^ "'Surviving R. Kelly': What We Learned". Essence. Retrieved 2025-07-13.
- ^ "Michael Jackson Documentary Explores His Last Photo Shoots". Billboard. Retrieved 2025-07-13.
- ^ "Michael Jackson's Estate Sued Over Documentary". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2025-07-13.
- ^ "Michael Jackson Estate Responds to Documentary Lawsuit". Billboard. Retrieved 2025-07-13.
- ^ "Black Legends and Legacies". Inclusionary Films. Retrieved 2025-07-13.
- ^ "Hubbard Street (2025)". IMDb. Retrieved 2025-07-13.
- ^ "Personal background of Craig J. Williams".
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