Terry Heller

Terry Edward Heller (born 1973) is a former American music video director and entrepreneur. He is known for his work at Ruthless Records and as a real estate developer. As a music director, he is known for directing several music videos for hip-hop and R&B musicians including Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, Black Eyed Peas, Lil Wayne, Gang Starr, Ghostface Killah, Dru Hill, Beanie Sigel, Jay-Z, amongst many others. He was recognized by BET, VIBE magazine, Rolling Stone and has been featured on TMZ, iHeart Radio, Daily Mirror, Los Angeles Times and food magazine, Foodbeast, amongst others.

Early life and education Heller entered the music industry immediately after graduating high school, working as an artist representative for his uncle, N.W.A manager Jerry Heller and rapper Eazy-E, at Ruthless Records.

During this period, he discovered the musician and producer, then a teenager, Will.i.am. According to an interview of Will.i.am by Vice magazine, Will.i.am iterated that Heller spotted him freestyling at a rap contest hosted by actor David Faustino in the summer of 1991. Heller brought him and his group called Atban Klann; which also included rapper Apl.de.ap; to Ruthless Records, where they signed in January 1992, and managed the group. The group later evolved into the multi-platinum recording artists, The Black Eyed Peas. Heller was also credited for devising the marketing strategy and directing the first two music videos for Bone Thugs-n-Harmony.

Heller attended Pepperdine University.

Career

Music video director In the mid-to-late 1990s, Heller transitioned into directing music videos. He founded his production company, Clever Films. He directed several hip hop and RnB music videos in the 1990s and early 2000s.

He debuted directing the music video of Thuggish Ruggish Bone (1994) by rap group, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony. In 1995, he directed the video to the hip-hop song titled Bomdigi by rapper Erick Sermon. He directed Gang Starr's You Know My Steez (1997), which BET listed as one of the "most definitive Hip-Hop videos of 1997" and which was later named one of the "150 Greatest Hip-Hop Videos of All Time" by Rolling Stone in 2023. He directed the music video to the number-one R&B single Liar, by group Profyle from their second studio album Nothin' but Drama (2000). He directed the music video for Tell Me, the debut single by Dru Hill which peaked t number 18 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number five on the R&B chart. He produced the track 7 BEP Empire/Get Original from the Behind the Bridge to Elephunk video album by group the Black Eyed Peas. He directed the video to the K-Ci & JoJo song, titled Crazy. He directed the video to the Lil Wayne featuring Juvenile song, Respect Us (1999) from Lil Wayne's album, Tha Block Is Hot. In 2001, Heller has directed several music videos featuring Beanie Sigel. Their collaborations include Dance with Me (Remix) by 112 featuring Beanie Sigel and Think It's a Game by Beanie Sigel featuring Jay-Z, Young Chris, and Freeway. He directed the video to grammy nominated song Still Fly (2003) by Big Tymers.

Entrepreneur After more than a decade in the music industry, Heller transitioned into business and real estate. In 2004, he founded the residential and commercial real estate development, Heller Holdings LLC. While managing his real estate deals through Heller Holdings, Heller encountered a consistent lack of reliable roofing companies. To address this market gap, he acquired the established firm one of the fastest growing roofing company in Southern California, Preferred Roofing in June 2024 and became its CEO.

Restaurateur Heller entered the restaurant industry in 2012, founding the Plan Check Kitchen + Bar group in Los Angeles. He collaborated with chef Ernesto Uchimura to develop the menu, which included innovations like "Ketchup Leather." He was featured in The Hollywood Reporter’s "Why Restaurants are L.A.’s Second-Riskiest Investment" analysis, and the restaurant was reviewed by food critic, Jonathan Gold. 1998 Hand in Hand DJ Quik featuring 2nd II None and singer El Debarge 1999 Respect Us Lil Wayne featuring Juvenile from Lil Wayne's album, Tha Block Is Hot

Liar Profyle from their second studio album Nothin' but Drama BEP Empire/Get Original Black Eyed Peas from the Behind the Bridge to Elephunk video album

Crazy K-Ci & JoJo Think It's a Game Beanie Sigel featuring Jay-Z, Young Chris, and Freeway Dance with Me (Remix) 112 featuring Beanie Sigel 2003 Still Fly Big Tymers grammy nominated

Recognition

Gang Starr's You Know My Steez (1997) from their fifth studio album Moment of Truth, which BET listed as one of the "most definitive Hip-Hop videos of 1997" and which was later named one of the "150 Greatest Hip-Hop Videos of All Time" by Rolling Stone in 2023. Following his uncle's death in September 2016, Heller got involved in the debate over Jerry Heller's legacy and the accuracy of his portrayal in the 2015 biographical film, Straight Outta Compton, consistently and publicly defending his uncle's character and business dealings. Terry Heller was also the family member who publicly shared that Jerry Heller had passed away, while listening to N.W.A.'s music.

Pursuing Legal Action In December 2016, after Jerry Heller's passing, Terry Heller announced his intention to continue the defamation lawsuit his uncle had filed against the surviving members of N.W.A.

Personal Appeals In the days after the funeral, he urged members of the group to attend the service as a "sign of respect."