X has stated that he hopes that the video inspires men to dance more. The Director X-directed video was inspired by the work of American artist James Turrell. The video was financed by Apple Inc., and released on October 19, 2015, via Apple Music under a timed exclusivity agreement.
The video was inspired by Sean Paul's "Gimme The Light" clip. On October 4, 2015, Drake announced a music video for the track via his Instagram account. This was the sixth video directed by Director X featuring Drake. It also received two wins at the 2017 Grammy Awards for Best Rap Song and Best Rap/Sung Performance. The song won the award for Favorite Rap/Hip-Hop Song at the 2016 American Music Awards. It also reached number three in Drake's native Canada and the United Kingdom. "Hotline Bling" reached number two on the US Billboard Hot 100. The song was included on several year-end critics' polls. A music video directed by Director X was released two months later it subsequently gained popularity on YouTube and spawned several parodies. Music critics were complimentary about the presentation of Drake's emotional side, as well as its production, but criticized its lyrics. It was made available for digital download on July 31, 2015, through Cash Money, Young Money and Republic. The song is credited as a bonus track on the album. " Hotline Bling" is a song recorded by Canadian rapper Drake, which serves as the lead single from his fourth studio album Views (2016).