Music is just as important as other cinematic elements in a Spike Lee Joint, and Bruce Hornsby (famous for the 1986 hit "The Way It Is") is the man behind much of the music. He's scored several of Lee's movies, including "Clockers," "Bamboozled" and the director's latest, "Red Hook Summer."

If you've ever wondered how a Lee film gets that unique sound, Hornsby breaks it down for you in an exclusive interview with MTV Hive. While the creative process for each film is different, Hornsby scored "Red Hook Summer" on the road, before he saw any of the movie.

"I was on the road for a month-and-a-half. [Laughs.] But he kept calling me and saying 'Hey, can you send me something? You got any ideas?'" Hornsby told MTV Hive. "Spike told me he likes melodic music, so I had some vague marching orders there. At least I knew where I should go. I tend to go toward harmonically adventurous areas when left to my own devices."

Head over to MTV Hive to read more about Hornsby's experience working with Lee, including how he learned to keep it simple and always expect the unexpected.