Music Video Case Study

The video can't for "Can't Me Tell Me Nothing" displays typical conventions of a hip hop video but also elements from other media texts and original ideas. The video is very performance based which is typical in most hip hop videos because it helps to emphasise the delivery of the lyrics.  The video is shot entirely in the wide plane of a desert and the mise en scene is extremely minimal which helps to emphasise the performance of West because he is the sole focus of the shot and is visually pleasing, especially when shot in wide shot. The video is also predominately shot in mid shot because it allows the audience to see West's facial expressions and gestures when performing which is another typical convention of hip hop videos. One thing that is particularly challenging about the way the video is shot is how instead of relying on editing to switch between different shots and angles, the camera actually stays on West but instead of shooting only shot or angle, it stays moving so it allows more than one angle and shot type in the same sequence without the use of editing. This is one of the experimental ideas used in the video which has not been typically been used in hip hop videos prior.




The video for "Pe$o" is a more stereotypical hip hop video. The video is shot in the streets of New York which is a typical convention for a hip hop video. The performance of the song is very brash and aggressive which emphasizes the mood of the song and also makes the video entertaining for the audience. Another typical convention used is the use of extras in the video. Almost every scene shows Rocky performing with at least 2 or 3 people behind him also mimicking the lyrics of the song, at some points there are up to 15 people. This is usually used in hip hop videos because it shows the audience that the rapper is never alone and can be sometimes used to strike an element of fear in the audience but is usually used to send a sense of threat to other rappers. The editing style varies throughout the video, at some points one scene can last up to 10 seconds before running through 3 or 4 shots in 5 seconds through quick editing. This is usually used at a certain point in the song, because the quick editing matches the pace of the song. The majority of the video is shot using mid-shot, particularly when there is only one person on screen. However, a long shot is usually used when there is a group of people on screen. This is used so that everyone on screen can be seen clearly. Another editing technique used is the use of slow motion. During the chorus of the song, every shot is slow motion which is used because of the need for attention to detail. Most of the slow motion shots are close ups of either people's faces or miscellaneous things on location, e.g street signs, shoes, cars etc. There is also a lack of clothing in multiple scenes where the camera focuses on tattoos on the bodies of the people in the shot which could be to emphasise gang culture which is a big part of hip hop music. The lack of clothing could also be to appeal to a female audience also (male gaze reversed) which could refer to voyeurism in music videos.




The video for "Make Her Say" is one that relies heavily on editing techniques. The video is very visually pleasing because of the editing techniques used. The video starts off with a reflective shot of balloons in the sky before switching to a horizontal split screen which then goes on to be a theme of the video throughout. The screen is usually split between to of the same location but featuring different people, usually the artist performing and a female. Sometimes the two split screen with feature the same exact shot except one might be a close up and the other a mid shot. Another feature is the use of perpendicular movements. Usually the two split screens will be moving in opposite directions to each other, whether it be from the camera movements or two people walking in different directions which could be a nod to theme of juxtaposition in the video. Another feature of the video is the colour schemes. The video is more or less split into 3 sections (1 for each performer) and each section has it's own colour scheme through location, clothing, mise en scene etc. The first section features a lot of light colours e.g. light blue, orange yellow. These colours are displayed through shots of the sky, the balloons the windows in the loft & the clothing. The second section features more solid monotone colours e.g. grey, blue & green displayed through clothing, the colours of the seats & the grass on the field. The third contains different shades of the same colour e.g. brown, light brown, beige. Although the third section displays the same windows the were used in the first third of the video.