2. Tempa T– Next Hype (uk)
• Promotes violence, vandalism, drug use, thug culture, anger and
rebellion… shown to be acceptable behaviour that boosts ego.
• David Cameron ‘ Is some music, are some lyrics, are some videos & are
some artists helping to create a culture in which an anti-learning culture,
truancy, knives, violence, guns, misogyny are glorified? Yes’
3. That boy there I swear he gonna die
You're not bad you're a mug don't think you're a guy
When I slap man you won't be alright
Catch man on the field flying his kite
Roll man down on the grass with a knife
Music with aggressive lyrics can effect minds of a child and youth.
In this case Tempa T’s violent lyrics can get youths hyper and give them an adrenaline rush
which may cause them to want to be violent like the lyrics and video shows. The main reason
for this is because the music video makes it seem as if it’s an ok and normal thing to do and
therefore will influence youths to follow their role model.
Youths as they grow develop certain characteristics based on the environment (mirroring
behaviour they see – Lacan)
When youths are growing up and seeing music videos such as this, they will be influenced by
the violent nature of the lyrics and may mirror the behaviour they see among their friends or
in school. After a while this ‘act’ may actually become part of their identity which may explain
why the media represents youth using words such as ‘brutes, yobs, savages’ etc. This mirroring
of behaviour could be seen as a way of marxism as the influence these videos are putting on
youths are causing them to all become essentially the same personality with violence in mind.
To what extent is human identity (youth) increasingly ‘mediated’ (music videos)?
Human identity is increasingly mediated as the music videos which are released are constantly becoming more and
more explicit, showing content which in previous times may have been frowned upon. Tempa T’s Next Hype is a
good example of this as a lot of violence is shown throughout the video ranging from dragging someone out of a
car, chasing someone in a park, having a fist fight in the street, breaking into someone’s house and much more.
Because of this, Human identity has become less strict on what is acceptable and what isn’t.
4. Snoop Dogg ft. Pharrell – Drop It Like It’s Hot
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtUVQei3nX4&ob=av2e
In this music video there are references to
vandalism and street art, as snoop dog is seen
in the act creating an ideology of youth
expressing themselves in art. Merleau Ponty’s
theory can be applied to this visual by implying
when you create something you are enhancing
your identity, which is interesting as this is
creating an identity through crime as this is
illegal however many youths continue to rebel
against this hence why graffiti remains popular.
Snoop Dogg is wearing a fur hooded coat which
hides his identity as it gives himself a sense of
enigma, this is a reflection of collective identity
as this is the norm for many male youths in
society today. This representation heightens
fear in society and has now become a
hegemonic view.
5. Snoop Dogg and Pharrell represent the idea of
having a rich and money centred lifestyle. This is a
realistic construction which influences many male
youths to get into crime in order to get easy and
efficient money and share a similar lifestyle as the
aspired rap stars.
They blur out the references to gang culture such
as the blue bandana that is in snoop doggs jeans
back pocket in order to lessen conflict. This fact
that this is included in the video glorifies gang
culture. Herni Tajfels theory ‘ There is a distinct
‘in group’ and ‘out group’ discrimination. An
individuals self-esteem is maintained by being
part of the group’ can be applied to this as
Snoop dogg is suggesting being a part of a
gang can enhance wealth and avoids
rejection. This reinforces positive aspects of
being part of a gang and holding a collective
identity.
6. Quotes
• Comparing Don Imus' language with hip-hop artists' poetic expression is misguided and inaccurate
and feeds into a mindset that can be a catalyst for unwarranted, rampant censorship," Russell
Simmons – April, 2007, supporting rap music
• Politician and anti-rap actvivist C. Delores Tucker called the genre "pornographic fifth," claiming
that it was demeaning and offensive to African-American women. In her 1996 statement following
her defamation suit against the estate of Tupac Shakur she said,"I feel thousands of young women
have been defamed by this greed-driven, race-driven and drug-driven music. This sexist lyrical filth
particularly defames Black women, promotes drug use, violence and panders pornography to
children”.
• Byron Crawford in 2006 called the widespread glorification of cannabis use as “the new fourth
element of hip-hop”
• 2pac was often seen in promotional materials with a gun in his belt and used to say “put the .44
away”, glorifying violence.
•
7. Blondie- Rapture
• First rap video aired on MTV in 1980 – in contrast to music videos now;
- Women portrayed as equal – shown dancing in a non explicit manner beside
men, not behind them or without a voice as in Drop It Like It’s Hot.
- features criminality in the form of graffiti.. But in contrast to that in Drop It
Like It’s hot a different atmosphere is created from the colourful bubbly font.
- Emphasis on party culture, but not through excessive money, drug use and
promiscuity
- Lyrics are not violent, but both have pop culture references.
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHCdS7O248g&ob=av2e
8. Tinie Tempah-Pass Out
In this music video he constantly refers to women as possessions on the same level
as cars and also he also speaks about wealth and glorifies money, However makes
references to partying at university and ‘semesters’ which is a subversion from other
rappers as he gives a different view point to young boys who wish to move up in
society. This video gives some positive ideologies as Tinie tempah reinforces
education as a way to succeed and have gain wealth.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7tOAGY59uQ&ob=av2e
