Codes and conventions of music videos

1. Codes and
conventions of music
videos

2. Rap/Hip Hop
Rap/Hip Hop music videos tend to use a lot of
low angle shots, to make the main artist
dominant over their audience.
Rap/Hip Hop music videos tend to
have props such as guns and
weapons to reflect the ‘gangster’
lifestyle.
Rap/Hip Hop music videos tend to be
filmed in neighbourhoods, skate parks
and parties.
Rap/Hip Hop music videos tend to
use a lot of wide angle shots to
make a team look powerful and
strong over the audience. Use of
wide angle to also show the setting
of the music video.

3. Rap/Hip Hop
Artists tend to dress casual in baggy clothing
to make the rappers appear more casual and
like they have things in common with the
target audience.
Rap/Hip Hop music videos tend to have
themes of violence, sex, party or drugs as
this is stereotypically what rappers are
interested in.
In rap/hip hop music video artists tend to have
direct eye contact with the audience as if they
are trying to relate with the audience. This aids
the sales of singles.
In rap/hip hop music video tend to portray
emotions such as anger.

4. R&B
R&B music videos tend to have females dressed in minimal
clothing in order to catch the attention of the males for
example in Jhene Aiko’s video ‘The Worst’ and Beyonce’s
video ‘Dance for you’. In addition to this they usually wear
high heels. Artist’s hair and makeup is usually very flawless
to present them selves as perfect in the eyes of the viewer.
Usually in R&B music videos, artists tend to wear high heels
to elongate their legs.
Flashy and expensive
cars are commonly used
to show artist wealth and
power.

5. Pop
Pop music video tend to
involve themes/genres
such as romance,
upbeat track, happy
endings, love,
relationship, bright
colours, close ups and
daytime.
In pop music videos artists are portrayed as happy,
enjoying and content with life
In pop music videos artists are clothes
in fashionable, stylish and mainstream
costumes.
A lot of the imagery is
base on sex or
partying, dancing and
clubbing as this is
stereotypically what
teens enjoy.
Artists tend to be the
main focus to the
camera eye and
dance performances.