Ammer Mohammed


One of the most reoccurring conventions with in the
Hip-Hop genre and specifically the music videos for
Hip-Hop is the use of expensive props, which include
things such as jewellery houses, clothes and cars.
This is due to the Hip-Hop culture as a
whole, reputations and swagger is a big part of the
Hip-Hop sub culture so showing off in a Hip-Hop
music video is very stereotypical. An example of this
is in Jay Rock's song 'Hood Gone Love It'. One of
the introduction shots to the video is a slow
motion, low angle shot framing a line up of expensive
custom cars. This use of expensive cars connotes
that the artist is wealthy and successful, where in
reality those cars probably dont belong to him.
Usually includes the artist especially male artists
being well toned
 Normally set in a club or a party environment
such big houses
 Usually no storyline
 Typically women dancers or models. Usually half
naked dancing and grinding on top of male
figures
 Features jewellery, alcohol and sports cars
 Features mansion and branded clothing
 Usually other famous artists are featuring in the
video.
E.g.; 50 Cent, B.I.G - Notorious



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The first 20 seconds of 50 Cent's Candy Shop music
video show him driving up to a large mansion in a
bright red gleaming Saleen S7. A limitedproduction, hand-built, high-performance American
supercar.
There is a term for this called ‘Iconography’ which
basically means how the artists is interpreted and
how he/she needs to look in order to be flashy such
as driving expensive cars and wearing expensive
clothing to back up their image. It connotates that
you are a wealth successor who has built your own
way up to the top and the way these artist depict that
is by having big houses, expensive cars etc. In their
videos to explain that they are what they’ve created.
Reasons for codes and conventions:
 The audience can become familiar with a
particular genre, as they get use to
recognizing the different conventions within a
genre.
 It provides a structure that the audience can
understand.
 To ensure the lyrics of the song fit in with the
video, of how we’d expect it to be.


A costume is usually used to represent
certain characters in different ways. Different
artists will wear different clothes to represent
what they are portraying in their videos. A
good example would be Lady Gaga her
clothing range has many confused but it
backs up her image of being a crazy and
different woman. A good example of this
would be her song ‘Bad Romance’ where she
is wearing a lot of unusual costumes to
define what she’s like.


The location, and scene of a music video can not
only show the audience where the artist is , but
also can decide on the genre, for instance
locations on the beach, or in a car, at a party etc
these sort of locations you would usually find in a
dance pop music video’s and typically female
artists videos. Where if a music video was filmed
in a street or a modern house these are the
typical locations you might find a gang, which
you would associate with being rap or hip hop
videos.
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The conventions of a music video vary depending
on genre of music. However, the general
conventions include;
Camera shots
Editing Techniques
Sound (diegetic and non diegetic)
Mise-en-scene – such as props, lighting,
costume, locations etc.
Stereotypes of artists behaviour e.g. Notions of
looking, female dancers, male artist being
covered in wealthy materials.

Codes & conventions

  • 1.
  • 2.
     One of themost reoccurring conventions with in the Hip-Hop genre and specifically the music videos for Hip-Hop is the use of expensive props, which include things such as jewellery houses, clothes and cars. This is due to the Hip-Hop culture as a whole, reputations and swagger is a big part of the Hip-Hop sub culture so showing off in a Hip-Hop music video is very stereotypical. An example of this is in Jay Rock's song 'Hood Gone Love It'. One of the introduction shots to the video is a slow motion, low angle shot framing a line up of expensive custom cars. This use of expensive cars connotes that the artist is wealthy and successful, where in reality those cars probably dont belong to him.
  • 3.
    Usually includes theartist especially male artists being well toned  Normally set in a club or a party environment such big houses  Usually no storyline  Typically women dancers or models. Usually half naked dancing and grinding on top of male figures  Features jewellery, alcohol and sports cars  Features mansion and branded clothing  Usually other famous artists are featuring in the video. E.g.; 50 Cent, B.I.G - Notorious 
  • 4.
      The first 20seconds of 50 Cent's Candy Shop music video show him driving up to a large mansion in a bright red gleaming Saleen S7. A limitedproduction, hand-built, high-performance American supercar. There is a term for this called ‘Iconography’ which basically means how the artists is interpreted and how he/she needs to look in order to be flashy such as driving expensive cars and wearing expensive clothing to back up their image. It connotates that you are a wealth successor who has built your own way up to the top and the way these artist depict that is by having big houses, expensive cars etc. In their videos to explain that they are what they’ve created.
  • 5.
    Reasons for codesand conventions:  The audience can become familiar with a particular genre, as they get use to recognizing the different conventions within a genre.  It provides a structure that the audience can understand.  To ensure the lyrics of the song fit in with the video, of how we’d expect it to be.
  • 6.
     A costume isusually used to represent certain characters in different ways. Different artists will wear different clothes to represent what they are portraying in their videos. A good example would be Lady Gaga her clothing range has many confused but it backs up her image of being a crazy and different woman. A good example of this would be her song ‘Bad Romance’ where she is wearing a lot of unusual costumes to define what she’s like.
  • 7.
     The location, andscene of a music video can not only show the audience where the artist is , but also can decide on the genre, for instance locations on the beach, or in a car, at a party etc these sort of locations you would usually find in a dance pop music video’s and typically female artists videos. Where if a music video was filmed in a street or a modern house these are the typical locations you might find a gang, which you would associate with being rap or hip hop videos.
  • 8.
          The conventions ofa music video vary depending on genre of music. However, the general conventions include; Camera shots Editing Techniques Sound (diegetic and non diegetic) Mise-en-scene – such as props, lighting, costume, locations etc. Stereotypes of artists behaviour e.g. Notions of looking, female dancers, male artist being covered in wealthy materials.