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1. MUSIC VIDEO
LOCATION
ANALYSISKendrick Lamar – Humble
Lana Del Rey – Born to die

2. Its not uncommonfor rappers to present themselves as a
God likefigure for power.
Kanye West's album 'YEEZUS'
Eminem's hit song 'Rap God'
Nas' video for 'Hate me Now' replicating Jesus on the cross
Kendrick is no different...

3. Humble
• The music video directed by Dave Meyers,
highlights the issue of racism whileaddressing
the fact we are being brainwashed by the
media.
• Lamar starts in a church giving areligious,
momentous feel to the song, however we get
an ironic twist reminding the audience to be
'Humble' whilehe is rapping in an attitude
and tone that is anything but.

4. The scene immediately jumps to Lamar in all black
lying on a table of money, ignorantly shooting loads of
money from a cash cannon. First, he’s an unassuming
man of the church, then an ostentatious braggart,
setting the tone for a clip that features its subjects at
their “best” and “worst.”

5. • reenactment of Leonardo da Vinci’s 15th-
century painting, The Last Supper. Lamar
boldly sits in Jesus’ chair as his disciples
unappreciatively gorge on wine and bread.
Lamar has to tell the man to his left to have
some respect and 'be humble' at the table at
one point.

6. • But the more literal and accessiblevisual is when
lines "I'm so f--kin' sick and tiredof the Photoshop.” Just
then a woman in full makeupis shown on the right side
of a split-screen.
• When she crosses over to the left, her smoothponytail is
undone and the light acne that the foundationand
blush hidare visible. “Show me somethin'natural like
afro on RichardPryor/ Show me somethin'natural likea--
withsome stretch marks,” he adds, before mentioning
that such things certainly won’t stop him from being with
a woman.
• The screen then focuses on a shot of a woman’s behind,
uneditedand showcasing celluliteand stretch marks.

7. • "I don't fabricateit / Most of y'all be fakin’/ I
stay modest 'bout it / She elaborateit / This that
Grey Poupon, that Evian, that TED Talk / Watch
my soul speak / You let the meds talk.” It’s a not
at all subtle jab at the cringy rappers who rhyme
about their supposedly amazing lives.In the
video,he hilariouslysays this whilespreading
mustardon a sliceof bread in the back of a
chauffeuredconvertible.
• The entire “Humble” videois a poignant
exercisein irony and is also filledwith messaging
that couldbe perceivedas anti-conformist.It’s
unclear if scenes where Lamar and his corn-
rowed head is the only one with hair in a sea of
bald Blacks or the closing shot of him being the
only man wearing white at what's possiblya
funeral are jarring images that couldhave
deeper meanings, or if they’re just interesting
shots Meyers thought wouldbe cool to use.

8. • Same goes for Lamar taking golf swings on the roof
of a jalopy and the part where he’s surrounded by
black-shirted peers whose heads are wrapped in
kerosene-soaked rope then set ablaze while Lamar
(in a white hoodie) is the only one with his face
revealed -- flames cooking his scalp.

9. Born To Die
• This music video begins with a medium shot of Lana Del Rey
herself and a male actor. They're stood in an intimate embrace,
which shows connotations of love and trust, which emphasises
the giant American flag in the background. The American flag,
and the showing-off of the American flag connotes patriotism,
loyalty, proudness, etc. which all have an underlying theme of
love.
• However, juxtaposed to the love and intimacy is the feature of
piercings and tattoos on the male, as opposed to the 'pureness'
and American dream look of Del Rey. Tattoos and piercings have
connotations of rebellion and danger, but the intimate embrace
in front of the American flag almost lets the audience see past
these factors. Altogether this whole image could represent the
'American dream', or the two sides of the American dream: Lana
Del Rey, the 'pure', innocent one has achieved it, whereas the
tattooed, rebellious male hasn't.

10. • After this is that of a church, showing faith and religion.
The camera pans in a downwards motion to reveal Lana
Del Rey sat on a throne, as though implying she is a royal
and that she has the autority. Further emphasising that
she is in charge are the two tigers laid calmly beside her.
Tigers are seen as being dangerous, wild animals, but the
fact that they have been taimed, sitting either side of her
gives an example of how powerful Del Rey is. Her outfit is
quite plain and simple: it is a long, white dress. White has
connotations of being pure and innocent, plus the length
of it hints that she wants to stay covered up, thus
emphasising the connotation of innocence.

11. • This image is then juxtaposed with a cut to the male from
the beginning leaning against his car, smoking. This image
shows that he's rebellious, with the foot on the car showing
he's care-free. He appears to be of a lower class to Del Rey,
as she appears to be alike to 'America's sweetheart': the
story is cliché at this point, the innocent, rich girl, running off
with the 'bad boy'
• . The scene is dark as though they're not allowed to be seen
together, and he's parked outside somewhere very upper-
class and posh which can be seen by all the marble statues
stood outside. The audience gets the impression that this is
indeed her home, as she comes running down the drive
with a bag in her hand.