Analysis of a music genre- Drake,Rap

Drake is a Canadian  rap artist who released his first single 'over' in March 2010. ..  Rita Ora plays the role of the character with a love interest towards him, this was when she was attempting to form a successful career herself.

Drakes music video develops a focus on him, through midshots and close ups and the mise en scene, which portrays his emotional state, giving us an insight into his fast moving mind. An example of when  close ups to midshots are used is when drake is sitting on a bed or standing up in this minimalistic room, which allows us to focus on him. The room appears to evoke emptiness and loneliness as he sits on the end of a double bed. The mid shot of him standing up allows him to clearly express himself, emphasising his body language and actions as he points towards the camera, this creates power and is stereotypical to conventions of rap as artists focus on their body language to enhance the meaning of the lyrics. This is an element the audience would look for and expect to allow us to relate and understand their 'pain'.

The surrounding and background emphasises the concept based video as even when he is rapping the mise en scene appears to stay relevant to evoke his emotions, an example of the pathetic fallacy used is instantly at the beginning when a non diegetic thunder sound echoes over.  .There are also projections of the city and sky moving quickly across the room and over him which could suggest time moving quickly as he sits and reflects, as well as this there is fast paced editing which reveals the city and of people passing by which conveys people walking in and out of his life, this makes him appear lonely as if there is no time for him in the world as time constantly passes, the room implies this through the low ceiling and caved box shape making him look isolated and trapped, perhaps in his mind as the room reflects his thoughts. "I know way too many people here right now that I didn't know last year". ..The low key lighting sets and supports the atmosphere, emphasising loneliness.

However as the music video progresses specific edits have been used to emphasise and portray the confident big egoed persona of a rapper, which is a convention of this genre. The mirror/reflection effect which is an enlargement of himself shows reassurance as if he does not need anyone else and is a strong individual who does not need guidance. Rappers are generally portrayed as strong characters with problems and struggles in their life, which they get strength from. This causes the audience to admire this attitude and see them as an inspiration as they as they get strength from their problems, this causes the audience to be attracted to this specific music as they look for this in rappers, a character that mirrors a realistic, challenging world, perhaps exaggerated at times. The lyrics "who the fuck are y'all" suggests that he does not need anyone and even looks down on others as his enlargement is practically looking down. The hand gestures further imply confidence and power and engages to the lyrics, as he says "riding through the city" he uses hand gestures which also portray passion and their emotions, and their strong characters further expressing what they believe. This matches the convention of rappers expressing their lifestyle and their emotions, as their hand gestures reveal their character and at times connect the pain of the lyrics to them. 


    "riding through the city" hand gestures.