Jay-Z - Black Magic (Genre: Rap)

Before Jay-Z starts rapping there is a montage of clips around a city in America, the shots are of the inside of a subway, a bridge, smoke, a rolls royce and a scene from a film which is referenced to throughout. The song is called Blue Magic which I've quoted from Urban Dictionary is Heroin thats 100% pure and turns blue when you put some chemical to it. It could be smoked because it's pure enough as opposed to injected. Jay-z made a song called "Blue Magic" on his soundtrack "American Gangster" based off the movie. There is a repeated shot of a bubbling liquid on lyrics 'blazed' and 'pot' which connote drugs. The shot above is a high/wide angled medium/close up of the artist. The high angle is used to emphasize the drop from here to the ground connoting power and danger. This is common in rap videos. Jay-Z is wearing a black snapback with black sunglasses and a black jacket. It is conventional to wear sunglasses in rap videos just suggesting an ego and representing a certain look and image which younger boys idolise. The city lights are blurred as our focus is on Jay-Z. He is using direct mode of address and therefore not fully engaging with the audience however, suggesting that the attention shouldn't be on him specifically but for us to really listen to his lyrics. 

This is a close up shot of a large wad of 500 dollar notes. Jay-Z is flicking through the notes showing off his money and 500 is the highest you can have so we can see he leads an expensive life. It is very conventional in rap videos to have an high class lifestyle with expensive cars (rolls royce shown throughout), lots of money and jewellery and sunglasses - even worn at night time just to give off an exclusive look and egotistic life.

This is a centred medium shot, filmed in a studio. The white background is a good location so there are no distractions with sets or props used and the focus is on the artist. I use a studio in my music video. Jay-Z is wearing all black again and the shot has also been edited in black and white. This can be as the lack of colour again makes the audience focus on his lyrics rather than paying attention to colours, co-ordination and outfits. Jay-Z is looking fashionable to which fans will idolise and dress like him.

This is a wide angled two shot. The boy is using direct mode of address connecting with the audience whereas the girl is facing away from the camera with her barely covered body on show. As she is facing away it enhances the stereotype that woman are just objects and seen for the body. Both are continuing the clothing theme of black and white and look fashionable. Another popular convention in rap videos is girls who are wearing next to nothing. This music video is conforming to the conventions.

There were dance interludes in the music video, this is a medium studio shot of a girl dancing to the beat of the song. She is wearing large co-ordinating glasses and an Adidas jacket I think from the recognisable stripes, this is a good product placement for advertising brands in the music videos. The girl looks serious which matched the genre, his rap was not happy and fun it was to the point and snappy.