Codes and conventions of music

videos

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 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.

Rap/Hip Hop music videos tend to be filmed in neighbourhoods, skate parks and parties.

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.

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.

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.