Conventions of a Hip Hop/Rap Music Video

Through researching HipHop music and artists, i have found the key conventions of a Hip Hop/Rap music videos;

-The music videos are set in mysterious places or simple places with a lot of rap artists. The larger Hip Hop artists such as 50 Cent have the location as parties or a club. This type of location shows money and power which is what all Hip Hop artists thrive to look like.

This is a shot from 50 Cents 'In Da Club' Hip Hop song, and this shot shows the artist at a club with lots of drinks and as its a busy club it makes him look popular.


-In Hip Hop music videos the star of the music video (The Artists) try to look as powerful as possible and look like they have as much money as possible. This puts them above other arists as it shows they are a good musician and are successful.

These are screen grabs from T.I's music video whatever you like, in this video he shows everything to do with money. (Jewellery, swimming pool, private jets, big cars)





- Another convention of a Hip Hop music video is the artist or the group are shown constantly throughout the video, the band is a brand in itself. By showing the audience the band or artist all the time it creates the illusion of seeing the artist in person.

This is Eminem in his music video 'Just Lose It', he is dressed as different characters in different parts of the music video.

-Another convention of a Hip hop/ Rap music video is that the camera shots are generally long shots or establishing shots so that you can see the whole area where the music video is set and also you get to see all the money that has been spent on the music video or how much money the artist is making.

These are two of the opening shots in Dr.Dre's music video 'i need a doctor'. They show an expensiv looking holiday resort and show money and power within these shots.

- Commonly in Hip Hop music videos there are lots of scantily clad women who are dancing in clubs and around the Hip Hop/Rap artists. This shows the artist as powerul and has lots of pretty women dancing for them/around them. This shows that the artist is also attractive.

This is four screen grabs from Dizzee Rascals music video 'Holiday' The whole video is just Dizzee Rascal on holiday with some friends and dancing with women who are all wearing swimwear. This attracts a large audience as it gives a false image that if you go on holiday you will meet lots of women who are all in t hier swimsuits dancing around you.