Product Analysis - Jay-Z - 99 Problems

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwoM5fLITfk

What is the relationship between music and visuals?

A silent start with a handicam running up a set of stairs starts the video and when the beat is mixed in it is accompanied by fast very montage cutting in time with the music. Fast cutting to the beat of the track is a common trend throughout the music video. It is also black and white generating a simplistic but effective tone. A lot of actions by characters in the video, especially Jay-Z, such as pointing, nodding, clapping, winking etc are in time with a beat in the backing track. A clever touch of scratching the beat give the sound of a motorbike reving when it is accompanied by a shot of a GSXR doing a burnout.


What is the relationship between visuals and lyrics?

With very fast paced editing there are many different shots that relate to the lyrics in the track. it is quick and simple but very affective and works really well. for example, when he says, "I'm from the hood stupid what kind of facts are those" it cuts to a shot of a street sign symbolising where. "I Got beef with radio" and a shot of an electrical store selling radio players. we'll see how smart you are when the k9s come and a shot of dogs getting prepared to leave a cage. Jay-Z does a lot of lip sinking in the video and also reacts a lot to the lyrics with facial emotions. The three main shots in the video cut between referential shots, to him lip sinking, not him occupied with others. The chorus, "I got 99 problems but the bitch ain't one involves different scenes of a women and a man losing his temper, when combined with the lyrics a clear relationship between the man and women is created.

Are there close-ups of the artist and star image motifs?

there are many close ups of Jay-Z during the video especially when he is lip sinking, it is clear that he is the sole performer although there are brief references to other characters it always returns to him after each cut. star image motifs are relevant to a certain degree, there are lots of close ups promoting his face and persona but he is no represented as particulary glamorous or wealthy, this look is aided by the video being black and white so he does really stand out

Is there reference to the notion of looking?

There is an obvious point of view shot of some one running up the stairs at the start, and the frequent use of a jerky handicam is not only a good effect, but it can also look like a point of view shot, especially in scene where there is a large group, making you feel included in the narrative.

Are there intertextual reference?

There is no clear intertexual references in the video although some evidence of the negative relationship between young black males and the authorities.

Is it performance based or narrative based? How much of each?

The video have both performance and small amounts of narrative when relevant to the lyrics, there are sections of performance frequently throughout the video, in three key locations, when he is sitting on a sofa, walking along a bridge and when outside a block of apartments. There is no main narrative to the video just a few scenes to accompany the lyrics, for example, the music video turns to a narrative representation when he gets pulled over for speeding, a clear relationship between the lyrics and the visuals is created.

Representations?

Jay-Z is represented as a normal person, nothing special, although shown to be a drug dealer in one scene. there is frequent shots of women dancing in swimsuits represented in a voyeuristic way, they are objectified by the camera focused on their bodies. They are objectified and when accompanied by the lyrics are negatively represented often refered to as a 'bitch'

Ideological discourses?

The music video reinforces the ideological discourse of how growing up a a young black male is challenging and how they are affected by poverty, forcing them to commit crime such as selling drugs as a income. There is also a negative ideal that men are empowered over women and how there not causing Jay-Z any problems