Analysing a Hip Hop Digipak

Digipak Collage

Storyboard

For my storyboard i'll be using Artist 1, 2 & 3 to describe the characters in my music video. Artist 1, 2 & 3 are one and the same . However Artist 1 is dressed in white, he is thee innocent and loved version of himself. Artist 2 is dressed in black, he's the darker suspicious version of himself and Artist 3 is the rapper, who isn't involved in the narrative side of the music video, only towards the end.

My artist (Artist 1) is dressed in white, and throughout the whole music video he is unconscious of the camera. The first scene he is washing his face, you then see him talking with his mother having a conversation that they are both enjoying. After that you see him playing with his younger sister making her laugh. This all shown in the music video to portray how loved and innocent  artist 1 is. 

Throughout the music video you'll see artist 3 rapping to the camera. He'll be wearing different clothes so that the audience can see he's involved in the narrative.

In the next part you see artist 1 lying on his bed, where he can hear his sister crying from the abuse that she's been dealing with. This changes him and his actions. You then see him shouting at his mother, and being distant with his younger sister. Everywhere he is not himself, artist 2 is following him around. This is to show artist 2 is always with him when he's negative, the way the devil is portrayed to be on your shoulder to influence you whenever you commit bad actions.

 You see artist 3 rapping again towards the camera, with much more movement. I also decided that i'm going to use a star projector that would be reflected on my artist and the background. I think this will be effective, as it gives a vibe to my artist's song, and tells the audience that he is different. As well as foreshadowing that my artist is a star, and is about to hit the mainstream sooner or later.

Artist 2 then confronts artist 1 to reveal himself to the audience to show artist 2 and 1 are the same. Artist 2 then threatens artist 1 with a pen. You then see how artist 1 became artist 2, that his sister's abuse affected him, and he became more lonely, distant and dark.

Artist 3 is rapping towards the camera wit much stronger movement and emotion.

You then come back to the scene artist 1 and 2 facing off, they both take out their pen. However you don't see the actual fight and the screen goes black ( or a shot of the environment) You then see artist 3 walk out the house, with ink on his hands. WHich make the audience wonder who artist 3 is , is he the old innocent version of himself ( artist 1) or is he the lonely, distant and dark version of himself (artist 2). This is for the audience to decide, and replay the video to make sure of their choices.

A2 Music Video Pitch

                                

Similar Artists

My artist J.cole represents the true hip hop art of Storytelling and lyricism, which today most rap artists ignore this and focus on more luxurious things. This is why some people believe Hip Hop and Rap are different genres and that one is inspired from the other. Even though there aren't many true hip Hop artists today, this makes it easier for him to gain more fans and have a bigger fan base, but also harder because Rap is more mainstream than Hip Hop. Similar artists to J. Cole who apply lyricism and storytelling are Kendrick Lamar, Wale, and Lupe Fiasco. They have all been declared "the greatest" and "legends" of this generation, and many comparisons and disputes have been made amongst their fans. However, most of J. Cole fans do listen to Kendrick Lamar, Wale, Lupe Fiasco and vice versa.

                          

This is one of man songs that has narrative by J. Cole, but is this most famous as it's on his debut album, "Cole World : The Sideline Story". J. Cole talks about the emotions and trials that a young unmarried couple may experience when there is an unexpected pregnancy.

[Verse 1]
Baby girl, I can't imagine what it's like for you
I got you pregnant, now inside there is a life in you
I know you wondering if this is gon' make me think 'bout wifing you
Like if you have my first child, would I spend my whole life with you?
Now I ain't tryna pick a fight with you, I'm tryna talk
Now I ain't tryna spend the night with you, I'm kinda lost
See, I've been giving it some thought lately and
Frankly I'm feel like we ain't ready and this.. Hold up now, let me finish!
Think about it, baby, me and you we still kids ourself
How we gonna raise a kid by ourself?
Handle biz by ourself? A brother barely over 20
Where the hell we gon' live? Where am I gon' get that money?
I refuse to bring my boy or my girl in this world
When I ain't got s*** to give 'em
And I'm not with them brothers who be knocking girls up and skate out
So girl you gotta think about how the options weigh out, what's the way out?

[Hook]
And I ain't too proud to tell you
That I cry sometime, I cry sometimes about it
And girl I know it hurt, but if this world was perfect
Then we can make it work but I doubt it
And I ain't too proud to tell you
That I cry sometime, I cry sometimes about it
And girl I know it hurt, but if this world was perfect
Then we can make it work but I doubt it

[Verse 2]
She said
"N****, you got some nerve to come up to me talking about abortion
This my body  so don't think you finna force it!
See I knew that this is how you act, so typical
Said you love me, oh, but now you flipping like reciprocals
It figures though, I shoulda known that you was just another
No different from them others
Who be claiming that they love you just to get up in them drawers
Knowing all the right things to say, I let you hit it raw!
Now I'm pregnant, you don't wanna get involved?
Tryna take away a life, is you God?
I don't think so! This a new life up in my stomach
Regardless if I'm your wife, this new life here I'mma love it
I ain't budging I just do this by my self
See my mama raised me without no help from a man
But I still don't understand how you could say that
Did you forget all those conversations that we had way back
'bout your father? And you told me that you hate that n****
Talking about he a coward and you so glad that you ain't that n****
Cause he left your mama when she had you and he ain't s***
And here you go doing the same s***... you ain't s*** n****"

[Hook]
And I ain't too proud to tell you
That I cry sometimes, I cry sometimes about it
And boy this s*** hurts, and ain’t nobody perfect
Still we can make it work but you doubt it

[Verse 3]
They say everything happens for a reason
And people change like the seasons, then grow apart
She wanted him to show his heart and say he loved her
He spoke the magic words and on the same day he f***** her
Now she wide open, she put a ring up on his finger if she could
But he loved her cause the ***** good but she ain't no wife though
Uh-oh! She telling him she missed her period like typos
He panicking, froze up like a mannequin
A life grows inside her, and now he asking "Is it even mine?"
What if this chick ain't even pregnant, dog, could she be lying?
And she be crying cause he acting distant
Like "Ever since I told you this, you acting different"
And all his friends saying "Man, these girls be trapping brothers
Playing with brothers' emotions like they some action figures"
Swear they get pregnant for collateral, it's like extortion
Man if that chick really pregnant, tell her to get a abortion
But what about your seed brother?

[Outro]
And I ain't too proud to tell you
That I cry sometime, I cry sometimes about it
And I ain't too proud to tell you
That I cry sometime, I cry sometimes about it









                             


[Verse 1]
His eyes bloodshot red
I watched him as he took a fifth of Henny to the head in memory of his brother
Reminiscing on them playing Sega with each other
He was hurting, I can see it, plenty tears, no kleenex
I stood by his side because that was my homie
Gave him a hug, some of his brother's blood got on me
Clinching his fist on some angry shit
Stood up, sat back down on the curb and asked me who they be hangin' with
I wasn't sure so I gave him no answer
But I was sure that he had him a blammer and wanted war
Revenge, what do you say to a good friend
That just lost it and grabbin' choppers out of the closet
I tried my best to make him renig
But he was like, my n** this feeling is more than personal
I stood down
He hopped in a four door, Honda Accord before he
Bent the block, he said K Dot

[Hook]
"(You wouldn't understand)
These streets can turn a kid to killer in minutes
Not by choice, but forced to be a menace
Can someone just pray for me, or war
(Or at least, try to understand) the city pressure
The AK-47, twin MAC-11s
The Desert Eagle, shotty and the Smith & Wessons
Pray for me, or war"

[Verse 2]
Corners become monuments for the dead
Candles on the pavement, postcard read
Rest in peace, the yellow tape blockin' off the streets
A baby mama yellin at the police
But you don't understand
You figure that we're just a bunch of n***** but the picture here's a story untold
Y' see this wasn't in our plans
Babies from the late 80s wasn't born crazy, we was raised that way
Put that Malcom X book down then raise that K
Complete chaos when we off x pills and St. Ides
Look the devil in the face, from a sane eye
Cast the spell on you like Akeelah and the Bee
Every killer in the street is a teen with a corrupted, mind
Substance, time, is no longer an issue
We don't have it, so pass the tissue
Then close the casket, kiss the momma when you can
And tell her you understand, but you don't understand

[Hook]

[Verse 3]
He came back fifteen minutes later
He said, "Dot, I went on one, do me this favor
Dump these guns in a safe place, let nobody see you
This as critical as it gets, my n**** I need you"
I said alright, so what happened? "Seen a few n***** slippin
And I just started clappin, I didn't care who I was hittin"
That's wild shit, but anyway I got you
I love you n****make sure you hit me up by tomorrow
I woke up the next mornin' with a cold
Allergies got me sneezin and wipin' my nose when it was leaking
Checked the medicine cabinet, lookin for some Dayquil
But all I seen was some Asprin, just my luck
I got up, went to Rite Aid
Hoping that the pharmacy department had the right aid - I bought it and left
Walked to the parking lot, when I see the faces of death
Said they was lookin for my man with a chopper in they hand
Prayin it would jam, but you don't understand

[Hook]

[Outro]
Its like a revolving door that i've been a part of my whole life. messed up right?











                            

[Hook: Gemini & Sarah Green]
I can't, I won't, I can't, I won't
Let you leave
I don't know what you want
You won't want from me?

[Verse 1: Lupe Fiasco ]
She said to him
"I want you to be a father
He's your little boy and you don't even bother
Like 'brother' without the R
And he's starting to harbor
Cool on food for thought
But for you he's a starver
Starting to use red markers on his work
His teacher say they know he's much smarter
But he's hurt
Used to hand his homework in first
Like he was the classroom starter"
Burst to tears, let him know she's serious
"Now he's fighting in class
Got a note last week that say he might not pass
Ask me if his daddy was sick of us
Cause you ain't never pick him up
You see what his problem is?
He don't know where his poppa is
No positive male role model
To play football and build railroad models
It's making a hole; you've been digging it
Cause you ain't been kicking it
Since he was old enough to hold bottles
Wasn't supposed to get introduced to that
He don't deserve to get used to that
Now I ain't asking you for money or to come back to me
Some days it ain't sunny but it ain't so hard
Just breaks my heart
When I try to provide and he say 'Mommy, that ain't your job'
To be a man, I try to make him understand
That I'm his number one fan
But it's like you booing from the stands
You know the world is out to get him, so why don't you give him a chance?"

[Hook: Gemini & Sarah Green]
I can't, I won't, I can't, I won't
Let you leave
I don't know what you want
You won't want from me?

[Verse 2: Lupe Fiasco]
So he said to him
"I want you to be a father
I'm your little boy and you don't even bother
Like 'brother' without the R
And I'm starting to harbor
Cool and food for thought
But for you I'm a starver
Starting to use red markers on my work
My teacher say they know I'm much smarter
But I'm hurt
I used to hand my homework in first
Like I was the classroom starter"
Burst to tears
Let him know he's serious
"Now I'm fighting in class
Got a note last week that say I might not pass
Kids ask me if my daddy is sick of us
Cause you ain't never pick me up
You see what my problem is?
That I don't know where my poppa is
No positive male role model
To play football and build railroad models
It's making a hole - you've been digging it
Cause you ain't been kicking it
Since I was old enough to hold bottles
Wasn't supposed to get introduced to that
I don't deserve to get used to that
Now I ain't asking you for money or to come back to me
Some days it ain't sunny but it ain't so hard
Just breaks my heart
When my momma try to provide and I tell her 'That ain't your job'
To be a man, she try to make me understand
That she my number one fan
But its like you booing from the stands
You know the world is out to get me, why don't you give me a chance?"

[Hook: Gemini & Sarah Green]
I can't, I won't, I can't, I won't
Let you leave
I don't know what you want




















[Intro]
Check it out
I call it, yeah

For my brothers with daughters, I call this
For my brothers with daughters, I call this
For my brothers with daughters, I call this
For my brothers with daughters

[Verse 1]
I saw my daughter send a letter to some boy her age
Who locked up
First I regretted it then caught my rage like
How could I not protect her from this awful phase
Never tried to hide who I was, she was taught and raised like
A princess, but while I'm on stage I can't leave her defenseless
Plus she's seen me switching women, pops was on some pimp s***
She heard stories of her daddy thugging
So if her husband is a gangster can't be mad, I'll love him
Never for her I want better, homie in jail - dead that
Wait till he come home
You can see where his head's at
 Brothers got game, they be tryna live
He seen your Mama crib
Plus I'm sure he know who your father is
Although you real, plus a honest kid
Don't think I'm slow, I know you probably had that chronic lit
You seventeen, I got a problem with it
She looked at me like I'm not the cleanest father figure
But she rocking with it

[Hook]
For my brothers with daughters, I call this
For my brothers with daughters, I call this
Not sayin' that our sons are less important
For my brothers with daughters, I call this
For my brothers with daughters, I call this
Not sayin' that our sons are less important

[Verse 2]
This morning I got a call, nearly split my wig
This social network said Nas go and get your kid
She's on Twitter, I know she ain't gon' post no pic
Of herself underdressed, no inappropriate s***, right
Her mother cried when she answered
Said she don't know what got inside this child's mind, she planted
A box of condoms on her dresser then she Instagrammed it
At this point I realized I ain't the strictest parent
I'm too loose, I'm too cool with her
Should've drove more time to school with her
I thought I dropped enough jewels on her
Took her from private school, so she can get a balance
To public school, they're too nurture teen talents
They grow fast, one day she's your little princess
Next day she talking boy business, what is this?
They say the coolest playas and foulest heart breakers in the world
God gets us back, he makes us have precious little girls

[Hook]

[Verse 3]
And I ain't trying to mess your thing up
But I just wanna see you dream up
I finally understand
It ain't easy to raise a girl as a single man
Nah, the way mothers feel for they sons, how fathers feel for they daughters
When he date, he straight, chip off his own papa
When she date, we wait behind the door with the sawed off
Cause we think no one is good enough for our daughters
Love