This paper analyzes Benjamin Dickinson's video clip for Killer Mike's song "Untitled". Therefore, I will start by examining the visualization in general. As a second step, the analogies between the song and the visuals will be dealt with. Thus, I will answer the question: In how far are the lyrics or musical elements represented in the music video? Last but not least, the paper ends by giving a conclusion.
Michael Render, better known by his stage name Killer Mike, was born in Atlanta in 1975. In the late 1980’s and early 1990’s he made a name for himself as battle rapper in Atlanta’s underground Hip-Hop scene. A few years later Mike met Antwan André Patton aka Big Boi from the famous Hip-Hop Duo Outkast. After their breakthrough, the Duo approached Mike and recorded the song “The Whole World” with him.
Shortly after, he signed to Columbia Records and released his first single and album in 2003. In the following years, he put out various LP’s on different record labels and in the year 2012 he released R.A.P. Music. This piece of work received widespread acclaim e.g. from the Chicago Tribune, Okayplayer, Spin Magazine, Pitchfork Media, etc. The song "Untitled", which will be discussed in this paper, appeared on R.A.P. Music and is a rather personal track that touches on different subjects. Furthermore, it is worth mentioning that only the verses are rapped by Killer Mike, whereas the hook is sung by the artist Scar.
Benjamin Dickinson is a director, writer and actor. He is known for his work as a director for various movies and short films, such as Super Sleuths, First Winter and Creative Control. Moreover, he directed the video clips for North American Scum (LCD Soundsystem), Gettin Up (Q-Tip), Get Myself Into It (The Rapture), etc.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Visualization
3. Analogies between the Lyrics and the Visuals
4. Conclusion
5. Bibliography
Research Objectives and Core Themes
This paper examines the music video for Killer Mike's song "Untitled," directed by Benjamin Dickinson. The primary research objective is to analyze the extent to which the lyrics and musical elements are represented through visual metaphors, specifically focusing on the director's integration of baroque art aesthetics and religious imagery.
- Analysis of baroque art techniques and visual references in contemporary music videos.
- Investigation of the relationship between visual storytelling and lyrical content.
- Exploration of how religious and historical iconography is utilized to reinforce thematic messages.
- Examination of character portrayal as a means of highlighting political and personal vulnerability.
Excerpt from the Book
3. Analogies between the Lyrics and the Visuals
The music video for Untitled rarely represents musical elements. This can be explained by the director's intention to display a clip that resembles a painting. Hence, Dickinson tried to avoid dancing and movements that harmonize with the rhythm. Nonetheless, there are some parallels between the music and the visuals. For example the music abruptly stops at 2:42 and 3:08 and in order to represent this silence the screen suddenly turns black. Since these parallels are very rare, the main part of this chapter is focusing on the lyrics.
In Verse 1 at 0:23 Mike asks “Will I die slain like my king by a terrorist?”, while the video illustrates a reenactment of the painting Judith Beheading Holofernes. On the one hand, Killer Mike is shown as Holofernes, as he is brutally and insidiously assassinated in this scene. On the other hand, the lyrics make a reference to the murder of Martin Luther King. Thus, Dickinson did not try to play out the content of the lyrics, but instead he chose an image with a similar topic in order to highlight the message of Mike's lyrics. Moreover, the reenacted painting by Caravaggio can also be seen at 1:01, 1:25 and 2:58. This are the moments whenever the topic of assassination reappears in the lyrics (“You usually don't know it's you until you getting killed”, “Them people might try to have you killed” and “I seen how I die”).
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Provides a biographical overview of the artist Killer Mike and director Benjamin Dickinson while outlining the analytical approach to the music video "Untitled."
2. Visualization: Explores the visual style of the video, focusing on how baroque painting techniques, lighting, and static compositions are used to elevate the music video to a form of art.
3. Analogies between the Lyrics and the Visuals: Analyzes the direct and figurative connections between the lyrical content and the chosen visual imagery, highlighting specific religious and historical reenactments.
4. Conclusion: Summarizes how the interaction of baroque aesthetics and lyrical synchronization transforms the video into a functional commentary beyond mere entertainment.
5. Bibliography: Lists the academic, biographical, and journalistic sources used to support the analysis.
Keywords
Killer Mike, Untitled, Benjamin Dickinson, Baroque Art, Music Video Analysis, Visual Metaphors, Religious Imagery, Caravaggio, Hip-Hop Culture, Lyrical Representation, Cinematography, Symbolism, Portraiture, Political Commentary.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental subject of this work?
The paper explores the intersection of hip-hop music and baroque visual aesthetics, specifically focusing on the music video for Killer Mike's "Untitled."
What are the central thematic fields covered?
The core themes include the adaptation of classical art history in modern media, the visual interpretation of lyrical content, and the use of religious and political iconography.
What is the primary research question?
The paper seeks to answer to what extent the lyrics and musical elements of the song are represented through the visual choices made by the director.
Which scientific method is utilized?
The analysis employs a qualitative media analysis, focusing on the semiotic interpretation of visual scenes and their correlation with the song's lyrics.
What topics are discussed in the main section?
The main section investigates the specific visual techniques of the baroque period used in the video and analyzes how these images mirror or reinforce the specific lines within the verses and the hook.
Which keywords characterize this paper?
Key terms include Killer Mike, Baroque Art, Music Video Analysis, Visual Metaphors, and Lyrical Representation.
Why does the director choose to display the protagonist in a military uniform?
The paper suggests that this choice references the baroque tradition of portraiture, where subjects were often depicted in impressive costumes to signify power or status.
How does the video interpret the song's outro?
The outro is interpreted through biblical references, such as the chariot of Elijah, and a reenactment of a Caravaggio painting, which creates a connection between the music's end and themes of death and industry contracts.
- Quote paper
- Anonym (Author), 2014, The visualization of Killer Mike’s song “Untitled”. A comparison of the lyrics and Benjamin Dickinson's video clip, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/319015
