Camera Use

Like many music videos there are several close-ups used. However, as Lil Wayne is a well-established artist there are not many close-ups as using loads of close-ups within a music video is usually typical of fresh faced new artists that want to be recognized and remembered from their new video.

[Close ups of Lil Wayne]

These close ups however do display the artists image in connection to the song and could be a way of building a connection between the artist and his audience.

Also there are a few extreme close ups within the video. For example when Lil Wayne is stood central in a group in his military suit there is an extreme close up oh his mouth, showing his gold teeth. The close up of the lips is also a common use to show lip-synching. Also of his necklace when the lyrics say “black and white diamonds”, showing that there is a connection between lyrics and visuals (Goodwin) .

[Screen shot]

This is a typical use in hip-hop artist’s music videos as they usually portray how wealthy they are and the amount of “bling” they wear.

As usual there are also a range of medium and long shots in the music video. For example when Lil Wayne is in a suit there is a long shot focused on him establishing the fact that he is mirroring the costume used by Leonardo Di' Caprio in the film "Inception"

[Screen shot]

Medium shots include when Lil Wayne is in front of the white screen in a tight white vest.This is again portraying the artists typical image, exposing his tattoos all over his arm and the tight vest exposing his muscular physique.

[Screen Shot]

There is a high angle shot of a female coming out of a cake but it is shown as though Lil Wayne is looking down on her. This clearly conveys the way females are portrayed in music videos of this genre as they are usually dressed seductively implying that they are there for their image. The high angle shot on the female coming out of the cake suggests that Lil Wayne has power over her being that she is conveyed as a present.

[Screen Shot]

As opposed to the high angle shot, there is also a low angle shot looking up to Lil wayne as though he is standing above the camera talking down to it. This conveys the idea that Lil wayne is the dominant figure in the video in contrast to the film 'Inception" being that Leonardo Di'Caprio was the central character.

[Screen shot]

There is not much camera movement used in the video as it mainly jumps from screen to screen following the fast beat of the song however there are several. For example there are vertical pans revealing peoples faces.

[Screen shot]