Jordan Nettley

Genre Rap: Music Video Analysis: Eminem Lose Yourself

The conventions of Rap include:
The performer will rap towards the camera in the centre of the shot, as though they are
talking to the audience. This shows that the rappers dominance or at least trying to give that
impression. This kind of shot will be using a fish eyed type camera lenses at a low angle. This
will often be the main part of the performance section of rap videos, with the other section
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The shot cuts will normally be fast paced (depending on the tempo of the song). Longer cuts
will normally be used to show a jump in time for the narrative of the music video. Often the
cuts will match the beat of the song which supports the idea of Andrew Goodwins theory of
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Thought Beats. Some rap videos will be quite narrative heavy with the majority of them
being mainly the rappers performance aka the lip-syncing while facing the camera.













The music video for Eminems Lose yourself is an example of a video with a split of both
narrative and performance. The narrative is about the characters rap career but the other
half of the video is Eminem rapping to the camera. This is not always the case with rap music
videos as Eminems Lose Yourself is a movie soundtrack and has a lot of exceptions when
compared to other rap music videos.


Having the artist talk about their wealth is quite a common idea in rap music and music
videos. If money is not shown then things that represent their wealth, other indications can
portray their wealth or power, for example: A lot of women who surround the rapper,
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expensive properties (mainly mansions/estates), or expensive cars and weapons (emphasis
their dominance and power).

The objectification and sexualisation of women is also a heavy theme in a large amount of
rap/hip-hop music videos with women being portrayed as nothing more than scenery. While
there are other genres of music videos that do the same, rap and hip-hop are definitely the
biggest offenders of this.
The last two points of conventions for the Rap genre, which are common in Rap music videos,
doesnt appear in this music video. We follow Eminems story of how he grew up without wealth,
power or even witness the objectification and sexualisation of women. The only signification of
power is when Eminem wins the rap battles against his enemies, which earns him respect in his
neighbourhood.
Target Audience
I feel the target audience of this music video ranges from the ages 14-25. This is because of the
language which is used includes; swearing, fighting and hoes who have used him. However the music
strongly consist of shots which involve him in the centre and the split narrative is clearly visible
showing his experiences of his periods of growing up.
Barthes Code:
I think the Barthes code of this music video is action. This is because the music video contains rap
battles which, the lyrics are fuelled by hatred and negativity towards one-another, adding the fact
the crowd are very much intimidating and aggressive to the rappers once they have chosen a side.
In the music video we witness Eminem fight with his enemy, which also shows action.










This is an extract of lyrics and analysis from Eminems Lose yourself.

"The soul's escaping, through this hole that it's gaping
This world is mine for the taking
Make me king, as we move toward a, new world order
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A normal life is boring, but super stardom's close to post mortem "

Because of all the pressure and expectations lofted on me, Eminems losing who he is and what he
initially loved about being an artist. His status as a superstar seems contrived to me because my
handlers have rearranged in my head my perception of the real world. I thought life was boring, but
being a superstar is almost like being dead.

"It only grows harder, only grows hotter
He blows us all over these hoes is all on him
Coast to coast shows, he's know as the globetrotter
Lonely roads, God only knows
He's grown farther from home, he's no father
He goes home and barely knows his own daughter "

The problem with being a superstar is that you need to keep producing and keep producing bigger
and better things... That usually means working harder and sacrificing more. Eventually that takes its
toll in the form of loneliness and alienation.