Biggie Smalls – Sky’s The LimitRap
Construction & Content
Released in 1997, Notorious B.I.G’s sky’s the limit video is conceptual as the director has intentionally opted to use children acting the way adults do rather than actual adults putting a spin on reality.
The reasoning behind this video is potentially to display to the adult audience of how they act perhaps leading them to question whether it’s important or not. It may also be comment on society, as many ideals that adults have, are passed onto children as well as children imitating adults which would cause a cycle of violence due to the aggressive era this was released in for the hip hop culture.
Driving usually an adult task, flipped around in this video
If we further analyse this video and link the lyrics to the concept we see that the rapper is talking about his life as he was poor whilst growing. Two lines in the chorus that particularly stood out to me were “Sky’s the limit and you know that you can have/What you want, be what you want” which intertwines with the ideology that you need money in order to be happy in the world. Another potential point this video is trying to make by incorporating children in place of adults
Cinematography + EditingLong shot of the child actor (playing a child version of Biggie) walking out of his house. The gesture he’s doing is typical of a rapper and gives off the “look at me I’m rich impression” this is supported by fancy items as well as the butler he has standing at the side of the shot.
Long shot of the tv, showing a close up of a child version of BustaRhymes (A subtle reference to another rapper and video but in this conceptual method) – the use of editing has allowed them to ploy the image/video on the television
Close up of the Mercedes symbol, a play on the song’s meaning and the concept of video – suggesting luxurious + expensive items are well within your grasp and perhaps make people think they need these things to be happy
Extreme long shot of the back garden of the mansion, further reinforces the lifestyle adults lead and how it can corrupt/be impressionable upon children
Mise-en-sceneLong shot of mansion, the location gives indications of how rich the artist is. A mansion goes under the list of ‘luxurious items’
Most of the items and clothing in the house are white and gold symbolising luxury and money. It again intertwines with concept of money corrupting children and influencing their life and egos
Representations
• This video subverts to the usual hip hop video as the concept causes a change of perspective or rather a change of position/status. The children are made to act as adults to perhaps show adults the nature of there ways.
• The women in the video are particularly interesting as many audience/viewers may look at the little girls acting like grown women and feel uncomfortable, which highlights and brings to question the way grown women themselves at the time were acting and whether it’s acceptable or not especially as it will effect how the younger generation act.
