UNIT 3 Evaluation (LO3 Be able to create production materials for an original media product to a client brief)

Above me is a video that I made talking about all the equipment I use to make music. It also goes into detail about how I use this equipment and the specifics of the song Dojo. Figuring out how to use these was challenging but familiar as they are similar to the ones that are on FL. 

While I was writing the song (DOJO) I was constantly thinking about the codes and conventions of Hip-Hop music. While also thinking of ways to subvert these conventions and add themes and lyrics that are not normally featured in these songs. For example:

My product can be analysed against the voyeurism and male gaze theory of representation by Laura Mulvey (1975). This is because lyrics that link to the male gaze theory are constantly repeated as to offer a familiarity for the audience (Steve Neale's, repetition and difference theory wrote in 1995) is also used to make the song similar to other products by using subject matter and language that the target audience already know. By using (Jason Mittel's theory.) some lyrics would reference the sexualisation of women and would be very stereotypical for a rap song. 

Songs like:

-Prom Queen (smokepurpp)

-Brand new booty (Lil Gnar)

-Bih Yah (Mario Judah)

-Tie My Shoe (Ski Mask The Slump God)

These rap artists all use degrading language towards women and only talk about women through sexual connotations. However, I can't use offensive language in DOJO, so while my lyrics about women do reference sex and objectify women. I cannot swear or use language that may be too sexual in nature. This is a use of Steve Neale's genre theory relating to repetition and difference as I have used these stereotypical lyrics to make the song more familiar for the audience, while also presenting the character of Risu similar to other rappers in the industry, Such as the ones I have already stated. Plus, Loud, Smooth/Upbeat Tempos, Melodic, Catchy Choruses, and an Energetic Steady beat are all used in here to form a song that is fast paced but catchy and energetic for listeners. Some similar songs that use these conventions include:

-Let it go (Playboi Carti)

-Red Head (Cochise)

-Ski meets world (Ski Mask The Slump God) 

I did this to make my song more commercial and radio friendly which could hopefully increase my target audience and my listenership. As the more catchy the song would be the more it would be played which in turn increases the streams of the song on my Soundcloud.

Lyrics that reference pop culture are also used a lot in this song as it makes the song more relatable for the audience, as pop culture references to things like anime, TV and social media would make the song more enjoyable and help me form a personality for my songs. 

This therefore conforms to the theory of postmodernism (Baudrillard, 1981), where media texts are referenced to create meaning for the audience. It is part of the idea that nothing is new and that content is recycled. 

The use of violent lyrics relating to guns was something that I wanted to subvert and make fun of. This is shown in the lyrics: 

                                "ok I got that Mac no dell"

                                "ok just Josh en Drake Belle"

 

Which both use word play and the references to make the song more engaging for the audience

Mac = A type of gun talked about in rap 

Mac = Apple and their products 

Dell = A brand of computers so when matched with Mac it sounds like I am talking about Macintosh and Dell which are the tech brands. 

Josh en = can be a way of saying joking 

Josh en Drake = is a Disney tv show 

I also do this with drug references as they are very common within the music industry.

"She sweet codeine" which also links to the use of male gaze and voyeurism within my lyrics

Doing this subverts the very basic subject matter and converts it to give my lyrics a sense of personality and humour that could make me more like able towards my target audience. Also linking to the Genre theory by Steve Neale and how genre can have differences and be subverted from the genres stereotypes. Plus by using subject matter like violence and sex I am able to make use of generic rap lyrics and use wordplay and pop culture references to make my lyrics seem generic but have more meaning. 

This all hopefully shows how I used the codes and conventions of rap music to subvert and change them to create the song Dojo. In my opinion I think that after the song is fully finished it will sound unique and exciting for the listeners as the production uses conventions of rap through the punchy bass and energetic melody which make the song very commercial and familiar for new listeners. Also the lyrical material will make me memorable to listeners and hopefully allow the character Risu to for a relationship with my audience. I will continue to use this style in the future as I believe it can make me successful in the music industry. 

Above me is the beat and the raw vocals that are both used in the song. when listening its is very easy to hear all the sound effects that are included in the beat, and what instruments I used to create the drum pattern. 

For example:

You are able to hear the hi hat pattern which is very unnatural and bouncy. I did this to make the song easier to rap on and also to deviate from how Hi hat patterns are usually incorporated into rap song, which are very simple and sometimes boring. However, you can also hear how I used lowed bass in the song which is a stereotypical part of many rap songs. Showing how I used the repetition and difference genre theory by Steve Neale in 1995.