Jay Z's "99 Problems" is a song that shows his anger towards racist police, rap critics and an aggressor. The chorus line "I've got 99 problems but a bitch ain't one" suggests that he may have had women problems but he has many problems to deal with than just women. I have applied Goodwin's theory to analyse this music video.
1. Genre Characteristics
- It is shot in an urban setting. It is Brooklyn in NY where Jay Z has grown up; his 'hood'. We are drawn to the attention of the name Brooklyn when he reveals the name on his hoodie.
- Representations of a gangster lifestyle: cruising in cars, dog fights, loitering on streets, pulled over by the police, basketball, guns, criminals and money.
- Street dancing and break dancing.
- Scantily-clad 'sexy' women - cheap looking gold bikinis.
- Jail scenes - all inmates are Black
- Stereotypical race presentations - White guy in a suit, police are White but the Black are shown as bad.
- Goes against conventions of wealth in Hip-hop videos - lacks fancy cars, clothes, bling and women.
- Women are only minor - normally there are more shots of sexy women.
- Shooting at the end - reflects image of gangster cool.
2. Relationship between lyrics and visuals.
- 'From the hood' - Jay Z pulls his hood down.
- 'Radio' - image of a radio
- 'Bitch' - image of women
- 'Jay Z' - points to himself
- 'Fast Forward' - moves hand along
- 'Paparazzi' - camera flashes. Also, when criminals are getting their shots.
- Overall, the images illustrate the lyrics. Sometimes literally, sometimes they are more subtle. Theme of the song however does link into Jay Z's problems.
3. Relationship between music and visuals
- The video is cut with the beat of the song
- The music is hard hitting and aggressive. The sound is emphasised on the beat rather than the melody. The visuals are also very harsh looking and the edits are fast paced to emphasise this aggression.
4. Influence of record label and close-ups.
- Lots of shot of Jay Z however, they are not all close ups.
- Close ups of other men as well. They show them close up as aggressive looking. Shots of women are long shots and mid shots - because they're not important.
- Less emphasis on Jay Z. On his own he is an established artist and does not need as much exposure as new artists.
- Jay Z has his own record label as well as being a part of Island/Def Jam. This record label is quite independent which is shown in the video as there is less control by the record label than you might expect from a mainstream and major label.
5. Notion and Voyeurism
- Jay Z put his hand over the camera so we're looking through his fingers.
- X-ray vision shot of money in the boot- you can see through the boot.
- Scopophilic treatment of women is quite uncomfortable to watch - unnecessary
- Early establishing shots are almost point of view shots, creating the impression that the audience are looking around the hood.
- Video of Jay Z outside Subway station.
6. Intertextual references
- Possible a video of him referencing himself?
- Niche references as only his fans would understand them.
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