Mercy (Explicit) by Kanye West Big Sean, Pusha T and 2 Chainz

Mercy is a 2011 American Hip Hop song by Kanye West Big Sean, Pusha T and 2 Chainz. The song does not have one artist titled specifically to the song through it being part of GOOD Music Record Label’s compilation album, although the record label was founded by Kanye West meaning he is the main artist of the track.

The song carries an unconventional music video through it all being done in long shot in a wide frame. The camera tracks each artist of the video rapping without much going on behind except a Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 in what appears to be a car park. The music video also promotes the artists in Kanye West label by having all the artists in the song appearing plus cameo appearance from other artist on the record label including Kid Cudi, Cyhi the Prynce, Hit-Boy, D’banj and Mr Hudson. This connotes how music videos are used to promote the artists material and record label, making people go and listen to songs by the other artists in the video such as Pusha T and Big Sean who are rising stars and not at the same level as Kanye West.

One key aspect of this music video that relates to what I want to do is the song being entirely done in black and white. This is done to make the music video have a far more darker setting, as although some car parks can look dark, most of them have nothing really mysterious are notable that would make people want to shoot a music video inside. This can be related back to my music video through shooting mine in a forest won’t give the music video a dark setting compared to a gloomy scary place such as an abandoned building through a forest being colourful and with bright colours. The black and white can connote to the audience emotion of a far more darker setting through all colour has being taken away from the setting, and give the songs a darker feel.

The music video is done in a wide frame with the camera not changing shots once. This is very unconventional to a music video through it normally being done with lots of quick shots. Although the song itself does not have a fast beat, the rapping does increase the tempo, however the camera still doesn’t change. Instead the long take enables the artist to show the audience what their style of rapping and appearance is, and with so many cameos and rapper in the song, the audience won’t get bored of the song.

In conclusion, the music video is useful to my work in showing me what black and white can do to a music video and the idea of having longer shots in the take, Although there is no narrative or story, I can still incorporate the long takes if it works well with the whole music video.

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