Will Abbott

A$AP Rocky is an American rapper and producer from Manhattan, New York who is known for being part of the A$AP Mob collective. Over his career he has released one debut mixtape Live. Love. A$AP (2011), two studio albums Long. Live. A$AP (2013) and At. Long. Last. A$AP (2015) as well as heavy input in the A$AP Mob mixtape Lords Never Worry (2012). Additionally A$AP Rocky directs his own music videos which have led to many awards and nominations in the process.

 

L$D was a single released from A$AP Rocky’s second studio album, At. Long. Last. A$AP (2015) with the music video being shortly released after on the 19th May 2015. The meaning of the title L$D abbreviates Love, Sex, Dreams as the visuals of the music video are supposed to mimic the effects of psychedelics. The result of the videos success got it a nomination within the Best Music Video category at the 58th Annual Grammy Awards.

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From analysing L$D it is shown to follow a psychedelic fantasy in which A$AP Rocky himself plays the main character. The story line of the music video follows Rocky as he embarks on a psychedelic experience/journey through the night time streets and high end night clubs of Tokyo. In terms of the structure of the story line it is fairly basic as it follows Rocky’s journey across Tokyo with his female companion.

 

Sound

Apart from the standard dialogue of A$AP Rocky rapping across the course of the music video a range of sound effects are used above the soundtrack. For example at the very start the diegetic sound of a cigarette reducing is added over to go with the visual of A$AP Rocky smoking. Shortly following that heavy inhaling and exhaling is added in a non-diegetic format as Rocky is walking along the Tokyo streets. Additionally Rocky’s footsteps are echoed as he is walking along to add further emphasis upon the psychedelic feel in which the video aims to create.

 

Editing

In terms of the editing within L$D it tends to flow really well with the structure of the song, however at the same time it manages to demonstrate that psychedelic feel in which is something that it plays a key part in due to the uses of various  techniques, transitions and paces throughout the duration of the music video. Additionally the editing techniques used upon the visuals really emphasise that psychedelic feel that is being portrayed by the use of saturation upon props and transitions. Furthermore editing techniques such as the enhanced glowing visuals upon brightly coloured props like the Japanese lantern and car headlight also further the psychedelic emphasis that is being portrayed as they are typical visuals when under the influence of psychedelics. Along with this a black fade in and out is used to represent the going in out of consciousness, another effect of being under the influence of psychedelics.

 

During the music video a wide range of different transitions are used to vary the different frames from one another and once again further that psychedelic experience in which the music video aims to mimic. For example numerous saturating transitions are used during the music video, examples of these include the glass of vodka, vending machine and car headlight saturating transitions. Additionally fading transitions are used along with a spinning transitions specifically used during a major change of setting from the inside of a room to the night time Tokyo streets outside and again from the Tokyo streets to the Tokyo rooftops.

 

 Relating to the pace of the editing it takes a slow and chilled route through the majority of the song as the song is a slow beat and relaxing song, therefore the frames are longer than a typical video of that genre. However between the 1:50 and 1:54 mark of the song the editing pace increases as they frames get shorter to match the temporal change in the song pace. Additionally slo-motion is also used during the start of music video as the camera tracks along with Rocky walking down the Tokyo streets.

 

Mise En Scene

Through analysing the mise en scene of L$D it is obvious that numerous settings are established over the length of the music video. Those include a dark lit hazy bedroom seen at the very start of the music video, the densely populated night time streets of Tokyo and the Tokyo rooftop as well as a high end Tokyo night club featured towards the end of the music video. In terms of the costume within the music video Rocky changes outfit twice, both outfits being similar style outfits consisting of high end fashion branded track jackets, over coats, black jeans and boots with plenty of jewellery such as rings, chains and gold grills to compliment the look. Furthermore Rocky’s female companion I see witnessed sporting a similar look with a high end designer over coat and jeans with a gold necklace and earrings.

 

Due to the music video being set during the night time the lighting mainly consists of artificial lighting, specifically from chandeliers giving off a range of flashing/flickering bright vivid colours to enhance the psychedelic feel in which the music video is portraying. Additionally more artificial lighting is used on top of that in the form of glowing red lights that fade in out over the course of the video, these once again are added in to add to that psychedelic feel being portrayed through to the audience. During L$D a range of props are also used to contribute within the music video, these consist of many chandeliers used in the night club, a smoke machine used to smoke out the bedroom setting at the start of the music video and also lots of different glass mirrors used for Rocky to rap and look into within the high end night club scene of the music video.

 

Camera Shots, Angles & Movement

From analysing L$D it is understood that a numerous different types of camera shots, angles and movement are used. Relating to the camera shots used within L$D Rocky is shot throughout the video between a medium shot and a close up, with the camera usually zooming in-between the two, establishing shots are typically used at the start of each new setting to distinguish it towards the audience, allowing them to have an idea of the surrounding scenery. Furthermore a POV shot is used throughout the music video to give the viewers an enhanced experience of being under the effects of psychedelics. With the camera angles a selection is used all varying from one another, examples of this include the low angle shots used to capture Rocky’s boots as the camera tracks along and the Tokyo skyline from the street as well as the high angle shots used to capture Rocky laying face up on a bed at the start of the music video.

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Linking to the camera movement within L$D pans are used to further distinguish the surrounding scenery, tilts are also used throughout the music video going upwards and downwards either between transitions, to establish the skyline scenery or to go from one prop to another. A zoom is also used consistently throughout to change the type of shot such as zooming on Rocky to a close up from a medium shot. Also a focus pull is included between Rocky and the chandelier during the night club scene.