#107 Bilaal's Rap/ Dance Artist Analysis

To help decide how we will portray our artist, I will be analyzing two artists linked in the Rap genre which will then help us make our artist generically convincing.The two artist I will be analysing are both rap artists and have made a hard impact on the music industry, whether it was the UK alone or globally. Both occupying a catalog of music and reputation, these two artists, I believe are a good blueprint in styling our own artist in the music video.

 CHIPMUNK

Chipmunk, Chippy, Chipster, Mr Munk, Munk-E, a man of many names who's achieved overwhelming success at the just age of 20, having only just released 4 singles featuring US Stars such as Chris Brown, Keri Hilson etc. 

I chose to analyse this artist because he falls under the rap/pop genre but also his selling point, which is his age. Having won a MOBO Award at only the age of 17, he's also the role model type for younger people and upcoming artists to work hard and achieve success. By analysing the two images above, I will be able to establish the image, ideology Chipmunk appeals to the audience. 

The two tattoos on each hand say "Believe" and "Achieve" which shows what sort of character this artist has and his viewpoint in life. In the two pictures, he also seems very serious which obviously reflects on his music and success because in terms of Rap on it's down, given the history, rappers normally don't achieve success in the charts and on the streets by not taking it seriously. Considering the success, Chipmunk is probably the most criticized Artist purely because of the crossover from Grime to Pop. 

In the second picture, he has a sort of nonchalant appeal with a baby face charm, which I believe has a uniqueness when appealing to the audience, which also reflects on the crossover from Grime to Pop, he has a name such as Chipmunk but then can create a song such as "Champion", which is definitely a more mature sound one would expect from another artist. The ideology behind a young, urban artist, stereotypically, would be very limited. This is where the USP (Unique Selling Point) with Chipmunk establishes, because he's young, he has a cheeky, immature artist name, BUT he comes across as very intelligent. The first picture has a bigger meaning to it than you would expect. The two tattoos, the shiny watch and his ring, along with the England shirt, I believe represents the hard work he's worked for which amounts to success, which the England tee comes across with the football team, which he represents as a fellow England supporter but almost giving the message where "The England team should 'Believe and Achieve' and they will win the World Cup". The use of purple clothing also shows the audience this person can pull off a name such as Chipmunk, make serious, heartfelt songs and pull of purple, which the majority of his primal audience would disagree.

In conclusion, I believe Chipmunk represents hard work, diligence in work and the lavish results from working hard, which I think the label have also seen this in Chipmunk and they wish to bring this point across that with hard work, comes success, in whichever you define success.

Kanye West

Kanye West, a producer turned Rapper, has definitely booked himself as a 'legend' or 'one to remember'. A very egotistical man who has a passion for his work, whether it's creating music or presenting his new line of clothes. I chose to analyze this artist because he's a very outspoken and complex person which his work definitely captures this. 

In 2004, he released the single 'Jesus Walks' from his debut album 'The College Dropout'. The single caused slight controversy from the public as Kanye portrayed himself as Jesus, which often reflects to his viewpoint on himself, where he sees as himself a Jesus like person, where he can produce results to a level no-one has seen, that pride in his work, which the above picture shows this. It also shows the scar starting from this eyebrow down to his cheek, which shows the struggles that he's been through, as a young, black male growing up in America, the adversity he went through to being in the crowd in the Jay-Z 'Hard-Knock Life Tour' to working with the man himself and also being signed to his label 'Roc-A-Fella Records'. The colors used in that picture are brown and yellow palette which may suggest the light he shines through, the hot sun which often is reflected on as 'blood, sweat and tears', which is also shown through the sharp edged thorns on top of his head. The particular picture, being released in 2004, immediately explained to the audience and his fan base what he was about, what he represented and how he did so. I also believe, being that he is from America, the ideology behind the artist and that picture, is he's the best, he's the hardest working person and he'll come to the rescue, in terms of music, it's that pride from being born and raised in America. 

This appeals to the audience, because the artist comes across as 'the new edge', the best thing since sliced bread and the saviour of Music, rap in particular. This is ironic, because as quoted:"Darryl McDaniels of the groundbreaking hip hop group Run-DMC told TIME magazine that he had grown indifferent towards contemporary rap music and ceased listening to it until he heard "Jesus Walks"". Evidently, people are intrigued by this persona, this ego of Kanye which has accumulated to a large, loyal fan-base. 

In the very first picture, Kanye West is shown to be standing being a photoshopped background, wearing a suave, grey suit, along with a very straight face, almost looking depressed. I think, using the expression from the artist, shows the hard life from fame and power. The artist, in particular, uses his creative use to adapt his bad times and bring out his emotions using bright and sharp colors. This can also bring the message, that with "power, comes responsibility" and no-matter what happens in life, is to always make the best out of it, move on and work for what you stand for, which I think Kanye has done this. He hasn't just gone for the dull, boring, standard look, he's used the bright colors to draw attention to himself. In terms of appealing to the audience, I think the audience just don't want to see one side to a person, especially as an influence Kanye has become for some people, they would want to imagine how Kanye would react to such n such situation and by expressing yourself through certain means brings your peers, fans closer. It also allows the artist to expand his comfort zone, to experience other methods of making music and showing yourself as not only an artist, but as a regular, day-to-day person. 

In conclusion, by analyzing the two artists, I think it is important our artist is/has:

• Outspoken
• Creative by not totally following the normality
• A unique upcoming in the music industry i.e. Chipmunk's young age and Kanye's early producing tactics and his way of doing things. 
• The ability to carry his ambition to the label bosses.
• Allowing himself to be controversial and not afraid of the media's perspective.
• Create a loyal fanbase using mediums such as Twitter & Facebook. 

Following up from them points, I can firmly say the two artists I have analyzed are successful in their own terms because of what they want to represent as artists and themselves and if we want our artist to achieve anything like Chipmunk or Kanye, then the points mentioned above will ensure this, slowly but surely.