This document analyzes and compares the costumes, settings, and props used in four music videos representing different genres: UK hip-hop, grime, and alternative R&B/hip-hop. For each video, the costumes worn relate to the genre and location depicted. Settings are typically the artist's home borough or neighborhood. Props featured commonly include cars, alcohol, and flashy jewelry for hip-hop, and fewer materialistic props for grime and R&B. Overall, the document finds costumes and settings in music videos generally reinforce genre conventions and stereotypes while props are used to portray the artist's personality and success.

1. Costume Prop Setting

2. Baseman & Shocktown –
New Wavin
RAP/HIP-HOP GENRE

3.  (Costume):I noticed that in this particular music video only one
costumes was worn throughout which was casual designer consisting
of t-shirts/shirts, jeans and caps, also there were gold jewelry this is a
trend in videos of this genre as it represents their ability to afford
luxury items and still wear it casually in their urban area. These
costumes stay consistent throughout the verses and chorus which
would lead the audience to believe that they're dressed for every
occasion and always look their best. We also see his friends wearing
t-shirts with a self made brand which solely supports the artist

4.  (2 Settings): The external location was set in the area local to the
main artists being the borough they’re from, whilst the internal was
a city pent house which links with the genre as UK hip-hop/rap as
these artist do usually like to show that they come from rough
areas but can party in luxury when necessary which relates to the
lyrics as they are expressing how they grew up as bad guys but
also bring the good times

5.  (Props): Conventionally we would expect to see girls, alcohol,
flashy jewelry/accessories, also cars and motorbikes all mentioned
are found in this song. The alcohol was shown in the penthouse
scenes whilst with reference to girls in the lyrics we would usually
see some scenes of women that would support Laura Mulvey’s
theory of women being the servers of men.

6. Skepta-Shutdown
GRIME

7.  (Costume): 2 Costume changes the first is all white tracksuit for
Skepta and some others whilst most other wear all black tracksuits
which links with the grime genre which is urban based and full of
stereotypes including gang like behaviour, tracksuits and hoodies
this is seen throughout verse 1 and the chorus whereas in verse
two we change to everyone in all black tracksuits. Caps are seen
regularly also with covered faces this relates back to the location
which resembles flats which a pinnacle location for grime

8.  (Setting): Two locations are used one is a popular brutalist type
building which resemble counsel house estates which is where
grime was partially born this relates to the costume as people from
estates are stereotyped to wear tracksuits. The next location is
what seems to be a dark rooftop which links to the all black attire
they're wearing

9.  (Props):Not many props are used in this video other than a subtly
flashy car which is not unusual to both the genre and the artist as
Skepta has on many occasions let it be known that he's no longer
very materialistic and this is not an issue for a grime track as this
genre is very much about using your environment to your
advantage

10. Bryson Tiller- Sorry not sorry
ALT. RNB/HIP-HOP

11.  (Costume): One costume is used however in other scenes he
changes it up by removing some items which is very plain and
casual. Just a cap with a P on in which can be assumed to be him
representing his hometown a plaid shirt one chain and jeans this
does not relate this genre typically as these artists are particularly
flashy in videos. The video is set in a town so his casual attire is
not out of place however his lyrics do not go on to further justify his
costume.

12.  (Setting): Throughout the video he seems to walking through an
empty town which to a British viewer is not well known the setting
however does link to the costume because he seems to just being
himself a very casual average Joe, this could be a successful way
to brand an artist as the audience will be able to generalise
themselves with him. Parts of the chorus is set within a car which
is a popular prop for this genre. The second verse is performed in
a darker location

13.  (Props):The video contains very view genre specific props but
ones which I can notify are the most popular from the Alternative
Rnb & hip-hop genre which is car, motorbike, and one chain. Other
props consist of a lighter and a mattress this video in my opinion is
disjunctured so these props not relating to the lyrics are not
surprising

14.  From the music videos I've seen the amount of costume changes are
never more than two however this my may not be able to be
generalised to female artists.
 The Uk Hip-Hop genre seems to be most flamboyant genre in terms
of style and costumes as they wear many chains and designer where
as grime and Rnb we’re more subtle and casual with their attire.
 Grime videos are very conventional and haven't really changed over
the years they are usually set outside and in the near an estate or in
the local area, and stereotypically the Rnb video should be the binary
opposite however Bryson Tiller’s video resembles that of a UK hip
hop video as he also makes a video in an area which can I assume is
his home town like done in the baseman video.
 The props used in the genres I’ve analysed are generally used to
amplify the success of the artist and also helps the audience to
establish the personality of the artist the more materialistic props an
artist has leads them to believe that they’re flashy and maybe
successful whereas the less materialist seem down to earth.