Weekly Blog Post 5

The aim of any type of media is to make an impression on the recipient via a variety of means including ethos, pathos, and logos. The music video for “Drive Slow” is no different. By adding the visual component to the package, the artists were able to have a greater impact on their audience and employ different techniques. The overarching theme of this music video was to have the viewer get a sense of the rappers’ pasts with the take home message that one should not rush through life. All strategies were employed; however the two prevalent themes that stood out were ethos and pathos.

Ethos usually leads to some form of pathos, so I’ll start my discussion with this topic. Most rap videos portray the artists as thuggish and masculine; “Drive Slow” is the polar opposite. Everything from the lethargic beat to the neutral clothing emphasizes an aura of relaxed contemplation. A majority of the scenes are of the rappers in their cars, keeping true to the theme of the song. Also, the cars are of an older model which tries to invoke a sense of nostalgia. During the duration of the video each rapper drives around the city observing the bright lights. The director of this video cleverly uses low camera angles to make it appear as if you looking up at the glitz and glamour of the nightlife. The name of this city is never identified, leaving some room for interpretation. This was probably done so that it can appeal to a wide audience, not just citizens of a specific city.

All these observations will eventually lead to the expression of a variety of emotions from the viewer. One possible feeling a viewer could have is awe at all the elegance of big cities. This is due to the camera shots of the flashing lights and colorful displays. This is the emotion that participants in this video felt when they were growing up. A brotherly connection is entirely possible between the viewer and the rappers due to their normal attire and brutally truthful memoirs. People from every background can relate with some part of this song; whether it be riding around with friends in the summer, searching the mall for girls, or selling dope on the corner. The goal of these superstars is to relate to their audience that at one time they were just normal teenagers for the time and locale they grew up in. Finally, some viewers may come out with the impression that they should stop worrying about fame and fortune and instead appreciate the friends they have now. This could be caused by the compilation of all the ethos factors and the meaningful lyrics.

Weekly Blog Post 4

“Drive Slow” by Kanye West, Paul Wall, GLC, and T.I. is a music video with multiple messages and contexts. The song incorporates a nostalgic form with each rapper reminiscing about their pre-fame days. One example of a double meaning is when Kanye raps “You never know homie/ might meet some hoes homie, / you need to pump your brakes/ and drive slow homie.” The literal translation is that in order to interact with a prostitute one must drive at a slower pace to attract their attention. After listening to each rapper’s tale, it becomes apparent that there is more to this song. What these lyricists really want the audience to glean from this track is that shortcuts to fame and get rich quick schemes are not worth it. Once one reaches a certain level of fame, they can never go back to their former state. This is exactly what each of these rappers has experienced; therefore, they encourage youth to enjoy their freedom and time with friends. Although rapping might be able to relocate an underprivileged civilian, the trust they shared with their friends before stardom will never be the same once they hit the big time. T.I. expresses his feelings on this subject with the lines “So I guess the moral of this here class/ is life about who make it/ not about who make it the fastest.”

This video is the opposite of a majority of popular rap songs today which glamorize physical wealth and gain. In T.I.’s verse he raps “I never thought that I’d have made it this far rappin’/ for introducing to youth to what we now call trappin’.” This shows his astoundment that he was able to make a sizable income off of rapping about his troublesome youth. This supports the underlying message to take life one step at a time. It was T.I.’s childhood problems that led him to stardom.

I feel this song is a breath of fresh air in today’s age of YouTube and other self-glorifying sites. Rappers like Soulja Boy and Bow Wow lack the life-altering experiences of more mature rappers; accordingly their songs don’t have deep meanings or intricacies. Kanye dropped out of college and T.I. sold dope as a youth. Without these hardships they would not be the people they are today or have a deep appreciation for what they have. Even though these rappers are internationally known, a part of them misses the simplicity of their teenage years where “if you had a car/ you were the Chi-town version of Baby.”