MellowHype - 64

Genre Characteristics

'64' is a horror-rap song by alternative Hip-Hop duo MellowHype, the genre's characteristics are shown in a number of ways in the video. Hip-Hop has traditionally focused largely on religion, one artist who focused a lot of their music around religion and has been seen as a pioneer in Hip-Hop was Tupac (Makaveli), songs such as 'Hail Mary' and 'Ghetto Gospel' are examples. At the beginning of this song however, Left Brain is seen tearing out a page from the Bible to roll a joint and smoke it, this is a large characteristic of Alternative Hip-Hop as it completely disregards the conventions of traditional Hip-Hop and rebels against it. There is one part of the video which does preview characteristics of traditional Hip-Hop when Left Brain is on a drum kit, an instrument which has been used for years to create Hip-Hop music and was the main influence of the creation of 'Boom Bap', a popular style of Hip-Hop. The Horror-Rap genre of the song is shown many times throughout the video, one example is the duo member Hodgy Beats lying in a coffin at the front of a church which appears to be holding a funeral. He is wearing contact lenses for shock value while he raps aggressively at the camera, while draped in snakes. Also during the video, a possessed girl similar to that from the horror film ' The Exorcist' crawls through the isle towards Hodgy Beats in the coffin, adding to the horror of the video.

Relationship between lyrics and visuals

A lot of Hodgy Beats' lyrics are linked with the visuals. The first instance is when he mentions 'camera surveillance' and 'stun guns', first a camera surveillance effect is placed onto the video while Hodgy Beats physicalizes a camera lense with his hands, then he is seen holding a plastic gun after mentioning the second lyric quoted. Another lyric which links with the visuals is 'I'm rehearsing for my funeral', this is a clear link with the visuals as a funeral is the focus of the video. Hodgy Beats also mentions 'Wolves' numerous times during the song, this links with the visuals as there are people dressed in wolf costumes, and also the artists themselves who belong to Hip-Hop collective OFWGKTA (Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All).

Relationship between music and visuals

The music and beat used for the song link with the visuals. A chilling synth is used throughout the song which is suitable for the visuals and content in the video, focusing on death and funerals. Another link with the music and visuals is the aggressiveness of the beat, aggression is shown throughout the video. The duo move frantically are seen screaming and shouting a lot and an overall element of chaos is created in the video, Hodgy Beats in one instance also kicks the wall. Another part of the music which has a link with the visuals is the moment a wolf cry is heard, this links with the wolves in the video and again the name of the duo's collective they belong to; OFWGKTA.

Further Analysis

'64' is a concept-based music video, as there is no structured storyline. The video includes close ups and star motifs, specifically the close-ups of Hodgy Beats. There is a number of close-ups shots throughout the video of Hodgy Beats draped in snakes, as he stares intimidatingly at the camera with spooky contant lenses. These close-ups can be seen as star motifs as it shows the OFWGKTA member looking terrifying, which is the sort of reputation the LA Hip-Hop collective are intentionally building. There is also an intertextual reference in the video, a certain shot of Tyler, The Creator's dangling legs. Tyler, The Creator is the frontman and most speculated member of OFWGKTA, in his video 'Yonkers', the video ends with him stepping onto a stool with a rope and noose above his head and hanging himself where his legs are then seen dangling and squirming until they stop moving. MellowHype's '64' references this in it's music video, with the use of a similar shot.