Pop That: A Drake Music Video Analysis
A Drake music video analysis from a feminist perspective. We discuss the misogynistic lyrics and the objectification of women in the music video.
Introduction
Drake’s “Pop That” music video was released on June 29, 2012 and features cameos from Lil Wayne, Rick Ross, and French Montana. The video was directed by Juwan Lee and shot in Miami, Florida. The video uses a split screen format to show Drake and his friends partying in a Miami nightclub.
The video begins with a close up shot of Drake’s face as he raps the opening lines of the song. The camera then zooms out to reveal that Drake is in a car with Lil Wayne and Rick Ross. The three rappers are driving through the streets of Miami and singing the chorus of the song.
The camera cuts to shots of Drake and his friends partying in a nightclub. There are dancers throughout the club dancing to the music. The camera focuses on Drake as he dances and sings along to the song.
The next scene shows Drake walking through a parking lot towards a group of people. He is carrying a bottle of champagne and is spraying it on himself while he raps. The camera then cuts to shots of Drake and his friends inside of a club surrounded by women. They are all dancing and having fun together.
The video ends with shots of Drake and his friends inside of the club as they continue to party together.
The Set
The set is simple: a dark room with a couch, a pool table and a bar. But it’s effective in setting the tone for the video. It’s gives off a luxurious, upscale vibe that reflects the rapper’s status. It also has a bit of an ominous feeling, which matches the dangerous theme of the song.
The Costumes
The costumes in “Pop That” are colorful and eye-catching. The women are wearing revealing clothing, and the men are wearing flashy suits. The colors are bright and the overall look is very sexy. This is in line with the general theme of the video, which is about parties and nightclubs. The costumes help to set the tone of the video and make it more visually interesting.
The Choreography
The entire video is one big dance sequence set to the music, with Drake and his friends dancing around a hotel suite and in an abandoned warehouse. The choreography istight, sharp and well-rehearsed, with the dancers hitting their marks perfectly in time with the music. The moves are a mix of popular street dances like the Harlem Shake and Michael Jackson’s Thriller, as well as some more traditional club moves. There’s even a bit of voguing thrown in for good measure. The whole thing comes off as effortless and natural, which is a testament to the dancers’ skills.
The Music
The song “Pop That” by Drake was released on June 5, 2012, as the lead single from his third studio album Nothing Was the Same. The song features guest vocals from Lil Wayne and French Montana, and samples “$100 Bill” by Jim Jones.
The music video for “Pop That” was released on August 6, 2012, and was directed by Colin Tilley. The video features cameos from Rick Ross, Diddy, Remy Ma, and Ashanti.
Conclusion
After analyzing the music video for “Pop That” by Drake, it is clear that the video is heavily influenced by hip-hop culture. From the clothing to the locations, everything in the video points to this genre. Additionally, the video is extremely sexually charged, with women shaking their breasts and buttocks throughout. This is likely meant to appeal to Drake’s target audience of young men. Overall, the video is a well- crafted piece that effectively promotes the song.
