Typical CD covers

As within this project we also have to make CD covers and promotional posters for our band, we looked at the different types for the hip-hop genre, looking at what works to make a CD look appealing to the type of people who will be buying it.

                                                    

After looking at these types of covers, we saw that there were key differences with the American and English rappers. As seen with the music videos too, because the American rappers have a more expensive and flashy videos, whereas, English rappers videos can seem more real, yet with elements of wealth sometime showing. A clear CD cover showing this is the 50cent cover, with the Gucci designer clothes, the 'bling' and bullet holes. In contrast with the minimilstic, yet effective Wretch32 cover. Plain background, black and white colours making his face stand out much more

With our CD cover we wanted to combine both aspects, but to focus on his upper body and face and for wealth to show through the clothes. We would also edit the cover so we would have a unique view. 



                   

   

                 

    

Storyboarding

After a few meetings with Blaze Boy to figure out what we would want to do, we started storyboaring, and this is what we came up with:
 

         #2 - this shot is in the introduction to the song, focusing on blaze boy getting out of the car in the carpark.

#4- this shot is going to be filmed from high angle, of Shay dancing with the cars in the background.

                                                       

#5- the shot then will change to a low angle of Blaze Boy rapping with the dancers and cars in the back ground.

#6- and then to a mid shot of Blaze Boy with dancers in the background.

#7-then the location changes to the subway with a long anle shot of Blaze Boy (rapping) walking through the subway (tracking shot)

#8- then again swithes to a long shot of people dancing back in the carpark.

#9- Long shot to mid shot of Blaze Boy in the car with his friend driving (location, town centre)

                       #10- this shot is a mid shot of Blaze Boy, with people in the background edited by speeding their movements up, practise will be needed for Blaze Boy to mime the worlds slow enough.

                                       

#11- this shot is a mid shot of Blaze Boy in the white studio, sat in a red chair with two dancers at either side.

                  
                              #12- same shot as the last but the scene changes to the black studio, colour of the clothes changes.
                                               

#13- this shot will be a long shot of Blaze Boy and his friend, walking by the viaduct (tracking shot)

#14- Close up on Blaze Boy's face from the side, again by the viaduct.

#15- this shot again follows on at the viaduct with Blaze Boy and his friend walking out of the cameras view.

                                                                       

       #16- Then the shot follow with a mid shot tracking shot of Blaze Boy walking through the club into the piano bar. 

                                                                          
  

   #17- mid shot of Blaze Boy sat on a settee at the club with girls on either side.

#18- Close up on Blaze Boy ending the rap and the video

                                                                               

Track Choice & Lyrics

Obviously the track was written by Blaze Boy 'Don't be foolish, listen'

Here's the song and lyrics:

 

Song Lyrics

{verse 1}
hiya                                                   
lemme remind ya
I think u look a bit tired
I got a $ sign on my cap so money is always on my head
spending ur hating its real stupid
Only jus cos im dominating
Tryna play me but u cant like most pple cant play chess
When it comes to my mates I always check mate, b4 u find urself on an nhs bed
When they back stab
Catch me in burnley , doing my fing risin
Nice and steady
Lesson for the younger one,
Stay in school and study.
Wish I could stay but sorry im in a hurry
Busy tryna chase that money
{verse 2}
Steady tryna get it
But this game got me thinking
Is it really worth it
Cos its taking ages
But they say practise makes perfect
That’s why u might have seen me on your pages
Or heard me on your local radio
But bro its not all glitz and glam
I been through a lot though
N I all I do is learn
Cos life is a learning curve
As well as a long journey
Wells it’s a good job I brought a spare wheel with me
Do whatever needs be
Im a shoulda to whoever needs me
I aint going back to Africa 4 the
Im jus going back for the place
Theres nothing like race we all equal
Black Asian white
Word of advice u lookin foolish
{verse 3}
Theres light at the end
After every single storm, theres a brighter a day
Yes If u feeling low u know where to go
Jus press play and listen to me
blaze boy aka Adriano
the big fish in a small pond
well the other rappers are erm
lemme see
the fishes in a toilet pot
u know why cos they the poo poo
evry thing u do aint real
im realer than silver and gold
im iller than a sick patient with
if u didn’t know my name is blaze
jus tryna be me
evrythin is a ritano
dnt worty about my voice
my accent, im not
if u don’t like me u must be foolish
{verse 4}
I pray to Christ
That everyday all I ever do is rise
And never let my enemies get the better of me
Cos were im from theres no such thing as gravity
Yess let let me be
I never let me my haters get above me
N I pray that I never get over confident arrogant big headed
Until my head blows up like them bombs in Afghanistan
I don’t think anybody understands
Above the money the girls the fame the cars
I do this cos I love it
And I aint never gonna sale my soul to the masons
Send them a straight message
I don’t need no body to make me big
I don’t need no helping hands im my own manufactor

More good news...

After the news about the cars, one of our friends has a cousin who is the manager of a local club 'Posh' and has agreed we can film a clip out of our music video! Again linking in with the theme for our music video.

                                                               

Location Hunting

Possible locations:

• Car park
• Graffitied areas
• Town centre
• Streets
• Studio
• Industrial

We think that all of these locations would fit in with the hip-hop genre.

Pictures

                                                                 Car Park scene

                                          
                                              Could use this location at night with people around
                                         
                               
                                          

Track Permissions

Lucky for us, Blaze Boy writes and produces his own music, so this means that we don't have to write to a band or singer for the rights to use their song. Again makes our video unique and never done before.

Blaze Boy:

Inspirational videos

Although we had looked at a few current hip-hop videos, we needed to research more to get a broader view and some different aspects, the three videos that inspired us the most to get our final plan for the video were:

Wretch 32 feat. Example : 'Unorthodox': http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LysZJBo2HI4 

N-dubz: 'I need you': http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nxq-wCf5G8o 

Tinchy Stryder feat. N-dubz: 'Number One':  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tc7W8Q-g9Lg

Our group wanted to combine the three, but obviously different and
 unique!

                                                           

Preperation for making our video

                                        

When we were planning our video, we looked at other videos like;

http://www.virginmedia.com/music/video/player/tinchy-stryder/you're-not-alone/60418378001/#vid-60418378001
http://www.virginmedia.com/music/video/player/n-dubz/playing-with-fire/60246204001/#vid-60246204001
These videos gave us some ideas on locations like car parks, and a graffittied subway, as these scenes fit alongside the type of artist Blaze Boy is.

This is because, we wanted an urban British feel to our video, yet for it to be a bit 'flashy'. So when Blaze Boy told us he had a friend who owned some sports cars, because obviously not having a budget we could have never afforded them.

                                         

Early days of planning

When Blaze Boy first agreed to work with our group, we had various meetings to brainstorm ideas, as Blaze Boy would preform better for us if he was interested in what we were doing. He was very eager to work!

Some examples from our brainstorming.

http://www.reverbnation.com/blazeboy - this is also Blaze Boy's website with examples of his music, pictures, comments from fans.

Examples of hip hop rappers

There was a clear link between Blaze Boy and other English rappers, with a much more grime feel, than other American rappers. Some examples like Blaze Boy are, Dappy, Tinchy Stryder, Chipmunk. And so we thought that it would be good to research these rappers and their videos to get some inspiration for what would work with Blaze Boy.