Mood Board

50 Cent - Window Shopper

50 Cent – Window Shopper

Producer: C.Styles, Sire
Released December 2005

This music video by 50 Cent was released to coincide with the film ‘Get Rich or Die Tryin’’ which was his first feature film based on his life in which he starred. There are two versions of this music video; one which contains clips from the film to promote the film and a longer version which features 50 Cent trying to understand what a French man is trying to say as he tries to sell him trainers. It was the first song from the soundtrack that was released in the UK but was unsuccessful as were other singles from the soundtrack. It marks a point in 50 Cent’s career as he turned from rapper to actor.

The video takes the form of performance and narrative and uses codes and conventions that are typically used in hip-hop/rap videos which are shots of girls dancing provocatively, flashy cars and trainers, close ups so the audience can be voyeuristic and a affluent setting, as music videos are aspirational. The video is primarily about how 50 Cent and his friends were from a poor background but now they are so rich that they can afford to buy items that are overpriced such as a $75 milkshake.
The beginning of the music video is a clip from the film which builds the narrative, showing how poor 50 Cent was and how he could only ‘window shop’. His friend gives him motivation by saying that one day he will be able to afford to buy those trainers and everything else he wants. The trainers are a signature of 50 Cent as they are regularly featured in his other music videos and are an icon of power in the rap industry. He also has his own brand of trainers.

The music video conforms to Goodwin’s theory as there is a relationship between the visuals of the music video and the meaning of the song as the setting is in Monaco which is an affluent place which fits what the music video is trying to say: 50 Cent is rich and can afford whatever he wants, amplifying the lyrics. Another iconic symbol of rap music videos is used, as there is an extremely expensive car, which is also featured in his other music videos. When the audience watches this music video, they will admire 50 Cent from having nothing to working hard and pursuing his dream to get what he wants, but they will also be envious which is what the lyrics are saying, showing a link between the visuals and the lyrics.
The close ups used of 50 Cent is a way for the audience to be voyeuristic which agrees with Goodwin’s theory and get to know 50 Cent by getting up close and seeing his reactions to his lifestyle. This creates fandom as record labels want to inspire loyal fans, which requires ‘contact’ with the star. The video does not have much action in it but is just of 50 Cent and his friends and how they are buying anything they want such as stopping a high-status lady in the street to buy her $1million ring. There are constant references to money and by having text stating the cost of things, like in the MasterCard adverts, it is reinforcing the point that he is very rich. The music video takes a form of money, fast cars and girls, which is typical of a rap video.

The performance side of the video is of 50 Cent standing in front of a big house, again referring to how much money he has. The clothes he is wearing is typical of a rap music video. These are predominantly designer clothes – jeans, jackets and bright white trainers. The jewellery that he is wearing also reminds the audience of how rich he is. The constant references to the amount of money he has refers to the title of his film ‘Get Rich or Die Tryin’’ which can be seen as a negative outlook on things, promoting his fans to turn to crime to get money to be powerful. The other performance is of him and his friend in his car. The camera movement mirrors the movement of 50 Cent in his car.
50 Cent is with his ‘gang’ which again is typical of a rap video. It is representing him as popular and how people want to be him and want to be friends with him, as his fans would be. This is a contrast to the beginning where he had nothing and he was not surrounded by anyone. By having a scene where he stands with men in suits, shows how 50 Cent and his friends are just as powerful as these men. Later in the music video there are women and again follows the typical from of a rap music video. Money and women are significant in what 50 Cent raps about in this song and are featured in the music video. By being surrounded by women, it again refers to how powerful 50 Cent is and how he can get anyone and anything he wants. There is a scene in the music video when a girl kisses 50 Cent’s friend after he buys her something suggesting that she is with him because of his money. Slow motion is used so that the audience takes notice of 50 Cent.
When 50 Cent and his friends spit out champagnes it suggests two things; that they are not use to this kind of lifestyle or that they are very rich that they can waste expensive items. The editing is slow which mirrors the slow pace of the song and the music video. The video uses dissolves which give a gentle pace to the music video which is a contrast to his usual fast paced songs. The colour of the video is sharper to enhance the visuals of the video and to make the location look appealing to the audience.

Lillix - Sweet Temptation

When you're wakin' in the morning,
What do you hear? What do you hear?
When you're lookin' in the mirror,
Who do you fear? Who do you fear?
No, don't walk away from talkin', falling behind inside.

When you listen to their echo,
Who do you hear? Who do you hear?
When you're playin' in their playground,
What do you fear? What do you fear?
No, it's only yourself you're mocking, finding the truth inside.

One, two, three, four, get your feet on the floor.
Everybody be it like down to the core.
Alright, alright, yeah, heard it before.
Give into the sweet temptation!

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Lies inside the hollow
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
You don't have to...

Follow, follow, follow, follow.

Look into the television, starin' at me, starin' at me.
Maybe it's my conscience calling, what does it mean? Who should I be?
No, it's only yourself you're mocking, finding the truth inside.

One, two, three, four, get your feet on the floor.
Everybody be it like down to the core.
Alright, alright, yeah I've heard it before.
Give into the sweet temptation!

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Lies inside the hollow
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
You don't have to...

Follow... follow... follow... follow...
follow... follow... follow... follow...

One... two... three... four...
One... two... three... four...
One... two... three...

One, two, three, four, get your feet on the floor.
Everybody be it likr down to the core.
Alright, alright, yeah I've heard it before.
Give into the sweet temptation!

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Lies inside the hollow
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
You don't have to...

One, two, three, four, get your feet on the floor.
Lies inside the hollow...
Alright, alright, yeah I've heard it before.
Give into the sweet temptation!