Music Video Research (The Notorious B.I.G - Sky's The Limit)

Artist: The Notorious B.I.G
Song: Sky's The Limit


Camera/Editing:
There are instant connotations of royalty even two seconds in; we are shown a close up of a Mercedes logo emphasises the luxury perhaps even suggesting that people need this level of luxury to be happy. The audience will then be surprised when the child actor (portraying Biggie, nickname) is shown as we would expect it to be Biggie himself, although the long shot of him doing an impression of "look at me, I'm rich" this concept is supported by the butler being at his side. The zoom out shot of the back garden further reinforces the lifestyle. The overall importance of the use of white and gold symbolise luxury and money, suggesting purity also as they are children. The video also includes an intertextual reference to another rapper (Busta Rhymes) even himself being portrayed as a child in one of his infamous music videos. Furthermore, the video still keeps the typical performance aspect to it as he directly looks at the camera lip-syncing the lyrics even being on stage at a point performing to an audience.
Narrative:
The children being portrayed in riches contrasts the story being told in the lyrics, the rag to riches story, although another interpretation is that it is showing their present and it being told as a look back on his life. Furthermore, the use of children could be suggested to be commentating on society as adults pass down their ideals to their children, as well as children imitating their parents and this being the result.
Conventional/Unconventional:
It follows the conventions of being about money; the lyrics being how he has earned his money and the children portraying it, the video seems like he is bragging about his riches as we are shown different scenarios of what would be higher class. However, it is unconventional as after all it is children and not themselves which seems odd but effective as it provides a commentary on society but also just a memorable video.
What works/What doesn't:
The use of children I feel works as it can be seen as comedic and shows the topic in a different light, and people may not necessarily care if it was simply them.