Music Video Analysis #2

Nicki Minaj - Superbass

This one is for the boys with the boomin' system
Top down, AC with the coolin' system
When he come up in the club, he be blazin' up
Got stacks on deck like he savin' up

And he ill, he real, he might got a deal
He pop bottles and he got the right kind of build
He cold, he dope, he might sell coke
He always in the air, but he never fly coach

He a mutha****in trip, trip, sailor of the ship, ship
When he make it drip, drip kiss him on the lip, lip
That's the kind of dude I was lookin' for
And yes you'll get slapped if you're lookin' ho

I said, excuse me you're a hell of a guy
I mean my, my, my, my you're like pelican fly
I mean, you're so shy and I'm loving your tie
You're like slicker than the guy with the thing on his eye, oh

Yes I did, yes I did
Somebody please tell him who the eff I is
I am Nicki Minaj, I mack them dudes up
Back coupes up, and chuck the deuce up

Boy you got my heartbeat runnin' away
Beating like a drum and it's coming your way
Can't you hear that boom, badoom, boom
Boom, badoom, boom bass?

He got that super bass
Boom, badoom, boom
Boom, badoom, boom bass
Yeah that's that super bass

Boom, badoom, boom
Boom, badoom, boom, he got that super bass
Boom, badoom, boom
Boom, badoom, boom, yeah that's that super bass

This one is for the boys in the Polos
Entrepreneur niggas in the moguls
He could ball with the crew, he could solo
But I think I like him better when he dolo

And I think I like him better with the fitted cap on
He ain't even gotta try to put the mac on
He just gotta give me that look, when he give me that look
Then the panties comin' off, off, unh

Excuse me, you're a hell of a guy
You know I really got a thing for American guys
I mean, sigh, sickenin' eyes
I can tell that you're in touch with your feminine side, oh

Yes I did, yes I did
Somebody please tell him who the eff I is
I am Nicki Minaj, I mack them dudes up
Back coupes up, and chuck the deuce up

Boy you got my heartbeat runnin' away
Beating like a drum and it's coming your way
Can't you hear that boom, badoom, boom
Boom, badoom, boom bass?

He got that super bass
Boom, badoom, boom
Boom, badoom, boom bass
Yeah that's that super bass

Boom, badoom, boom
Boom, badoom, boom, he got that super bass
Boom, badoom, boom
Boom, badoom, boom, yeah that's that super bass

See I need you in my life for me to stay
No, no, no, no, no I know you'll stay
No, no, no, no, no don't go away

Boy you got my heartbeat runnin' away
Don't you hear that heartbeat comin' your way?
Oh it be like, boom, badoom, boom
Boom, badoom, boom bass
Can't you hear that boom, badoom, boom
Boom, badoom, boom bass?

Boy you got my heartbeat runnin' away
Beating like a drum and it's coming your way
Can't you hear that boom, badoom, boom
Boom, badoom, boom bass?

He got that super bass
Boom, badoom, boom
Boom, badoom, boom bass
Yeah that's that super bass

Boom, badoom, boom
Boom, badoom, boom, he got that super bass
Boom, badoom, boom
Boom, badoom, boom, yeah that's that super bass


The audience of this particular music video will be both male and female fans of the hip-hop/rap genre, and particularly fans of Nicki Minaj. The music video may attract females slightly more than males, merely because it includes many aspects with a slightly more feminine feel. For example, almost all of the video features a very girly pink background. In all but one scene, Nicki herself is wearing a pink wig. Also, there are several scenes that involve topless men, which may not appeal to the majority of men. However, there are aspects of the video that will attract a male audience, which mainly includes the female dancers, and Nicki herself, all of whom wear very little throughout the video.

'Superbass' is the seventh single released from Nicki Minaj's debut album 'Pink Friday'. Nicki Minaj is a female rap/hip-hop artist signed by the independant record label 'Young Money Entertainment'. The genre of this particular song is hip-hop. Therefore, the video contains various codes and conventions for this genre.
The video begins with an extreme close-up of Nicki Minaj with her eyes shut. As the music begins, she opens her eyes, and the camera zooms in on this action. The camera then cuts to a shot of an ice sculpture. At first we are unaware as to what the ice sculpture is, but it is soon revealed to be a motorbike of some sort. Expensive vehicles are typical of the hip-hop genre and the music videos within the genre, and this is further emphasised by the ice sculpture; something which we would often relate with a high-class party, associated with someone who is fairly well off in terms of their money. Also in terms of vehicles, the camera also cuts to a shot of a pink, convertible and clearly expensive car. Not only does this relate to the genre, it also relates to the lyrics as Nicki sings ‘top down, AC with the cooling system’ over this particular shot. We also see a shot of a pink plane. The next cut is to an extreme close-up of a stack of dollar notes, which increases along with the beat of the music. The camera also cuts to a shot of a pink champagne bottle within a wine cooler, surrounded by pink champagne glasses. Each of these shots show wealth and represent an outgoing lifestyle. The dominant pink colour of each of these shots emphasise Nicki’s feminine attitude towards rap music; a world which is predominantly full of male artists. This is also portrayed through Nicki’s styling, as she wears a pink, zebra print body suit, a pink wig and bright yellow eye shadow. In most male hip-hop artists’ videos, attractive women dominate the camera, and so in Nicki’s video, her video is dominated by toned, attractive men. As the song is fairly upbeat with a club-worthy rhythm, the video shows a number of girls alongside Nicki performing a dance routine, which is often typical of this type of upbeat, high tempo song. All of the girls within this routine are wearing the same outfit, and the same pink wig. Nicki is centred within the line of girls. As they perform the routine, the camera cuts to a low shot, looking upwards towards Nicki; this camera angle makes her seem dominant and powerful. As the music continues we see a scene involving a group of topless males and a pool filled with pink water. Nicki enters the pool wearing a green swim suit and a green wig; resembling a mermaid. Being the only girl within this scene, surrounded by males, Nicki somehow remains dominant. Whilst in the pool, she holds a champagne glass full of a pink liquid, which she throws over one of the males, almost establishing her power. Nicki is then seen by herself again, performing the song to the camera whilst sitting upon the motorbike ice sculpture that we saw in a previous scene. Within this shot, flashing lights surround Nicki, making it seem as though she is being photographed; her body language also reflects this. The final scene shows Nicki and her dancers performing a routine around a group of males sitting in chairs. They are in the dark apart from the U.V. light shining on each of them, making their white clothing and bright makeup almost glow in the dark; this represents a nightclub feel, where people dance in the ultraviolet light, perhaps with glow sticks. The final scene is of Nicki and one male, who is a wearing a large chain around his neck that has engraved the letters 'S.B.' for 'SuperBass'. Nicki holds up his chain as the music fades out.

This particular music video is largely performance based, and therefore lacks a storyline. It mostly features Nicki performing the lyrics to the camera in various different settings and outfits. The video is very colourful, reflecting the upbeat and positive nature of the song. The video reflects the lyrics being sang by Nicki; for example, when Nicki sings ‘…and I’m loving your tie’ she is standing beside a male in an expensive looking suit, and grabs his tie.