Music Video: Common - Letter to the Free

Work through the following tasks to create a comprehensive case study for Common's Letter to the Free. Read this Billboard interview where Common talks about Letter to the Free, political hip-hop and contemporary American society. 


Social and cultural context

1) What other projects has Common been involved in?
Common, a black American, hip hop recording artist, actor, poet, and film producer, was also the voice behind the soundtrack of Selma (2015). Selma is a 2014 historical drama film directed by Ava DuVernay and written by Paul Webb. It is based on the 1965 Selma to Montgomery voting rights marches led by James Bevel, Hosea Williams, Martin Luther King, Jr. and John Lewis. (Wiki) 

He worked alongside John Legend, a black American singer and songwriter, to produce a powerful song 'Glory'. "Glory" refers to the 2014 Ferguson protests and earned a Golden Globe for Best Original Song and an Academy Award for Best Original Song. (wiki)

2) What is the 13th Amendment of the American Constitution?
The 13th Amendment was a new law passed by Congress on January 31, 1865, and ratified on December 6, 1865. It abolished slavery in the United States and provides that "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction". This meant that there were loopholes that effectively enabled the continued enslavement of Black Americans through mass imprisonment. 

3) What were the Black Codes?
The black codes were laws passed by Southern states in 1865 and 1866 in the United States after the American Civil War with the intent of restricting African Americans' freedom, and of compelling them to work in a labour economy based on low wages or debt. This was as punishment for petty crimes that in reality only applied to the newly emancipated black slaves.

4) Why do people suggest that the legacy of slavery is still a crucial aspect to American culture 150 years after it was abolished by the 13th Amendment?
There are many people living in America who had or have ancestors that were affected by slavery. Therefore, they still feel connected to the event even though it was 150 years ago. Furthermore, the effects of slavery seem to be still present in our culture today. For example, there is still a large amount of racism in America that is affecting black people dramatically. The case of Eric Garner, who was essentially choked to death by a police officer for no reason, is just one example of the many disheartening cases happening right now in America.

5) Why was Ava DuVernay inspired to make the Netflix documentary 13th?
She was inspired to make the Netflix documentary 13th because she noticed that there is a higher proportion of African-Americans in prison than white Americans. With this fact in mind, she wanted to explore the history of racial inequality in the United States.

6) Focusing on genre, what was the most significant time period for the rise in political hip-hop?
The late 80s and early 90s was the most significant time period for the rise in political hip-hop because of the fact that it was a reflective movement of black empowerment, black love and consciousness.

7) Common talks about other current artists that have a political or protest element to their music. Who are they? Are there any other hip-hop artists that you are aware of that have a strong political element to their work?
Kendrick Lamar and Chance [the Rapper] are two examples of hip-hop artists that have a strong political element to their music. Eminem and Ice Cube also contribute to this genre,

8) What album is Letter to the Free taken from? What was the critical reception for this album? You'll need to research this - the Wikipedia entry for the album is a good place to start.

The song was part of the album 'Black America Again'. The album received huge critical acclaim widespread. The album received an average score of 88/100, based on 13 reviews (Metacritic). Andy Kellman of AllMusic said, "All that's here, dark or bright, is vital." and Greg Kot of Chicago Tribune said it was "One of the year's most potent protest albums."

Close-textual analysis and representation

Re-watch the music video several times to complete the following tasks in specific detail:

1) How does the Letter to the Free music video use cinematography to create meanings for the audience? (Camera shots and movement).
The music video for Letter to the Free has broken traditional music video conventions because of the fact that the whole music video is shot in long shots. From this, the audience can straight away establish that this is not a typical song made for the sole purpose of entertainment, but it has an ulterior motive. There is a lot of free space between different people and there are not many props used which highlights how little black people have when they don't have freedom. The use of empty space illustrates how, ultimately, the performers are disconnected and isolated but it is the music that brings them together.

The camera movement itself is at a slow pace throughout the whole video. This is perhaps to indicate to the audience that this is a serious topic that needs to be thought about deeply and is quite contemplative. It can also symbolise the passing of time, where many centuries have passed but there seems to be no improvement for the equality or justice of black people.

The music video is more focused on arts, culture and musicianship rather than focusing on looks which challenges the traditional conventions of music videos, where characters (specifically women) are fetishised and sexualised.

2) What is the significance of the constantly moving camera?
Constantly moving the camera illustrates to the audience the ongoing struggle that black people have faced in the last 150 years. It shows how there is constant uncertainty regarding the justice of black people.

3) Why is the video in black and white?
Black and white have connotations of the past which is when events like the 19th-century slavery, the civil rights in the 1960s and other events took place. Therefore the music video could be trying to reference those events that have, ultimately, shaped our present today. It could also be a way of sending a subtle message that they are trapped in the past as it also creates quite a depressing tone. 

The use of black and white is also a way to underline the serious subject and its importance. It creates a simple visual which allows the audience to focus on the lyrics and the message of the song.

4) How is mise-en-scene used to construct meaning for the audience - prison setting, costume, props, lighting, actor placement?
The use of the prison setting is a reference to the incarceration of black people and it is also a way of showing how trapped they feel when they are meant to be in a 'free country'.

The use of low lighting reflects the serious tone of the song. There are very simple visuals, costume and props used in order to keep the attention on the song and the lyrics.

5) Focusing on the track, what are the key lyrics that suggest the political message of the song?

"For now we know, the new Jim Crow" - Reference to the anti-black Jim Crow laws of 1877 and the mid-1960s. Suggests that this has returned in a new form.

"Slavery's still alive, check amendment 13" - The 13th amendment didn't change a thing, perhaps it was only a way of containing black people who had gained the confidence to speak up and protest for their rights.

"Shot me with your ray-gun, And now you want to trump me" - Reference to Ronald Reagan and Donald Trump. Suggests that they are both the same and that Trump is reverting back to an old, outdated mentality. 

6) What is the significance of the floating black square motif?
The floating black square could be symbolic of black people. The audience witnesses the journey of the black square- from being inside a cell to leaving the cell, then to finally ending up outside in freedom. At 0.36, the black square is juxtaposed with "no excessive noise" in the background and this is a representation of black people speaking out for their rights. Interestingly though, the black square was floating throughout the whole video apart from the end when it was free. This could perhaps suggest that we only truly become free after we die (as the black square was on the ground). 

7) How does the video reference racism, slavery and the oppression of black culture? Make reference to specific shots, scenes or moments in the video.

• The "No excessive noise" on the wall
• The use of prison cells
• The use of low lighting and backlight that hides Common's face

8) How can Gilroy's idea of black diasporic identity be applied to Common's Letter to the Free?
The idea that black people don't know where they belong anymore. Letter to the free shows this as the black square is left in an open field at the end so this could symbolise how it has no home.

9) What other theories of race and ethnicity can be applied to this video? E.g. Hall, Rose or Dyson.
Rose suggested that hip-hop initially gave audiences an insight into the lives of young, black, urban Americans and also gave them a voice (including empowering female artists). Letter to the free does this.

10) What current events in America and worldwide are referenced in the song and video?

• Donald Trump
• Racism against black people