Music Video Analysis: Same Drugs, God's Plan

Chance the Rapper: Same Drugs

This video uses a simple format in order to try to focus the viewers’ attention on the lyrics instead of the music video. The intro for the video shows the title of the song with drums in the background. Throughout most of the video the camera moves around the artist and the puppet. The puppet is used as a way to introduce who the other artists who feature on the record. Chance looks at the puppet when they sing, almost as if they are having a conversation, which shows that the person that he is talking to is close to him. Around 2:30, the tone changes, and snow starts to fall. We see the artist leave the piano and start singing the song standing up. This shot, accompanied by the lyrics, gives the impression he has just met the person he talks about again. We hear him ask questions as well as talk to the imaginary person in a personal way The colours change, again signaling a mood change in the video, as he walks out of the studio. As this happens we are shown side and behind shots. Some follow him while some others simply show him walking away. While walking away we hear vocals from other artists. This could be interpreted as him moving on from his past. Throughout the video the editing is simple cuts, without any flashy graphics, again trying not to take away from the music, which is the main focus of this piece. The camera work is smooth also, with slow movements, following what is happening on screen.

Drake: God’s Plan

“God’s Plan” is a feel good track that discusses Drake’s future. Being who he is in the industry, he knows that people want him to fail; however, God won’t let him do that. Another key subject of the song is the separation Drake feels that he needs to have from those outside of his inner circle. Anyone who tries to work their way into his life must have an ulterior motive to benefit themselves. The last key subject of this song is the fact that Drake is giving back to the life he had once, honoring the people and the environment he also once was in.

This video accompanies the song very well. The title, God’s Plan, almost gives the impression that he feels God has given him this life and so he feels he must give back to people that made him who he is. The start of the video explains the premise of it. He says that he gave away all of the money that was given to him for the budget. This is explained through simple text cards that tell you what the video is about. Throughout the video there are simple cuts, with no flashy transitions. We see multiple times he gives money to families, he pays for everyone’s shopping in a store, pays for college fees and gives money to other people as well. The camera work is more complex, with shots from far away placing Drake at the top of a building, while he dances during the song opening. There is a shot where the viewer sees Drake dancing with students from the Miami Frost School. He dances with them as the music cuts out for the chorus and you hear the students signing it. Throughout we also see residents if Miami smiling and also other shots of people crying after been given donations.