Eminem - Not Afraid (Rap Video Analysis)

Video :https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5-yKhDd64s

Lyrics: http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/eminem/notafraid.html

Analysis: 

• Uses direct adress to engage his audience via lyrics and video - "Come take my hand" whilst pointing to the camera. Also says "Holla if you feel like youve been down the same road", connecting to his fans/audience, unlike many other rappers who rap about their audiences ambitions/aspirations, eg. Cars, money, glamorous lifestyle.
• Acts as a superhero in part of the video to show connotations of strength, power and being unstoppable in relation to the songs topic. (overcoming drug addiction)
• Violence and aggression are shown just like stereotypical rap videos, although to represent the depth and meaning in the lyrics and the emotion he feels about his words.
• His body language also supports the passion for his lyrics, shows enthusiasm and the fact that he is not creating a persona solely for a video.
• There are no conventional props of a rap video featured in this (chains, cars, money, baggy clothes etc.) No rap signifiers worn during the video.
• The video for 'Not Afraid' is not a staged studio based video as he is using the video as a mode of address to get across the 'real' feeling he wants to portray. This also contradicts rap stereotypes.
• In the lyrics, Eminem refers to his old music as "ehhh", which supports the fact that there are no sexualised women featured in the video (as there was a lot of sexualisation featured in the videos from his old albums).
• The atmosphere in the video is very grungy/non saturated, which depicts the mood of the audience and also pinpoints the songs tone. The video later gets brighter to represent 'seeing light at the end of the tunnel' in terms of his recovery from drugs. 
• Running past mirrors in the video signifies that Eminem is running away from his subconcious/old self. Breaking through them also is a signifier to support the idea that he is breaking away from his old self and becoming a new person.
• Lyrics and video cleverly link by saying "facing my demons" and featuring Eminem running past mirrors which reflect him as a ghost/demon.
• The first 3 lines of the song suggest that 'haters' turned him to drugs and ruined his music/career.