Music Video: Common - Letter to the Free

Social and cultural context

Common has been involved in a project with John Legend in which these two successful artists wrote Glory as the soundtrack for Selma. Selma was a 2014 film portraying the 1965 Selma to Montgomery marches, a key moment in the Civil Rights Movement

The 13th Amendment of the American Constitution was passed on January 31 1865 and it was to abolish slavery in the United States and provides that neither slavery nor involuntary servitude shall exist in the US.

The Black Codes were laws in the Southern states that had an intent of restricting African American's freedom to ensure their availability as a cheap labour force after slavery was abolished during the Civil War

People suggest that the legacy of slavery is still a crucial aspect of American culture 150 years after it was abolished by the 13th Amendment. This is because a lot of sacrifices were made to reach that point. Countless fighting and lives taken resulted in the 13th amendment, this should not be forgotten.

Ava DuVernay was inspired to make the Netflix documentary 13th to inform others and make them aware of the injustice that black people faced.

The most significant time period for the rise of political hip hop was in the late 80's early 90's as around this time music was reflective of black empowering movements and black love. 

Many artists have followed the theme of having political or protests elements to their music. Common mentions artists like Kendrick Lamar and Chance the Rapper. 

Letter to the Free is taken from the album 'Black America Again' which was critically acclaimed and had reviews from Chicago Tribute which stated 'one of the year's most potent protest albums.

Close-textual analysis and representation

Letter to the free doesn't necessarily follow all the standard conventions of a hip hop music video but that is what makes this music video stand out. Although there is not a blatant narrative the video, the lyrics and the setting create a story for the viewers to follow along. In this case, the 'narrative' is the true and relatable events that occur in a black individuals life.  Long shots are commonly seen within this music video. This deliberate use of this shot is to present to the viewer the stretched, never-ending halls. The lack of colour demonstrates the isolation and dullness of prisons.

The camera constantly moves throughout this video, although the moments are slow, there is never a moment where the flow never comes to a halt. Thus reflects the consistent and ongoing movement of black people to reach true freedom and equality. 

The use of black and white could be used to make a political or aesthetic point. It could also suggest the connection to history, in which in this case is the history of black people fighting from freedom. 

Mise-en-scene & meanings:

Mise-en-scene is used to construct meaning into the audience. The music video is set in a prison. This choice of setting was strategically put in place to reflect the oppression that black people face. The prison could also link to the mass incarceration of black people in the United States 

The lyrics play a key role in demonstrating the intention of this song and the meaning behind it, a few lyrics, in particular, that does this is: 

• "Slavery's still alive, check amendment 13, Not whips and chains, all subliminal." In this line, Common addresses the 13th amendment, he states that even though the 13th amendment was passed, black people still face oppression within society. It is not as direct as 'whips and chains' but is still shown with institutionalised racism.
• "Since slave days separating, fathers from children, Institution ain't just a building But a method, of having black and brown bodies fill them" In this line, Common touches on the topic of the justice system mass imprisonment of black individuals.

The floating black square could represent black people and their journey to freedom at it moves around the prison
.

The music video references racism and oppression. The scenes in shot in the prison make a link to the oppression that black people face 

Gilroy's idea of black diasporic identity can be applied to Common's Letter to the Free. In the lyrics, common mentions how the prisons are a tool to keep 'black and brown' people divided separated from the outside world. This links to Gilroy's theory as it shows an example of black people feeling as if they cannot fit into western countries without being made to feel different 

Rose's theory can also be applied to Common's Letter to the Free. Roses theory suggests that hip hop gives audiences an insight into young black people's lives. Common's Letter to the Free offers views an understanding of the issues that black people truly face. 

Common includes many political and non-political events that are occurring in America, currently. One noticeable event that he mentions is Donald Trump's campaign to build the wall.