Two Liberian hip-hop videos, released within two months of each other, portray strikingly different themes of Liberian life. The first is by Christoph the Change, whose video accompaniment to his song, “Call Me Your Pa,” displays a flashy, luxurious side of an upper class life in Liberia. On the contrary, the music video to “Woomii” by Bucky Raw incorporates African tribal imagery, portrays poverty, and shows general egalitarianism. This blog post will juxtapose the two videos, and analyze their differences.
Cristoph the Change and Bucky Raw are both prominent Liberian hip-hop artists. Additionally, both men make trapco style hip-hop. They squared off recently, engaging in a longstanding feud accompanied by diss tracks. This feud makes this analysis more significant, as both proclaim themselves to be the kings of trapco. So how do their videos compare?
The “Call Me Your Pa” video begins in front of a large brick house, with several individuals in the shot speaking on cell phones. The scene changes to Christoph the Change alternating between lounging on a white SUV parked in an intersection, and a room with his entourage drinking Ciroc. He brandishes a wad of American dollars throughout the video. His lyrics are a self promotion, declaring that “he gave birth to the game,” and to “call me your pa.” The video is an homage to that of many southern American trap artists, who brandish their gold chains, and flaunt wealth with their followers.
Bucky Raw’s “Woomii” video is the polar opposite. The setting changes between a desolate warehouse, to a room full of barrels, to Bucky Raw running through a slum accompanied by a crowd of Liberians. Bucky Raw is dressed modestly, donning a white t-shirt with the word “Raw” plastered across the front. Unlike Christoph the Change, Bucky Raw is looking to make a relatable song, while the former presents a fantasy lifestyle for the majority of Liberians.