




T.I. released a new single in 2016 named “Warzone”, which describes the recent violence in society between cops and innocent civilians. Racism is approaching an all time high and with the effective use of being such an icon for so many people, T.I. released a head turning music video that sent a message to all the viewers of the problems surrounding racism. The music video visually displays the most controversial violent acts committed by cops throughout the last couple years, followed by the saying, “hands up can’t breathe”.  At 1:57 in the music video, T.I. is sitting on top of the police car with a crime scene in the background. This screenshot contains multiple visual symbols and is a perfect summary of what the entire music video is all about.

The music video for the song, “Warzone” is all about showing the violent acts on the African American community within the last couple years. The video shows the unwarranted assault on the African American community. It also shows the oppression and suppression of their views, and cultural ideals by law enforcement. The hat being blurred out shows the oppression and the inability to show off their wants and creativity. T.I. also sits there and watches all of the police brutality occur almost like America watching from their own comfort.

T.I. constructed the ultimate message within this screenshot with many visual symbols throughout. Visually the screenshot at 1:57 displays a teen on the ground, shot dead, with his toy gun laying next to him. It also shows a crime scene with the caution tape letting those around know that there is an ongoing investigation. Caution tape is a universal symbol for a crime scene and is used in the music video to show the viewers the presence of a crime scene. Also the location of the crime is an important part of the video and sends a message. The teen in the screenshot was shot dead in a park, which typically resembles innocence, due to the fact that normally a park tends to be flooded with young kids who haven’t yet faced the harsh realities of the society that we live in. This particular part of the music video is very visually effective, and conveys many of the points that T.I. is trying to make aware to his viewers.

Another part of this screenshot that is important is that the victim of this crime is a young kid. Kids usually are a symbol of innocence and to have a kid being shot by law enforcement sends a strong message. It is almost as if the police are killing the innocence of society and taking it away from the youth. The African American community has stressed their feelings of oppression and the inability to display their cultural views for years. In the screenshot you can see that the logo on T.I.’s hat is blurred out, depicting these feelings of oppression that their community deals with on an everyday basis. 

The visual text does a comprehensive job at not only showing one of the crimes committed with many other symbols added in, but also nicely ties back into the overall theme of the music video. The theme of the music video is to spread awareness of the random acts of violence by law enforcement which is perfectly done through this screenshot of an innocent kid laying dead on the ground in the park due to a violent attack from the police. 

T.I. ends his music video with a powerful quote, “The new racism, is to deny that racism exists” (T.I. Warzone). T.I. leaves everyone that watches his music video with this thought to allow his viewers to attempt at making a difference. To deny racism exists nowadays is unintelligent, and being unaware of your surroundings since racism has reached a climax with all of the riots and shootings that happen everyday. 

In the final analysis, the screenshot from, “Warzone”, by T.I., sends an effective message to its viewers about the pain and destruction that unwarranted violence from law enforcement can cause. Recently the violence going on throughout the country has far surpassed a manageable state; therefore, T.I. decided to get involved vocalizing his thoughts and ideas on the subject. In doing so, he brought many of the problems and specific cases of violence to the viewer’s attention, allowing them to visualize what has been going on. The video and song itself was a bold move and could have back fired on T.I., but he delivered the message that the general public so desperately needed.


