In 2017 after the release of Danny Brown's critically acclaimed 2016 album 'Atrocity Exhibition', Ain't It Funny was released as a single from the album. It is directed by Jonah Hill... yes the actor, this is one of his first directorial credits, before stepping in the world of directing films and other music videos for some of the biggest artists in the world.
The video of Ain't It Funny parodies the average 80s American sitcom, of the golden age. Filled with laugh tracks, family drama and a recurring catchphrases. Danny being stuck in the middle of this, feels like his life is a joke. He is in desperate need of seeking help, yet his cries for help are drowned out by the laugh track of audience, who just sees it as a joke.
The video is a hybrid of performance and narrative, displaying Danny lip syncing to the lyrics, while also being interrupted by moments of dialog, and the reactions of the audience watching the sitcom. Within the song Danny raps about the danger of the drugs, and his self destructive nature, and his addiction, which it is represented in the video with subtitles of dialog by the cast. Danny is repeatedly expressing his addiction and how he needs help. The only person that acknowledges his pain is his sister in the music video, quoting 'Stop watching Tv and pay attention to Danny's illness'. Which is ignored with more laughing at him, even Danny tells the audience to 'please stop laughing', expressing how throughout Danny's career he's rapped about the problems he's about with addiction, and how his fans just see as entertainment and not a cry for help. Which is represented by audience and constant laughing and cheering.
During the midpoint of the video, it takes a gory turn, which isn't too unpredictable due to the surreal and creepy tone the video starts with and how dark the actual song and Danny's music catalogue are. The gory turn shows the Mother and Sister in a bed sitting either side of Danny, dead and covered in blood. This shows Danny's chaotic nature and how drugs lead to a path of death as above their bodies, two life-size mascots of drugs. Danny in video says to the drugs 'you guys are my only friends, I need you', showing Danny dependency on drugs and he seeks comfort from them. The mascot then replies 'We will kill you and everyone you love' before getting stabbed by them, emphasising how you may seek an escape through dangerous drugs, they will always harm you and everyone around you.
The frantic nature of Jonah Hill's directing with the fast cuts of the dead bodies, the audience's reactions and the Danny's rapping segments, match the song's chaotic, and fast instrumental and rapping, creating an overwhelming feeling you get while watching the video. However we do get a break in the song with a scene of Danny talking to 'Dad' played by the legendary director Gus Van Sant. Danny tells him how he's been destroyed and so he must destroy, playing into Danny's self destructive nature, which is then again dismissed by the kid with his catchphrase 'Oh Danny'.
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