2142
Image: Joe Plumb (@joeplumb_)
‘Can’t really guarantee I’ll be a good girl’, sings A.GIRL, perched upon a basketball ring amidst a montage of scenes from her local neighbourhood. The video for her latest single 2142 pays homage to the trials and triumphs of life in the West, all while dealing with recurring stereotypes in an authentic fashion. Atop a heavy, boom-bap influenced track, A.GIRL provides a perfect visual accompaniment for her love letter to Granville.
Perhaps the most significant influence on the video is the West Coast rap of yesteryear, evidenced by the recurring sirens, television cut-scenes, and red-blue nails. It’s no coincidence that a ‘Straight Outta Compton’ sweatshirt and Ice Cube tee make their way into the background on occasion. Many of the wardrobe choices cry nostalgia, but of a different kind. Retro hoodies and graphics are interspersed with local scenery. The tinted shades adorning various figures speak of an era long gone, but one meshed with the present. The inspiration is, however, executed with taste. This is A.GIRL’s take on the struggles of her own area.
Singing with the windows down, she makes it clear that the streets of Granville are very much her own. The video switches tastefully to retro film and back, juxtaposing the sincerity of A.GIRL’s lyrics with playful vignettes of basketballers and bike-riders alike.
Image: Joe Plumb (@joeplumb_)
Perhaps my favourite part is when Elijah Yo sits patiently while his hair is braided. Maybe it’s the feel of the scene; despite the critical nature of the video, A.GIRL still has time to be a normal kid. She almost seems like a different person when brandishing the blue flare later on, perhaps an indication of how Granville has caused a separation in her identity.
Reminiscent of artists such as N.W.A. and Public Enemy, A.GIRL takes a very candid approach in engaging with her environment. The close-ups of local residents are raw, and at times, humorous. The faces we see propose a completely different reality to the televised news report, reiterating this idea of contrast.
Image: Joe Plumb (@joeplumb_)
Filmed by Joe Plumb (@joeplumb_) from South of Home Creative, the video truly taps into the artistic ability of the Western Sydney scene. Polished and professional, the video stands as a testament to the talent in our own backyards. 2142 stands as one of the finest representations of Western Sydney suburbia. With another single that dropped on August 23rd, A.GIRL is set to champion the newest wave of local R&B.
