This document discusses the genres of hip hop/rap music. It provides definitions of hip hop and rap, which both originated from black American culture. Examples are given of stereotypical rap album covers that feature artists informally dressed, showing tattoos and association with violence. Key components of original hip hop culture are described, noting the genres now focus more on money, women and crime in lyrics rather than break dancing and graffiti. Conventions of hip hop/rap outlined include discussing those three topics as well as stereotypical visual representations including tattoos and jewelry.

1. Genre of my magazine
Hip hop/Rap
Oscar Lannon

2. Genre definitions
Hip Hop: Hip hop is a style of popular
music of US black and Hispanic origin,
featuring rap with an electronic backing.
Rap: Rap is a type of popular music of US
black origin in which words are recited
rapidly and rhythmically over an
instrumental backing.

3. Examples of Hip hop &
Rap
This example is of the rap artist
named THE GAME. In this close
up, his many tattoos are visible
and he’s holding a gun to his
head. Stereotypically many
rappers such as THE GAME are
associated with gangs, violence
and crime.
On this cover of VIBE
magazine featuring 50
Cent, has him wearing a
chain and no top. This like
on the first example plays
to the stereotype
associated with rappers.
These two magazines both have an African
American on the cover, both of which have
tattoos. Both artists are informally dressed.
‘THE GAME’ is in a tank top and 50 Cent is
topless. Guns & crime are often mentioned in
rap and THE GAME is holding one to his
head.

4. Key components
Hip hop culture was originally defined by four
main stylistic elements:
MC/rapping, DJ/scratching, break dancing and
graffiti
Hip hop now though really only has rapping or
singing over a beat. Instead of the graffiti & break
dancing that was commonly associated with the
genre, there is more of an emphasis on women and
money.

5. Conventions
Conventions for hip-hop & rap include:
• Often nowadays rappers rap about 3 things:
- Women – more often than not rap now, talks about
women in a derogatory manor.
- Money – Many rap artist’s brag about how wealthy
they are now. Originally rap was exclusively about
getting a meaningful message across.
- Crime – Rappers tend to mention current crime or
the hardship they came from.

6. Stereotypical
representations
Tattoos
Jewelry – chains/watches/rings/grills/piercings
African American
Confrontational

7. What will you have to include in your
production to be successful?
To be successful in the production of my magazine I
will need to include:
Artists for my magazine that fit genre
stereotypes.
The right clothing/props