The document discusses codes and conventions of rap music magazines. It notes that the target audience is young males aged 16-24 who are inspired by themes of street life, money, and success. The magazines feature predominantly black male rappers depicted in ways that emphasize their toughness, wealth, and sexuality. Common magazine elements like consistent mastheads and cover lines are discussed, as well as topics typically addressed in rap lyrics like violence and objectification of women. Music videos are also said to exemplify conventions like flashy cars and revealing costumes for women.

1. Music Magazine
-Rap-
I HAVE CHOSEN RAP AS MY MUSIC MAGAZINE GENRE. MY TARGET
AUDIENCE IS YOUNG MALES AGED BETWEEN 16-24 AS I BELIEVE MOST
PEOPLE WHO LISTEN TO RAP ARE AROUND THESE AGES.
THE STYLE OF THIS MAGAZINE ARE
-COOL
-EDGY
-URBAN
-ASPIRING TO BE RICH AND SUCCESSFUL.
-SERIOUS

2. Codes and Conventions
My Rap
magazine
features
themes of:
-Violence
-Street life
-Fast cars
-Money
-Women
-Gangster:
Tattoos, toned
bodies, baggy
clothes, ‘bling’.
-Predominately
black males.
Location:
The location of many hip hop artists are within
their hometown, where they grew up, in which is
usually ghetto. They like to show what they have
come from and usually stay very close to their
roots because they all believe that the area they
grew up in made them as a person and got them
to where they are today. The area shows the
artists history, background and the struggle they
went through to get to where they are today.
Culture
The hip hop/rap has originated itself from jazz,
blues and gospel music. Now these are all
music genres that, back in the day, mainly
black people took interest in. This is why you
see so many hip hop artists and fans they like
rap. Also the lyrics depict the struggle for
young people who live in he ghetto so it would
explain the age of people who listen to rap.
Style
Throughout magazines that cover hip hop music,
they all have a reoccurring theme for their music
magazine titles. Every issue their masthead is in
the same place with the same colours and text.
This helps create a style and gives the magazine
a brand identity so over time people will know
what magazine it is because the title of it will be
the same very week. This also helps the customers
find the magazine a lot easier.
Music Topics
This genre of music is seen for its gang culture,
sex and de-moralisation of women by
showcasing them as sex objects. The artists also
rap about fast cars, being rich and killing or
threating to kill people with their guns.

3. Dr Dre ft Snoop Dogg ‘Still D.R.E’
This is a music video which proves some of the codes and conventions I mentioned earlier about rap music. The video has clear
conventions such as the stylish cars that are made to show off what the driver has, you can see that most of the male artists in the
video are rappers because of their costume, for example Snoop Dogg wears a chain around his neck and a baggy t-shirt and
joggers. These are to show of being wealthy and cool, basic costume that an artist has to match the stereotypical look of a rapper.
In addition to this, in the codes and conventions of this music genre, women are seen more sexualised, as you can see in this music
video, the women are wearing revealing costume that shows of some of their feminine features. Plus most of the frames in the video
completely cut off the head of the female so that the audience are forced to look at their breasts.

4. Codes and Conventions in other
music and regular magazines
All modern magazines, whether it’s a music or just regular magazine, all have the main following codes and conventions. There is
always one main image that takes up the whole cover and usually has the main feature of the article. Magazine front covers vary with medium
close ups or mid shots and will always directly address the audience. The masthead will have its own unique font which is only one or two words.
The masthead is also always the biggest text on the front cover of magazines because they want to have a brand identity that the audience will
get familiar with. This means that the masthead is always at the top or in the left hand corner because in our culture we read from the left across.
In addition to this the price of the issue is usually on the barcode hidden away from the audience.
Puffs are also featured in magazines, however not all magazines, the more bubbly, fun and informal types of magazine will feature these as they
look a bit tacky but offer something else with the magazine such as free giveaways.
Buzz words are usually with the main feature article, used to attract attention, eg; EXCLUSIVE, FREE, PLUS. Once again this is a common theme in a
magazine.
Cover line's are also used in some magazines, mainly music magazines to promote an artist. These lines of text on the front cover are designed to
attract the audience’s attention and make them pick the magazine up.
A strip is sometimes used in magazines across the top or bottom containing lists of items which feature in the magazine. This conveys the
magazine is full of interesting stories and the audience is getting value for money.
Colour is the main convention in every magazine, it is the biggest feature and will make or break a magazine. The magazine has to have a small
amount, but effective use of colour and have a distinctive design. The colours should match and go well together otherwise it won’t be nice fro
the target audience to view.

5. Codes and Conventions in my Magazine
 I hope to achieve most of the codes and conventions in my own rap music
magazine. My front cover will have an the artist at a mid-close up shot with a
specific costume that will help the audience become aware of what genre of
music magazine it is. The artist will also be central with text on either side and the
masthead behind his head. The masthead will also be the biggest text and the
boldest so the audience will see this first. The costume of my artist will follow the
codes and conventions of an old school rapper; hoodie, baggy bottoms, chain
around the neck, bandana and trainers. All of his costume will be black
because it is a more masculine colour and fits well with the codes and
conventions of rap music.