This document discusses how the media product, a magazine called "REAL RAP", uses and develops conventions of real rap magazines. It summarizes the design elements and conventions used for different sections of the magazine, including the masthead taking inspiration from XXL magazine, using a medium close-up shot of the artist off-center on the cover consistent with other rap magazines, incorporating simple clothing styles representative of rap culture worn by the artist, using a plain color background common in rap magazines, featuring a black male artist typical of the genre, and employing the language and layout conventions seen across rap magazine contents pages and double page spreads.

1. In what ways does your media product use, develop or
challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

2. Masthead
I decided to call my magazine ‘REAL RAP’ in order to suit my target audience
and the rap genre. I have noticed that the word ‘real’ is often incorporated with
the younger generation of today and rap in terms of the ‘realist rapper’. For my
target audience, (aged 16-19) they are extremely interested in the concept of
everything real. Factors such as friendships, garments (designer brands),
reality…
In terms of the design, my masthead was heavily inspired by the XXL magazine.
As you can see on the top right hand side, the masthead for XXL consists of a
wob against a red background. I have identified the similar style being applied
to various music magazines across a variety of music genres such as NME
(alternative music genre). Magazines such as XXL and NME are simply initials of
the actual magazine. In order to make mine differ from the rest, I haven’t
included initials for my magazine – I’ve left the letters as full words of the
magazine. This is part of the unique selling point for the magazine.
As you may notice, the most visible word on the masthead is the word real
which is the main word of the magazine. The word rap is an additional word to
justify the genre of the magazine. Making one word bigger than the other will
be actually what it will be recognised as since young people often shorten
things .
I personally believe that the combination is affective because the significant
word ‘real’ stands out extremely well to catch viewers eyes. If I was to improve/
try a different combination such as using initials to address the magazine, it
would probably fit in more but I like the way of it consisting of full words.

3. Mise-en-scene
Mise-en-scene is the most crucial part of justifying a magazines properties. I will be
discussing positioning, clothing and items under this topic.
As you may notice, I have shown a variety of different rap/ hip hop magazines with similar
facial shots. I liked the idea of a medium close up being my main image for my front cover.
This is because I wanted to show the facial expressions of the artist. I personally believe
that medium close up shots of models are vital because the model alone can compliment
the magazines purpose. For justifying the rap genre, the artists usually have emotionless
facial expressions which supports the medium close up shot. It is also seen in a variety of
magazines that medium close up shots are either off centre or centre located. At first, I
experimented with the position of the artist being in the centre. I felt that it limits the
amount of text on both sides. I then changed the artist off centre to create uneven space
for both sides. I felt it looked better.
From looking at the clothing items that artists wear in real rap/ hip hop magazines, they
wear simple but stylish clothing to represent rap culture. Here is an example, Kendrick
Lamar for the XXL magazine who wears a basic plain tee shirt which has made a result into
the clothing item that the artist is wearing for my product. You may notice that the artist
on the XXL magazine is wearing a cap and my artist isn’t, this is because I have noticed that
not all rappers on the front cover of magazines are wearing some sort of hat. On the right
hand side, the artist is not wearing a hat and represents rap/ hip hop culture. Following
on to my contents page, it shows a clear presentation of what the artist is wearing from
head to toe. He is wearing a t-shirt, straight fit jeans and huarache Nike trainers. Huarache
style trainers are the latest fashion which are referred as ‘fresh kicks’. This simply
compliments the rap and hip hop culture.

4. Background
In order for my magazine to suit the rap genre magazine industry, I analysed the most frequent
colours used. I had noticed that the background in rap magazine genres differ from other genres
massively. Other than rap, other genres usually have a busy background however, rap have a basic
background. Either a complete plain coloured or a gradient effect background. I personally think
these are basic background styles but in order to suit and fit in with the genre I would need to
included it in my magazine. I had also noticed that the most frequent colours used are either, white,
black or red. These colours also apply to double page spreads of the rap genre too which I had also
incorporated in my product.
People
The page titled ‘Conventions of rap magazines’ helped me justify the people that I should use for my
magazine to make the genre clear to identify. I had noticed that the majority of rap magazines
consisted of black males and a small amount of white men. Well known white male rappers are only
visible on rap magazines because they are known for being part of the genre for a long period of
time. I have given an example on the right of a well rapper called Eminem who has been a rapper for
many years. He has been on many different rap magazines. Take a look at vibe magazine on the right.
Viewers already know who Eminem is which compliments the genre well. I wanted to follow the
typical characters used in rap magazines so I decided to include a black male for my product.

5. Written content
The written aspects included in my product all obeyed the conventions of the rap genre. I used a specific
language in order for my target audience to engage into to make them feel that they are part of the
magazine. I had physically analysed a few double page spreads in the XXL magazine. I identified a few
inappropriate words such as ‘sh*t’ and ‘fu**’ but as the entire word. I incorporated these words into my
double page spread. These words was not seen on the front cover or the contents page. I had to avoid this
type of language being on those pages because it would intimidate people out of my target audience.
Content Page Layout
Across the entire rap/ hip hop genre of magazines, I had noticed that they all had similar styles. It has a
distinctive style which no other genre has. On the right is a variety of different rap contents pages. They have
limited amount of text and images to not confuse viewers. I had also incorporated this into my contents
page.
The text in the contents pages are all listed on one side and are mostly on one page. I had noticed that
sometimes, XXL would only have their contents page on one page and some issues would have two contents
pages. The contents which was distributed on two pages would have one page of male/s and the other page
of a woman who is seen to be wearing sexual clothing. These contents pages would be names ‘the A- side’
and ‘the B-side’. The content page of XXL that had one page would be named ‘top billin’ or ‘doin’ lines’ which
didn’t have any women on. I wanted to make sure that the images used were appropriate for my target
audience. I therefore didn't distribute my contents page on two pages because I felt that a woman being on
one of them would make my audience be disturbed by the content because they are barely mature at their
particular age.