This document analyzes magazine covers and content pages from hip hop magazines like XXL and Vibe. Some key conventions highlighted include featuring artists prominently on covers using poses that convey power and aggression. Color schemes commonly use red, black, and white. Content pages list articles in sections and prominently feature the cover story. Artists are often depicted wearing urban fashion styles associated with hip hop. Imagery and layout aim to represent and appeal to the hip hop audience and culture.

1. Analyzing magazine covers

3. Costume: Conventional
‘rapper’ clothes have
been used amplifying
his character.
Colours: Red has ben
used for the most
important features
of the cover, the
name of the artist
and the magazine
name. The black and
white photo makes
the red stand out
more and enhances
the artists ‘angry’
pose.
Content: A famous
quote has been used,
rhetorical questions
used to make you
want to look through
the magazine to find
the answer.
No back ground to make the
artist the center of attention
Other featured
artists seem to
be drowned
out because of
the smaller
font size
Direct address, angry NVC makes an intense
personal situation added by how the masthead is
behind the artist

4. Direct address with minimal NVC is conventional to
Rap artists, it connotes a ‘bad boy’ look.
Having the artist in
front of the
masthead seems to
be conventional to
Hip-Hop magazines,
this creates a sense
of connection with
the artist
Chains seem to be
conventional to the
artists look
The aesthetically pleasing
colour theme seems to be
conventional to rap and
hip-hop magazines. This
could be what colours the
audience finds most
pleasing.
Different fonts and
font sizes have been
used to promote the
more information
more clearly.
What looks like hand
writing makes the
artist come back to
life because the
magazine is a tribute.
Famous words by the
artist seem to b
conventional to rap
magazines

5. Mise En Scene: On this XXL magazine cover they have a long shot
picture of a well-known hip hop artist called T.I. As rapper T.I. is featured
on the front cover its telling that he is the main story in this
magazine. This long shot was used to show the audience what he is
wearing and his urban clothing style. Also this shot draws attention to
the readers because rapper T.I. is looking down at the camera, which
gives the readers and the magazine contact. Also because the picture
was taken from the bottom it makes T.I. look more superior on this
picture. Rapper T.I ‘s posing makes him look confident and superior with
the photo shot. He is wearing a dark blue shirt with baggy denim jeans
which most urban artist wear to represent the hip-hop clothing style it
also stands out from the background image. On top of T.I’s picture it
says in white writing ‘T.I. On Top Of The World’ this makes him look very
powerful along with his facial expression where he has risen both of his
eyebrows in an aggressive way which makes him look harsh but
represents the hip hop/r&b genre. Also it shows that T.I. is the main
story in the magazine. At the bottom left of the front cover it has the
barcode and the price of the magazine in small format because the
magazine is expensive. However this way music magazine are able to
increase their sales.
LOGO: the masthead on this magazine is very large and bold which gets the readers attention. The colour they have used
for the masthead is very bold and catchy because they used red and white. The colour red they used is strong and
powerful masculine it usually means energizing a situation also it is promoting ambition and determination. Also using
white colour for ‘XXL’ makes the masthead stand out even further because white is a calm colour and that being on top of
red shows that the magazine is very powerful for the hip hop culture.

6. Other backgrounds: Behind rapper T.I. there is a mansion and car, were you
can’t see the car but only the front part and only a bit of the mansion. The
suggests that hip hop artists like having mansions and the car looks like a
racing car, most hip hop/r&b artist do enjoy having a lot of racing cars. It is
also influencing the readers of this magazine like young urban followers to
have a nice car and a house if they work hard like this rapper because most
hip hop followers know about this specific rapper T.I. and how he got this
successful in life. This magazine looks expensive because all the expensive
car and mansion it shows at the background. Also this magazine is not just
targeted at male followers because ‘XXL’ do have female rappers like Nicki
Minaj, Ciara, and Keri Hilson etc. at the front of the covers, however male
gender are the main target audience for this magazine because even though
there are female rappers XXL tent to use male quite often on
their magazine.
Tone: The overall tone of this page is mature and calm. They have
used variety of colours that represent the hip-hop culture. This
magazine front cover will help me when I get to do my music
magazine because I follow the hip-hop culture and it gave me ideas
on how I want my pictures shot taken and types of colours and font I
want mine to be. ‘XXL’ is the main magazine that I will be focusing on
for my research. Overall I think that this front cover is attractive and
can be easily identifies which genre it is by the reader.
When researching the 'XXL' magazine I have noticed that within their front covers, the artists that are featured
on the magazine use similar poses. Most of them have a harsh look on their face, to portray fierceness. These
other XXL magazine front covers are different compared to the one I chose, as the other ones have a close up
and mid shot. Also the other front covers for XXL magazine are covered with either a close up or mid-shot of the
hip hop artists.

7. Magazine Content Page

8. The right side is divided into six
parts: News, Reviews, Radar,
Live, Features and Plus. Page
numbers are next to the article
as this helps the reader find
what they are looking for the
features on the contents page
would show what’s on the
front cover and where to find
it. This is a basic convention to
content pages.
The right hand side of the page is filled with a list
of sub-headings which helps the reader navigate
around the magazine and find the information
they’re most interested in faster. Inside the sub-headings.
This is conventional to most magazines.
One of the things that gives
a magazine its brand identity
is the colours theme. Here is
the colour theme for this
and most music magazines
because of the aesthetic
qualities; Red, white, black.
Another thing that gives the
magazine a brand identity is
the typography used. The text
through out is the same, using
the same font throughout, but
only changing the colours and
font sizes.
A convention this content
page follows is that the
biggest image relates to the
one on the content page,
and the cover story has its
own section, which links to
the image. The image is a
long-shop of the band
A subscription option is always performing.
advertised on the content page,
in yellow that stands out clearly in
the page because they want
viewers to subscribe.

9. Conventional colours
theme seem from rap
magazine covers, with the
red, black and white.
This content page is hard to
navigate. The page numbers
aren’t in order and it has
minimal subheading.
The transparent red isn’t only
visually pleasing but also helps
the text stand out more.
Direct address and an angry NVC
again make this content page
conventional
Magazine name visible
Low key lighting adds to
the artists perception of
being a ‘thug’
Close up of the artist makes his NVC more
The source has a unique look
and feel through colours and
font also with their minimal
layout style.
Plain background important to the viewer
makes the artist the
center of attention

10. VIBE magazine log, also
includes the issue of the
magazine below it.
The title ‘Content’ has been
placed in unique way, this is
shown through out VIBE
making it like a signiture for
the company. The use of
white text makes the title
contrast with the dark red
background
The title features is a curved fancy
test. Connoting money and wealth.
This is conventional to Hip Hop
magazines
The background is a dark
red to red gradient. This
makes the Hip Hop artist
stand out even more. It
also makes the spotlight
on him, showing that he
is the main focus on the
content page. The ‘V’ for
VIBE is in a darker red in
the background
constantly promoting the
magazine. Making VIBE
symbolic
Subheadings located in capitals to make it
easier for the reader to find what they are
looking for
Top less rapper to show body tattoos. This suggests
that tattoos are a strong part of the Hip Hop
stereotype. Amplified by the jewelry which Is also
conventional to this genre

11. Double page spread

12. The double page spread denotes a central figure (male rapper Nas) looking directly into
the camera. It is a medium close-up shot revealing his arms, shoulders, body and head
with his waist downwards not visible in the shot. The background (which occupies one
page and half a page) appears to be denoting gym and boxing equipment such as:
punch bags, gym mats and weight machines.
The magazine has been
divides using the rule of
three. This is used to
direct the audience to
key features. For
example the left side
directs you to the
artists face, and the
right directs you to the
writing.
The artists name is in
a different font to
stand out and also
helps to amplify the
genres style.
An extract from the artists interview is shown in a different font to stand
out and makes it more realistic that he said that because they have used
the same font as they have for his name in the top right.

13. The colours used for this DPS are unconventional for a Hip Hop
magazine. A conventional magazine colours would be black, red,
and white.
A bold has been used to promote the
more important information. Also black
boxes have been used.
A minimalist style has been used that
appeals to the audience making the
information easier to read.
Plain white
background
making the
artist the center
of attention
Direct mode of address is conventional to the genre. This creates
a personal connection with the artist, it also adds to the
stereotype of rap artists being dominant.
Artists name
promoted in
white, same
as the
background.
It adds an
artistic feel
and look
amplified by
the
minimalistic
feel. The
connotes the
Jay-Z’s music
as artistic.

14. A silhouette picture in the back
ground of the page is of the artist
performing. The blue doesn't
compliment the colour scheme used
through out making the image stand
out even though its small.
The main article is put
into conventional
columns simply
because its easier for
the audience to read,
and its more
aesthetically pleasing.
A gold and white has
been used for the
interview, this helps
the reader to
understand quickly
what the artist has
said. It also follows
the theme
throughout.
Pull quote: the large distractive font has been used
because it help the audience see key features. Also
the colours of the main parts that promote the
artists positively have been changed to white, for the
same reason as the main article.
The background is a basic, solid black- this has
been done so the colour of the text will be
more visible and easier to read for the
audience. It gives the page a professional look
and helps promote important information and
make the photos seem more welcome.
The main image is
a centralized mid
shot of the artist
on the left page ,
making him the
main focus as you
take a first glance.
The colour scheme of the
double page spread is
basic and complimented
by the artists clothing
being white, gold and
black.