2. My Genre: Hip Hop/RnB
I have chosen the genre Hip Hop and RnB, this genre fits within teenagers and young adults aged 16-25 as
they are more open to explicit language and portrayals. Hip-Hop and RnB has been around for a long time
and it seems, it is the most popular genre in todays generation as todays most popular artist such as Drake
produce Hip-hop/RnB music. I chose this genre because this is the type of music I listen to therefore, I have
an interest in it and this research topic will hopefully enlighten me on the genre.
In my research, I have mostly focused on Hip-Hop as I believe that it has the most interesting history and
this research will help me later on when making my own music magazine. My music magazine will
predominantly be based on Hip Hop however, I do want my magazine to have a RnB vibe so It will not be all
rap/Hip Hop. Furthermore, I will analyse and compare music magazine that already exist this will inspire
me and give me an understanding on what I will need to include in my music magazine.
3. The American music and entertainment magazine “vibe” was founded by producer Quincy Jones.The first launch was in 1993
with partnershipTimInc However, in summer 2009 the production was shut andVibe was purchased by the private equity
investment fund InterMedia Partners, since 2014 the magazine is an online only magazine which is issued semi-monthly with
double covers, with a larger online presence.
The magazine's target demographic is predominantly young, urban followers of hip-hop culture as the publication is mainly
Hip-hop and RnB artist such as Kanye west,Jhene Aiko,usher and Janet Jackson.
Vibe Magazine Case Study
Quincy Jones, the founder ofVibe
VibeVixen Magazine was a female
gathered magazine that reached out to
“urban minded female” covering
fashion,beauty,entertainment,dating and
societal issues.VibeVixen was released in
fall of 2004 and sales were successful
however, in August/September 2007 issue
had to be folded due to low circulation.The
publications included female
artists/celebrities such as Ciara,LaLa
Anthony and Lauren London.
VibeVixen
In May 2015, Vibe expanded its
brand by adding the digital
extension, Vibe Viva. Vibe Viva
is a space where Latinos can
explore their rich history, and
see what is driving Latin
culture.
4. The Source Case study:
The source Magazine was founded my two Harvard university
students in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Jonathan Shecter and David
Mays in 1988.The magazine is based monthly covering Hip-hop,
politics and culture.
The magazine expanded overseas with a French-language version,
alongsideThe Source Latino andThe Source Israel magazine
franchises.
The Source also invested in its own urban clothing apparel company.
In 2003, Eminem becomes the new focus of a debate on hip-hop and
racism after some unidentified friends of the rapper submitted a
tape of him using the N-word and making several derogatory
remarks about the African-American community. The source leaks
the “racist” tape , Eminem apologizes publicly and claims the rap
was done out of teen angst following a break-up with a black
girlfriend.
5. Def Jam Recordings is an American record label, focused
predominantly on hip hop and urban music, owned by
Universal Music Group. Def Jam was founded in 1983 by
Rick Rubin in his dormitory inWeinstein Hall at NewYork
University and its first release was a single by his punk-rock
group Hose.The first single released with the Def Jam
Recordings logo wasT La Rock & Jazzy Jay's "It'sYours."
This label has signed artist such as Justin Bieber,Teyana
Taylor,YG and KanyeWest. It has produced albums such as
“The life of Pablo” by KanyeWest and “Unapologetic” by
Rihanna.
Cash Money Record Label:Def Jam recordings:
Cash Money Records was founded in 1991. Bryan
Williams told some of his close friends the motivation for
starting the label:
"I was hoping it would get us out of the projects and into
a positive way of life. And we wanted to help other
people get out of this poverty”
-In 1995, the label signed young rappers B.G., Turk and
Lil Wayne.
-Between 2001 and 2003, the label sold 7 million albums.
This record label is extremely successful as it includes
signees such as Nicki Minaj and Tyga
both are very influential in the HipHop
music industry.
6. The case study of Future:
Nayvadius DeMun Wilburn was born on November 20, 1983. He is best known as Future, is an
American hip hop recording artist. Born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. Future signed a major
record label deal with L.A. Reid in September, 2011 by signing a contract with Epic Records. He is
also joined with A1 Recordings, a record label founded by Rocko, and is the founder of his own
label called Freebandz Entertainment aka F.B.G. (Free Band Gang/Global). Futures stage name
came from some of the members from the Dungeon Family kept calling him “The Future”. The
Dungeon family had a huge influence on Future as he was inspired by his cousin Rico Wade who is
the owner of the Dungeon Family, he was the main person who helped future with his career path,
rap and writing.
In 2012 April, Future released his debut album “pluto”.After 2 years,his second album “honest”
was released in April 2014, where it exceeded his debut on the album charts.In 2014 October 28th,
he also released “Monster” which was the 9th mixtape. Along with “Beast Mode” and “56 Nights”,
it is considered one of "a trilogy of album-quality mixtapes" that Future released.
In early 2013, Future dropped a mixtape to showcase his Freebandz artists called F.B.G.: The
Movie. A year later on April 22nd, he put out his second studio album titled Honest. The project,
which sold 48,791 copies in the first week, featured appearances from Pusha T, Pharrell, Casino,
Wiz Khalifa, Drake, Kanye West, Young Scooter, Andre 3000, and Lil Wayne.
Future released his third studio album, DS2, and the full-length Drake collaboration, What a Time
to Be Alive, both of which debuted at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200. The mixtape has sold
over 334,000 copies in the U.S.On January 17, 2016, Future released another mixtape, titled Purple
Reign, with executive production from Metro Boomin and DJ Esco.
7. Social media in Hip-Hop
.
Many Hip-Hop and RnB artist use social media to release
their albums/mixtapes as it is a way of promoting and
communicating with their fans. Also, it reaches a large
audience. Before this, Hip-Hop artist had to rely on records
labels. Record labels would agree to sell the music however,
they would take a higher percentage of money than the
artist. In some cases, this lead to the artist becoming in debt
as they were responsible for funding the recording of the
album, as well as the production of the music videos that are
used to promote these albums.
Artist mostly use social media to promote their music, in the
summer of 2010, hip-hop artist Kanye West used his Twitter
page to announce that he would be giving out free music to
fans via the G.O.O.D. Fridays series that he created, as well
as using it to announce release dates and details about his
future commercial releases. This was an advantage
as the audience were aware and
excited.
Rapify is the Premier Social Network App for Hip Hop
culture. Packed with cool features this unique app
was built with hip hop enthusiasts and artists in mind.
Quickly record videos of your beats and bars, take
pictures of your gear and gigs, text updates about
your progress and events, and then instantly share
them with the community for comments and
applause. Build out your network of fans and follow
your favorite artists. The Rapify app is an exciting,
simple and fun way to share your
events, audio and news with a
Hip-Hop-centric community. The app is
free on Itunes and ist a great way for
Hip-Hop fans to communicate and
share intrest
8. TV Programmes in Hip-Hop/RnB
BET award show Love and Hip-hop realityTV show:
The Vibe awards in 2004:
Beginning in 2003, The Vibe magazine produced and
aired its annual awards show on in the middle of the
2004 Vibe Awards ceremony, a man named Jimmy
James Johnson approaches rap legend Dr. Dre, who
was preparing to receive a Lifetime Achievement
Award, and punches him in the face. A full-on brawl
ensues during which Johnson gets stabbed.
Love and hip-hop is a reality TV show broadcast on VH1,
The shows document the lives and relationships of hip
hop & R&B musicians residing in varying regions
throughout the United States such as New York, Atlanta
and Hollywood. Love and Hip-Hop is very entertaining
and it’s a way of promoting new Hip-Hop artist that have
a huge personality and are entertaining. The series is
very successful as it has expanded its brand through a
game app. As on August 8, 2016, VH1 and 345 Games
announced the release of Love & Hip Hop: The Game, a
mobile game for iOS and Android. It was released
worldwide on September 22, 2016.
The BET Hip Hop Awards are an annual awards show, airing on
BET, showcasing hip hop performers, producers and music video
directors. The awards ceremony began in 2006, was held on
November 12, 2006 at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia, was
first aired November 15 and was hosted by comedian Katt
Williams. Throughout the years Hip-Hop winners have been
dominating the award shows as it involves Hip-Hop winners such
as Drake, Kendrick Lamar and Nicki Minaj. The BET award shows is
very important in the Hip-Hop music industry.
9. Age:
The target audience for
my music magazine is
teenagers and young
adults between the age of
16-25.
Audience
Research
Individuals who use social media
especially twitter, as Hip-Hop
and RnB has a huge role in social
media. It allows fans to gain
access into artist life as most of
Hip-Hop/RnB artist such as, Nicki
Minaj use social media in order
to communicate with their fans
and show their daily life.
Ethnicity: Hip-Hip originally was born
within the African/Caribbean ethnicity as
it started from block parties in New York
that involved immigrants from Jamaica in
1973. DJ Kool Herc who is know as “The
father of Hip-Hop” is Jamaican.
My audience of Hip-Hop would
predominantly be individuals who have
Black/Caribbean heritage.
I have decided that my music magazine will be
directed for women as I want women to feel more
empowered in the hip hop music industry as it seems
that it is mostly dominated by men. However, some
men as well who are fans of female artist I got my idea
from the magazine “Vibe Vixen”.
10. Age:
The target audience for
my music magazine is
teenagers and young
adults between the age of
16-25.
Audience
Research
Individuals who use social media
especially twitter, as Hip-Hop
and RnB has a huge role in social
media. It allows fans to gain
access into artist life as most of
Hip-Hop/RnB artist such as, Nicki
Minaj use social media in order
to communicate with their fans
and show their daily life.
Ethnicity: Hip-Hip originally was born
within the African/Caribbean ethnicity as
it started from block parties in New York
that involved immigrants from Jamaica in
1973. DJ Kool Herc who is know as “The
father of Hip-Hop” is Jamaican.
My audience of Hip-Hop would
predominantly be individuals who have
Black/Caribbean heritage.
I have decided that my music magazine will be
directed for women as I want women to feel more
empowered in the hip hop music industry as it seems
that it is mostly dominated by men. However, some
men as well who are fans of female artist I got my idea
from the magazine “Vibe Vixen”.
