The document provides an analysis of the front cover design elements of several hip hop music magazines. It discusses the use of large, prominent images of iconic artists to draw attention and represent the target audience. Font styles, colors and layouts are also described as working to match the themes and aesthetics of the featured artists while reinforcing stereotypes associated with the hip hop genre through imagery like chains and grills. Common magazine design conventions are also noted, including issue details, additional article previews and an emphasis on exclusivity through featured content.

3. BOLD ICONIC LOGO: Magazine title stands Behind the person to Put the emphasis on Tupac. The logo is bold And black to enhance the Colours from the background As well as making it stand out. Colour black has connotations of death and nothingness, in this case can be linked to main article and the idea of insanity. The picture of the performer matches the key idea of the main article as being crazy as he's in a stray jacket. Colour white of the stray jacket is iconic and is easily recognised. The connotations of white juxtapose this costume as white has connotations of peace and angelic ideologies. PUN; pun is used to add a sense of humour. E.g “h-oops” when linking to basketball player Shaquille O'Neal. Target audience is represented here as the main story is about hip hop legend and a sub story of sport. Red has connotations such as Blood, death, stop and pain. This May be linked to the stereotypes of Hip hop. Also at this present time When the picture was taken, east coast And west coast were at a musical culture war with 2 rappers fighting each other. (biggie, 2pac) Low key lighting on the Performers face but the Stray jacket is illuminated Almost as a technique of Anchorage to link to main Article. Image takes up large space Due to Tupac being such an Iconic figure. Little amount of writing. It attracts the target audience to pick the magazine up. Common layout, consumer Knows where to look for Magazine logo. Logo stands out And attracts reader. “ Is tupac crazy?” bold and bigger font That “…jus misunderstood” attracts reader To pick up the magazine, represents him As crazy. Another iconic figure stands above the logo/title So that it is easily noticed. Only two other articles on front cover, Puts emphasis on tupac and represents target audience As both other articles are to do with sport. Target audience Seems to be predominately young and male.

4. There is a theme to The front cover to Match the artists Appearance. Promotes A comical appearance With her wearing bright Coloured clothes as Well as having a cartoon Pictures below. Cartoon Flowers represent a Stereotype of gender As she is female. The cartoon background promotes the sense of innocence as it has common connotations of children. It may also be seen as a modern image to reflect her as a contemporary artist. Large logo to show The magazine. Logo Is white to match the Angelic features of The music artist Nicki Minaj. The White font of the Title is consistent With the colour theme for the rest of the magazine. Promotes other hip hop artists above the Title so that it is easily noticeable. This is to Reach the magazines target audience by Talking about other artists. Colour theme. The colour Of the font showing the articles Is pink and white to match the Appearance of the artist. This puts Emphasis on the artist and also Promotes the feminism of what she Is wearing. The costume she is wearing is predominately white and pink which are stereotypically feminine colours, attracting a female target audience. The use of white on her costume implies a sense of innocence however her costume and body language juxtapose this idea as she presented provocatively. This is shown in her facial expression. Promotes website, shows magazine is a multi platform magazine. May also show that it has adapted to the technological advancement of web 2.0. Both also common features of a magazine. Simplistic font used throughout to ensure the emphasis is on the artists. In terms of linguistic features “superwoman” is used to present The artist in a positive nature as well as representing her as Popular. “Exclusive” is also used to represent that that this magazine Has something that others don’t. Lastly it says “last songs of Michael Jackson” Who is an icon so this would attract the target audience.

5. “ The B.I.G. Picture” this title is ambiguous as It not only relates to the artists iconic stage name, It relates to the article in which they comment on the Artist making it “Big” from his music. Even contemporary Music artists believe that B.I.G. and Tupac were the greatest alive. Almost a Hip Hop Micheal Jackson. Large Photo of the artist may link To title as being B.I.G. so a picture Is needed, also large photo of Artist puts emphasis on the Picture rather than the article. Anchorage. Links Picture of the artist To the article. “ Big Makes It Big Time”. Repetition of The word Big for Emphasis. Not only Physical appearance But in terms of Reputation and popularity He is seen as colossal. Hip Hop clothing/gestures Represent the contemporary Music genre, represents the unity of a music label as it isn’t often an artist makes it without any help. B.I.G. was signed under BadBoy Records. Clothing. Military clothing shows the Militant, violence stereotype of the Hip Hop genre. Many artists have faced a Poverty lifestyle including drugs, crime And guns as shown in their lyrics. Typical conventions Of a magazine, says Issue, date and time. Another picture to promote emphasis on the music artist. The picture stands in front of the “I” to imply the article is about him. Also the colour is the same as the title to give a sense of anchorage again. Small paragraph acts as a standfirst an introduces the article, describes about the new biopic going to made on the Hip Hop Icon. Blank white space to put emphasis on title and picture

6. Large photo of Hip Hop artist. Large photo puts emphasis on the artist as he is not only a singer/song writer he is responsible for the iconic Notorious B.I.G. who died of being shot. Picture of him holding his head may represent Depression and sadness due to the murder Of his friend. “ Diddy” the music artist juxtaposes the violent stereotypes of the Hip Hop genre. His suit has connotations of power, money as well as being formal, this may represent him as being a reformed man due to his friends death and getting out of the crime associated with the Hip Hop genre. Typical conventions Of a magazine, says Issue, date and time. Artist described as an art form based on his success in the music industry. Represents him as being a powerful, icon man. “Art” has connotations of wealth and talent. “ Art” comes before forms to put emphasis on the word implying that he is a form of art. The colour red also implies that it is important and makes it stand out. Red has very mixed connotations as it can represent love, blood, death, stop etc. Text is in a formal format/layout, this may suggest that it is important or to be taken seriously. Simple layout also insists that it isn’t a comical or comedic article. “ Celebrity” is in bold to insist wealth and importance also the font is very simplistic. Above is his name in a old English font that is very commonly linked with gangs and graffiti and fits the hip hop stereotypes.

7. The font is idiosyncratic and is part of their “ house style”, this gives them their own personal look to the magazine. It is also very appealing and is used to attract the magazines target audience. Small logo, insists that the idiosyncratic style of the “contents” is so personal to their magazine that the consumer will already know what product they are reading. The “rappers” jewellery has many representations, the chain itself insists wealth associated with the music industry. The chain medallion also represents a stereotype of Hip Hop genre. The medallion its self is a person encrusted with diamonds, but the person has a balaclava on which is a military accessory. This links with the stereotype of Hip Hop as being violent, animalistic and to have a big influence and correlation with crime. The balaclava also insists that the rapper has a new identity and that he is trying to hide something. Also he is showing his gold teeth that has connotations of savagery and animalistic features. The picture of the rapper is in the centre of the page to put emphasis on the artist. May insist that the magazine is exclusive for having a picture of that particular artist or it may insist that there is an article about him. The tattoos have mixed representations. Some tattoos are perceived as being lower class but this is juxtaposed by the artists wealth and tax bracket. Due to his money he is socially classed in the AB rank. It also gives the artist his own identity and gives him a sense of individualism. Typical layout of a contents page, shows all articles listed on the side and the page number. Big “V” in the background to show the brand of the magazine Has typical conventions of a magazine has designer and page number down the bottom. Red background has connotations of death and blood which may also represent a stereotype of the Hip Hop genre.

8. The font is idiosyncratic and is part of their “house style”, this gives them their own personal look to the magazine. It is also very appealing and is used to attract the magazines target audience. Large “V” behind the character insists the character is more important. It may also represent the profession of the magazine, as the magazine is about the Hip Hop genre and the artists make the genre. The V also stands so the consumer is aware that this is the magazine they are reading and that it also represents the magazine as being highly popular and prestigious using the English language linguistic technique of initialism. It may also present the magazine producer as being arrogant implying that you already know what the product is. Has the typical layout of a contents page, shows all articles listed on the side and the page number. It is also in a simplistic font, so that you are fully aware of the exclusive articles inside. Large photo of the artist putting emphasis on him. His style juxtaposes those of the stereotypes of the Hip Hop genre. Shirt and blazer represents him as being stylish in the contemporary society but also represents him as being powerful and formal. Everything is in black and white apart from the “V” of the Vibe and the heart. This puts emphasis and importance on both of those things. “V” for the product name and the heart may represent the artists new album called “heartbreak” or may represent his loyalty to the Music industry. Has typical conventions of a magazine has designer and page number. Slightly more comical and “ fun” font may represent the personality of the magazine