1. Rap Article – Analysis
By Jack Sanders
Large image of
well known Rap
Artist Dizzie
Rascal, dressed
In a bright red
jacket which
will immediately
stand out to the
reader. He is a
well known artist
and will appeal to
the target audience,
as they will want
to know about what
he has to say
The sub heading is
giving the reader a
short insight into
what this article is about
The image of the graffiti and beer bottles shows
the type of target audience Dizzie wants to
reach. Young adults & teenagers from a
similar background to him, who can relate
to his music and lyrics.
The text is in columns and is the
smallest writing on the page. This
is so the reader is instantly
drawn to the main image and
Heading.
Byline – Tells the reader
Who interviewed Dizzie
Rascal and who the
Photographer was.
Large bold title to the
article in Sans Serif font. The
title stands out and
suggests the article is
about Dizzie Rascals rise
from street Graffiti to be
successful. This will stand
out to the target audience,
as he is well known and
people want to know more
about him.
2. Rap Articles – Analysis - NME-
Dizzie Rascal
Genre
The first article I have chosen to review is featured in NME magazine, which is a well known music
magazine. This article is based around Dizzie Rascal, who is one of the most popular, well known,
influential Rap artists of the last decade. Having someone as recognisable as Dizzie Rascal featuring in
an article makes this particular magazine stand out to the target audience, which is young adults with
an age range of between 16-25.
Target Audience
The main image depicts Dizzie Rascal holding a spray can with a wall of graffiti behind him. The image
has a rebellious feel to it, which will appeal to the younger teenage audience. The other images are of a
bottle and a vintage radio, which suggest that before he was famous Dizzie Rascal would hang out,
listening to music and drinking. This will appeal to the target audience as they will be able to relate with
that.
TYPOGRAPHY, COLOUR SCHEME, CAMEREA SHOTS & LIGHTING
The title of the article “ From Tags to Riches”, stands out in a Sans Serif font. It suggests that the
article is about Dizzie Rascals rise from doing graffiti on the streets and going onto become successful
and wealthy. Dizzie Rascal can be seen wearing rings on his fingers and a jacket that looks quite
expensive. He likes to present himself as an urban bad boy, as this fits in with his style of Rap & Hip
Hop music. The camera angle used is a medium long shot, which allows the image to sit nicely
alongside the main article without distracting too much from the main article heading. The graffiti in the
background of the image gives of an urban feel to the article, which links in with peoples perception of
Dizzie Rascal and his music. The use of bold bright colours set against a white background allows the
picture to stand out even further to the potential reader. Dizzie Rascal is also wearing bright clothing
with his red jacket, which will make him stand out straight away. The secondary images used are the
bottles and the radio found, at the bottom of the right hand page, which add to the general street image
of the article.
3. Rap Articles – Analysis
Wiz Khalifa
The main image
is of one of the
most recent
leading artists
Wiz Khalifa. It
shows him
smoking weed
which is common
place amongst
many people
in the Hip Hop
Culture. He
appears relaxed
and the reader
can assume the
article has
something to do
with his smoking
of weed.
Byline – Tells the reader
who interviewed Wiz Khalifa
and who the photographer
was.
Page no for
easy referral
for readers
The main
title of the
article which
has the initials
of Wiz Khalifa.
The letters are
joined together
in an artistic
way which
stands out as
a snappy title.
The sub heading How High is
a play on two meanings. High
as in the effect of the drug
and High as in success in the
music industry.
The text is set out in
two simple columns, which
will appeal to the reader as
its not too heavy text based.
4. Rap Articles – Analysis
Wiz Khalifa
● Genre
The second article I have chosen to review is from the magazine Vibe, a very popular and well known
rap magazine. The main image is of one of the most recent leading hip-hop/ rap artists in the
mainstream 'Wiz Khalifa'. He is a young Afro-Caribbean male, which allows many readers to relate to
him as soon as they see his image.
Target Audience
● The article discusses his growing success in the music industry and his regular use of Marijuana or
'weed, which has lead him to be in trouble with the police. Weed is common practice amongst many
people in the hip-hop culture, both artists and listeners. It is symbolic of the chilled out, easy lifestyle of
a rapper often heavily portrayed in the media. Wiz Khalifa will want to appeal to the target audience of
young readers from a similar background to him. The smirk on Wiz Khalifa's face contributes to a
chilled out relaxed image. The smoke has been shot to appear very heavy and overpowering, taking
over nearly half of his face. Due to its overpowering presence it can be taken into account by the reader
that this article will be about Wiz Khalifa, his weed and chilled back character.
TYPOGRAPHY, COLOUR SCHEME, CAMEREA SHOTS & LIGHTING
The colours used are very effective in making the article stand out more. Using half the double page
spread in black and the other half in white creates a bold feel to the pages, as black and white stand
out against each other very well because they are so opposite. Also Wiz Khalifa released a song known
as 'black and yellow', so the use of black and yellow for his cap and the main headline 'WK' may
subconsciously allow readers or fans to trigger thoughts of his music and make them become drawn to
the magazine.
5. Rap Articles – My point of view !
Wiz Khalifa
● The title of the article is the initials of the artist situated to the left hand side of the double spread 'WK'
of course standing for Wiz Khalifa. By joining the two letters artistically together it allows it to stand out
boldly and become a short and snappy title. The subheading 'How High' situated just beneath the main
heading, is a lot smaller and in a plain black font. However it does have an indexical meaning behind it.
It is a play on two meanings, how high as in the effect of the drug that he is smoking or how high as in
the heights of his success in the music industry. This would suggest to the potential reader that these
are two topics that will be discussed in the article. Just beneath that is a small section of gold/ yellow
writing, which talks about his weed lifestyle before becoming a well know rapper. This section includes
the words 'PUFF, PUFF' which are also indexical. These onomatopoeic words not only link to the
article, but they also add texture to the title by playing on the readers imagination of the sound of
smoke actually being blown and 'puffed' from Wiz Khalifa's lips.
Only a third of the right hand page is text based, implying that VIBE readers don't particularly like to
read heavy text based articles. Rap music isn't a genre typically linked with high levels of education, so
it is correct to assume that readers wont want to read a lot, just enough so they know the latest
gossip,songs and artists. Readers will see there is little to read and this may have a large influence on
them when they are deciding weather or not to purchase the magazine. The editors have cleverly
drawn peoples attention to the start of the article by using the letter 'B'. This letter is in a bolder, bigger
font and in the colour yellow for it to stand out. This method of being creative by linking the colour of
the 'K' the 'B' and his cap together, poses to link the article together.
6. Rap Articles – Analysis
Wiz Khalifa
● PREFERRED & OPPOSITIONAL READING
The preferred reading of this magazine article is that the rap lifestyle is very relaxed and chilled. It
would suggest that even though the smoking of weed is illegal, it is somehow OK and you can still have
success in life when doing this. It almost plays the significance of smoking weed and its consequences
down and paints a pictures of a relaxed lifestyle.
The oppositional reading is that rap is a genre of music that promotes the use of illegal substances
such as Marijuana. This is a very negative message to send to a youthful target audience, as they look
up to someone like Wiz Khalifa, and the things he does may affect the lives of a very impressionable
audience.
8. A Comparison
● The main image on both magazines depict the artists both committing illegal actions. The first article
shows Wiz Khalifa smoking Marijuana and the second shows Dizzie Rascal spray painting graffiti onto
a wall. This shows that rap can be associated with rebellion and illegal activities, which appeal to a
youthful target audience often looking for a genre of music that they can relate to. Rap is often popular
with younger target audiences because they discuss topics like the struggles of early life and their lust
for success, which teenagers can often relate too. Both articles are both cleverly set out with the text in
columns making it easier and faster for the potential reader to read. There is little text on both of the
articles, as both magazines realise that their target audience will not want to read heavily text based
articles.
The colour of the Dizzie Rascal article is much brighter than the article about Wiz Khalifa and appears
to have a more positive message in the title “From Tags to Riches”, giving the reader the impression he
was worked his way out of a tough background and become successful. The title of the Wiz Khalifa
article How High, has a similar theme talking around his success being high, but it also has another
meaning, which is being high from the weed. The use of darker colours and background in the Wiz
Khalifa article give it more of a dark feeling and show a more problematic lifestyle for the artist, with him
being shown as smoking weed now in his current position. The Dizzie Rascal article has him looking
back on his old life, having bettered himself by working hard, which ties in with the title of the article.
9. A Comparison
● The main image on both magazines depict the artists both committing illegal actions. The first article
shows Wiz Khalifa smoking Marijuana and the second shows Dizzie Rascal spray painting graffiti onto
a wall. This shows that rap can be associated with rebellion and illegal activities, which appeal to a
youthful target audience often looking for a genre of music that they can relate to. Rap is often popular
with younger target audiences because they discuss topics like the struggles of early life and their lust
for success, which teenagers can often relate too. Both articles are both cleverly set out with the text in
columns making it easier and faster for the potential reader to read. There is little text on both of the
articles, as both magazines realise that their target audience will not want to read heavily text based
articles.
The colour of the Dizzie Rascal article is much brighter than the article about Wiz Khalifa and appears
to have a more positive message in the title “From Tags to Riches”, giving the reader the impression he
was worked his way out of a tough background and become successful. The title of the Wiz Khalifa
article How High, has a similar theme talking around his success being high, but it also has another
meaning, which is being high from the weed. The use of darker colours and background in the Wiz
Khalifa article give it more of a dark feeling and show a more problematic lifestyle for the artist, with him
being shown as smoking weed now in his current position. The Dizzie Rascal article has him looking
back on his old life, having bettered himself by working hard, which ties in with the title of the article.
