Music Magazine -Rap- I HAVE CHOSEN RAP AS MY MUSIC MAGAZINE GENRE. MY TARGET AUDIENCE IS YOUNG MALES AGED BETWEEN 16-24 AS I BELIEVE MOST PEOPLE WHO LISTEN TO RAP ARE AROUND THESE AGES. THE STYLE OF THIS MAGAZINE ARE COOL EDGY URBAN ASPIRING TO BE RICH AND SUCCESSFUL. SERIOUS
1. Music Magazine -Rap- I HAVE CHOSEN RAP AS MY MUSIC MAGAZINE
GENRE. MY TARGET AUDIENCE IS YOUNG MALES AGED BETWEEN 16-24 AS I
BELIEVE MOST PEOPLE WHO LISTEN TO RAP ARE AROUND THESE AGES. THE
STYLE OF THIS MAGAZINE ARE -COOL -EDGY -URBAN -ASPIRING TO BE RICH
AND SUCCESSFUL. -SERIOUS
2. Codes and Conventions My Rap magazine features themes of:
-Violence -Street life -Fast cars -Money -Women -Gangster: Tattoos,
toned bodies, baggy clothes, bling. -Predominately black males.
Location: The location of many hip hop artists are within their
hometown, where they grew up, in which is usually ghetto. They like
to show what they have come from and usually stay very close to
their roots because they all believe that the area they grew up in
made them as a person and got them to where they are today. The
area shows the artists history, background and the struggle they
went through to get to where they are today. Culture The hip
hop/rap has originated itself from jazz, blues and gospel music.
Now these are all music genres that, back in the day, mainly black
people took interest in. This is why you see so many hip hop
artists and fans they like rap. Also the lyrics depict the struggle
for young people who live in he ghetto so it would explain the age
of people who listen to rap. Style Throughout magazines that cover
hip hop music, they all have a reoccurring theme for their music
magazine titles. Every issue their masthead is in the same place
with the same colours and text. This helps create a style and gives
the magazine a brand identity so over time people will know what
magazine it is because the title of it will be the same very week.
This also helps the customers find the magazine a lot easier. Music
Topics This genre of music is seen for its gang culture, sex and
de-moralisation of women by showcasing them as sex objects. The
artists also rap about fast cars, being rich and killing or
threating to kill people with their guns.
3. Dr Dre ft Snoop Dogg Still D.R.E This is a music video which
proves some of the codes and conventions I mentioned earlier about
rap music. The video has clear conventions such as the stylish cars
that are made to show off what the driver has, you can see that
most of the male artists in the video are rappers because of their
costume, for example Snoop Dogg wears a chain around his neck and a
baggy t-shirt and joggers. These are to show of being wealthy and
cool, basic costume that an artist has to match the stereotypical
look of a rapper. In addition to this, in the codes and conventions
of this music genre, women are seen more sexualised, as you can see
in this music video, the women are wearing revealing costume that
shows of some of their feminine features. Plus most of the frames
in the video completely cut off the head of the female so that the
audience are forced to look at their breasts.
4. Codes and Conventions in other music and regular magazines
All modern magazines, whether its a music or just regular magazine,
all have the main following codes and conventions. There is always
one main image that takes up the whole cover and usually has the
main feature of the article. Magazine front covers vary with medium
close ups or mid shots and will always directly address the
audience. The masthead will have its own unique font which is only
one or two words. The masthead is also always the biggest text on
the front cover of magazines because they want to have a brand
identity that the audience will get familiar with. This means that
the masthead is always at the top or in the left hand corner
because in our culture we read from the left across. In addition to
this the price of the issue is usually on the barcode hidden away
from the audience. Puffs are also featured in magazines, however
not all magazines, the more bubbly, fun and informal types of
magazine will feature these as they look a bit tacky but offer
something else with the magazine such as free giveaways. Buzz words
are usually with the main feature article, used to attract
attention, eg; EXCLUSIVE, FREE, PLUS. Once again this is a common
theme in a magazine. Cover line's are also used in some magazines,
mainly music magazines to promote an artist. These lines of text on
the front cover are designed to attract the audiences attention and
make them pick the magazine up. A strip is sometimes used in
magazines across the top or bottom containing lists of items which
feature in the magazine. This conveys the magazine is full of
interesting stories and the audience is getting value for money.
Colour is the main convention in every magazine, it is the biggest
feature and will make or break a magazine. The magazine has to have
a small amount, but effective use of colour and have a distinctive
design. The colours should match and go well together otherwise it
wont be nice fro the target audience to view.
5. Codes and Conventions in my Magazine I hope to achieve most
of the codes and conventions in my own rap music magazine. My front
cover will have an the artist at a mid-close up shot with a
specific costume that will help the audience become aware of what
genre of music magazine it is. The artist will also be central with
text on either side and the masthead behind his head. The masthead
will also be the biggest text and the boldest so the audience will
see this first. The costume of my artist will follow the codes and
conventions of an old school rapper; hoodie, baggy bottoms, chain
around the neck, bandana and trainers. All of his costume will be
black because it is a more masculine colour and fits well with the
codes and conventions of rap music.