2. Masthead
After careful but brief analysis of hip-hop magazines I have noticed that magazines tend to be aimed
mainly at men with the secondary audience being women. When women are placed on hip-hop
magazines, most of the time they are dressed provocatively, this is not a very good example to a
younger generation, I aim to create a magazine to inspire my young female hip-hop audience.
I have found a magazine that demonstrates what I am against (see bellow) This magazine is called
‘King’. Although King magazine features only women, they seem to only be projected in a sexy and
provocative light, this is to attract the magazines male audience.
The masthead on this magazine is called ‘The women of
King’ this again supports my theory that this magazine
makes women seem in-superior to men. Never-the-less
this is a successful magazine, I aim to make a similar
magazine, however I am mainly going to change the
audience.
3. This was my previous masthead ‘Hoops’. This name was
inspired by an item of jewellery, I wanted the name to attract
females because I am subverting the generic conventions of
hip-hop magazines as most of the time they are being created
for a male based audience.
The font is golden and embalmed, this is because I wanted to
capture a 3D- gold effect- just like gold hoop earrings. The font
is in graffiti style this is because I wanted to reinforce the idea
of the magazine being about hip-hop. It was also very
important to me that the name of the masthead is short and
catchy, this is so it is easy to remember.
4. Masthead
The name of my front cover will be called
‘QUEEN’ I have called my magazine this
because the name straight away empowers
women, which is my main aim along with
presenting a hip-hop magazine. According
to my research of hip-hip magazines the
preliminary audience base is mainly men
aged between 17- 45, I especially looked at
a hip-hop magazines that are successful and
male based, this lead me to look at ‘KING’
magazine; from this I was inspired to King Magazine masthead
subvert the generic convention.
5. My masthead will be place at the upper left corner of my magazine, in
my research this is where it was placed, I aim for my magazine
masthead to be catchy and different; it is important that it is because
this is how my audience would recognise my magazine. I have looked at
the website dafont and have looked at different font ideas and styles; I
have looked at italics or serif fonts especially, this is because to me it
connotes sophistication and it looks very feminine compared to the
‘KING’ sans serif font which is more masculine. However due to student
criticism I have realised that unless this is bevelled it does no really look
catchy or stand out, especially since I have decided on a plain block
colour such as black or gold, as I want to keep it simple.
Masthead ideas:
Black or gold
masthead
Italic sans serif font colour
6. These fonts are all serif and my ideas for a
masthead, however it wouldn't really stand out
against an image and to me its is not bold or catchy
enough to be adapted to be made into a masthead.
7. Another masthead idea
My masthead is named ‘QUEEN’, I have
experimented with different ideas and looked at
different ways I can play with letters. I have
stumbled across a hip- hop artist -Eminem’s
album cover and I am inspired by the way the ‘E’
is backwards, I want to adopt this idea and make
one of my ‘E’s backwards as well, I have drawn a
sketch of how I want my masthead to look by
expanding on the Eminem idea.
I will use serif font, but
reverse the ‘E’ I can do this
in Photoshop
8. On Photoshop:
Perhaps I could add a crown and play around some more. The reason the
Eminem music cover work is because the letter N is next to it. The font used
on the Eminem album and the font I have is very similar, the effect on the
album cover is gritty hence why I will not be adopting that style, but it could
also connote hip-hop. To add more femininity and reinforce the name I
want to incorporate a crown.
9. Main image
My main image will be of a female who is wearing attractive but not provocative clothing.
The picture I had originally chosen was interesting because of the background and her
apparel, however I cannot use this because she has no hip-hop equipment such as micro-
phones or headphones. It is important that the age of the model is appropriate, so nobody
too young or too old but between my target age range. Ethnicity is not important to me
although black people are mainly featured on hip-hop magazines.
The overall image will be manipulated on Photoshop so that it
is catchier or appears better than before. The main image is
very important, this is because it would give my audience an
idea about the content in my magazine, and a very good image
would lure my audience in, whereas a bad image would have a
reverse effect. Also an image can attract particular
audiences, my image has to have some relation to my target
audience, to make my dominant image attract my audience I
will make sure women are represented positively by making
sure they are dressed in the latest trends and styles, it is
important that they are dressed in a way that would inspire my
audience. This would intern make my audience feel like they
can relate to the picture and then would lead them to read the
Previous main image
content of what is in the magazine, it would also give them an
idea of what is in the magazine.
10. Cover Lines
I know who my target audience is and what they are looking for because of my
research, it is essential that my front magazine cover reflects this. My cover lines
will also be another means of luring my target audience in, I could use catch lines
relating to specific topics from my research: Mainly music and gossip but also
school and relationships. I could also use cover lines that involve my
audience, like how to possibly win ‘beats headphones’ this would be of notice to
my audience as this item would be of interest to my audience. Not only will my
audience get information on hip-hop but other issues as well, this would give
them a variety to read which would make my music magazine more appealing. To
attract my audience with the cover lines I will be using at least 3 font sizes and
styles, the bigger the font size the more important the topic is, the font will not
tell my audience about the genre, it would only attract them.
How to win Beats
Latest gossip headphones
11. Cover Lines
This cover line includes 2 font sizes
along with two colours, this works
effectively because it shows the
importance of the cover line and
emphasises the ‘shocking’ sex
scandals, I will uses a variety of font
sizes to attract my audience and signify
importance of a cover line.
A list form of different artists is
displayed. I want to use this because it
would broaden my target audience and
advertise who will be featured in my
magazine.
This is an effective cover line because it
is big bold bright and red. I am very fond
of this cover line because colloquial
language is used which directly and only
understood by the target audience. I can
use a colloquial term that would make
my magazine appear more genuine.
I will be a lining my cover lines on the left hand side of my
magazine page. The colour scheme here is bright and
attractive I want my colour scheme to be distinctive also.
Perhaps colours like red could be used, this is a bold and
vibrant colour that is very attractive.
