1. MUSIC MAGAZINE The making of…

2. INITIAL IDEAS (scan in) INITIAL IDEAS EP: The name EP stands for ‘extended play’ it is often used in the music industry but I believe it also could be used to mean more than music. The masthead would be in the familiar left corner and it would be a pop centered magazine. POP MAGAZINE WAVED: Waved is a hip hop slang word meaning enjoyment or intoxication. It features in numerous rap songs and I feel connects the magazine to the rap genre. The masthead would be traditionally across the whole magazine and there would be few kickers with the model being a major selling point. RAP MAGAZINE Mix Tape: Mix tape is another hip hop term which refers to a trial record released to test weather an artist will make the big time. They are associated with being at the center of the genre and often credited with being artist ’s best work. The masthead would be quite dominant and the magazine would be styled to look gritty and homemade. RAP MAGAZINE HOVE: Hove is a term used in the hip hop genre, coined by Jay-Z. Hove is a shortened version of Jewish god Jehovah and has come to mean a type of modern day demigod. The masthead would be vertical down the side leaving more room for the models and kickers. RAP MAGAZINE

3. CHOSEN IDEA: WAVED MAGAZINE Classical masthead, spreading across the entire magazine. The masthead should have an individual look about it so it can be instantly recognizable, and should feature a hip hop font. Central image of model focusing on mainly the top half. The model should have a ‘snapback’ hat on because they are very symbolic of the genre itself. One central kicker relating to the model. The magazine ’s main selling point should be the model and so the kicker should relate the that. I elected to go with the waved magazine idea because I feel it can be turned into an entire brand. The title, though connoting hip hop, is not directly linked to the genre and allows for a broader topic area. In my survey I found that more people wanted an interview and review based magazine and so I felt that this layout implied a magazine that was more focused around personality that purely music.

4. I feel it is important the the masthead is seen as more as a logo than simply the name of the magazine. The masthead must not just connote the subject matter of the editorial but also be instantly recognizable. I looked to hip hop magazines such as XXL and Vibe for inspiration but I also took into consideration successful mastheads such as wired magazine which has now become a global brand. These mastheads stand out from simpler magazines. The font here is bold and readable. The red box around it makes it completely visually striking. This logo stands out from other magazines and also connotes the larger than life idea of hip hop. Vibe magazine opts for a clear font with a slight flourish on the ‘v’ and a lower case ‘e’. This makes it stand out whilst not being overpowering. The wired masthead is one of the most recognizable in the magazine industry, the font itself connote the idea of technology as to the pixelated blocks. It is a prime example of a masthead that symbolizes the genre. masthead

5. MY MASTHEAD I chose this masthead because I particularly like how it stands out. The letters are readable but altered, and altered in such a way that it makes the magazine stand out from other music magazines. I wanted to establish a brand image and I particularly liked the idea of persona within the hip hop genre. Artists often use pseudonyms and wear accessories that hide their eves or face and so I wanted to convey this idea of concealing identity in my masthead hence the filled in letters.

6. Cover Ideas Idea 1: the front on model. I like this idea because it gives the model quite a lot of power. The fact that the model is staring directly at the reader creates this domineering persona. Idea 2: In this picture the model would be at an angle facing away from the camera, with the camera looking upwards. This creates this idea of importance and dismissal by the model. The upwards shot makes the model seem larger than life. Idea 3: in this image I would have the model striking a pose. The idea of this is to show the artist working a crowd. There is also an almost king like connotation to this pose.

7. Photoshoot images Image 1: this image is the side on version. I photographed my model in front of a white background to give the idea of contrast, with her clothes being red. The bandana is something used frequently in the genre because of how it conceals the face. It also has connotations of crime. The glasses (which would be blacked out in the actual picture) are also synonymous with the genre. The pose of this is important because the folded arms convey this idea of being almost king-like. The camera is also below the model so as to give the sense that she is more powerful. Image 2 : in this image I had the model take up a pose similar to that commonly found in the hip hop genre. However as she did so her hands blurred. The pose itself is good however the blur means it is unusable.

8. The mise en scene is appropriate with the model wearing the genre appropriate ‘snapback’ hat and ray ban glasses. There is a great degree of persona within the rap genre with stage names and that is personified by the clothes they wear. The downward angle of the shot makes the model seem more powerful, this is commonly found on the cover of music magazines. This again relates to the idea that these hip hop figureheads are almost religious icons. The pose of the shot is important because it again connotes power. The slight angle makes the image more interesting and gives the model more of a persona and an individuality. The dark colours are again important because the genre plays upon the idea of darkness. As Rap started in the Bronx in new york as a means for the African American community to gain a larger social stance the colour black became synonymous with the genre and still is worn by almost every artist. CHOSEN IMAGE

9. Illustrated covers For my front cover I wanted to make it a real art piece more than a traditional photograph of a model. Guitar world often features covers with illustrations behind artists or even fully illustrated covers. Independent movie magazine ‘little white lies’ is famous for it’s beautifully illustrated covers which have become a selling point for the magazine. I wanted to perhaps experiment with a partially illustrated cover.

10. FIRST DRAFT

12. FINAL DRAFT