Analysing ‘Rap-Up’ Front Cover Magazine

Analysing ‘Rap-Up’ Front Cover Magazine

Rap-Up is a hip-hop and R&B magazine and it features interviews with artists, actors and other music entertainment. You could tell that it is this type of magazine because in the past it had used Beyonce, T.I, Lil Wayne, Chris Brown, Rihanna, 50 Cent, Pharrell, Mary J. Blige, Ciara, Ludacris and Young Jeezy as their main image who all come under Hip-Hop and R&B genre.

The target audience are again similar as the bottom two magazines. However for this specific magazine it looks like this one is going to attract young teens, both genders but it would appeal to women more who are a fan of Ciara and her music she produces.  You could tell that it appeals to this type of audience because the strapline gives a list of rappers/artists and singers e.g. Rick Ross, Akon, Fat Joe and Bun B. The list gives a flow a visual and verbal path of movement which attracts the target audience’s eye.

The main image is Ciara and the rule of thirds has been used as Ciara is in the middle line, the left hand straplines fit in their one third and the same to the right hand side. The image relates to music genre because Ciara produces music and as well as singing she can dance which relates to hip hop kind of style. This therefore appeals to the target audience because the reader can relate themselves to her and could be inspired from her work.

The mise en scene is quite poster like but it is clear and relevant information is used. The clothing Ciara is wearing is quite sexy but revealing and this could attract immediate attraction because her body is quite outlined and you could see her legs through the fish net tights. The lighting is light as a whole however the camera is being emphasised because there is a flash. It is relevant because it goes with the strapline “Oh snap! The photo issue starring Ciara”.  As it is being emphasised it implies that it is the most important strapline therefore suggests the content is majority about Ciara. Also, it decides what your messages are and what is more important therefore the principle of contrast has been used too. The make-up Ciara is wearing goes with the background of the magazine. She has smokey eyes and her lippy colour is the same as the pink background which is quite girly. This shows that this magazine may appeal to girls only as the colour pink is the main body. Therefore this attracts the target audience quickly because it is ever so bright and it would have stand out from other magazines.

The colours which have been used are pink, white and black.  The colour pink has many annotations it could link to childish innocence or child-like characteristics. This relates to the target audience because the reader may be immature and a child and purchase this magazine because of the background colour – this is significant and shows how colours have a huge impact on consumers. Also, pink is considered a colour of good healthy lifestyle which links to the magazine because the magazine may provide tips bout lifestyle. Furthermore, pink is associated with sexuality and purity. This links to the main image as she poses and looks sexual. The colour white relates to the purity and cleanliness of something therefore it highlights the strapline however I think they had used the colour white to make their presentation look more relevant and balanced. The colour black can be seen as sophisticated and mysterious. It emphasises power, sexuality and sophistication. This relates to the target audience because the masthead is the colour black and it symbolises what the magazine is wholly about in this issue as the masthead colour changes throughout different issues. This shows the magazine tries and goes through different aspects.

The magazine is called “Rap-Up” and this reflects the content and the target audience because the phrase rap –up implies a normal statement on how young people compete and have battles against each other until one out does one by rapping. This suggests how they are in time for their music and it is relevant as they use specific rappers e.g. T.I who is well known for his music/songs. The typeface of the masthead is black and the word “up” is pointing up. This gives off a visual movement and some kind of direct flow, as it is pointing up it shows whoever features in their magazine they may speak the truth and say the right things.

The magazine looks like it is a popular magazine because Ciara is hiding some of the text which shows this magazine is well known and it does not need to show the full masthead because it is very popular and their consumers would recognise their magazine instantly.