Music Mag Deconstruction

Institutional Information

XXL magazine was founded in 1997 by former staffers from 'Source' and other Harris Publication employees. Harris Publication is a consumer magazine publisher based in New York, hey publish such magazines as 'XXL' and 'Juicy'. The founders wanted to create a magazine about the hiphop music and culture with bright colours, powerful imagery and with well written catchy coverlines.

Front Cover Deconstruction

Masthead in white on a red background to stand out, and catch the eye of the reader. The masthead is in front of the image to satnd out to sell the magazine.

The coverline is a pun on 50 Cents name promoting him directly as he is the USP, and the main image is a close up of his face.

There are not many sell lines as it is a very basic, simple front cover style.


The banner alliterates that this magazine is all about serious hip-hop.


The main image of 50 is looking straight at the reader, with one eyebrow raised drawing the readers attention, and inticing them to read more.


I find the simplistic style very attractive, and I intented to create a similar style of magazine with close up picture and simple coverline.

Audience Survey

Reader Profile

Survey Results

100% girls favoured 'Gossip', 80% boys favoured 'Music' and 20% 'Sport'

70% girls would spend '£1', 30% '£1.50' on the magazine, and boys 50% '£1', 20% '1.50', 30% '£2'

Boys were attracted by 'Picture' and 'Sell lines'. Whereas girls were attracted by all of them.

Boys 70% 'Hiphop' and 30% 'Rock', Girls 70% 'Pop', 20% 'Rock' and 10% 'R&B/Rap'

Outcome, my target audience is male 15-25, and the images and content will be important.  I intend to create a Hip-hop magazine using powerful imigary to sell.

Front Cover Sketches

Initial idea

Edited idea

 Final idea

Contents Page Deconstruction

Primary Image: half page, mid shot, direct gaze

Font: italics

Colour: black and white, and red

Puff: free CD

Secondary Image: smaller image, cornered,

colourful- draws the eye, and reminds you of the main feature.

Index: page numbers given to relevant features from the coverlines.

House Style: 'contents' always written the same, usually with a 'V' for vibe in the background but in this particular contents page they have decided to leave it out.

Contents Page Sketch

Main Feature Deconstruction

This is a feature on Snoop Dogg taken from  'RESPECT' magazine.

Large black and white image over centrefold. The entry point of this page is the white vest.

This page fits the house style of powerful imagery with minimal writing, creating a a visually pleasing feature and magazine. Very attractive to the target audience of hip-hop loving men and women.

A lot of white space is used to keep the page minimal and simple, which draws your eye to the black and white image and the red 'Q&A' inticing you to read the text.



Interview Plan

Interview Questions

The Interview

http://youtu.be/UePtoxDhJSwBlack And Yellow [G-Mix].mp3