Wednesday 25 April 2012
Last Post
Overall I am very pleased at the new skills I have learnt and how my work and ability to use photoshop has developed since the preliminary task to my final product. I now have a much better grasp of photoshop and feel as though I could comfortably use it now without any assistance. Not only with photoshop but also in taking appropiate pictures and taking into account mise en scene and what the artist is wearing are all apects that I will take away from this course that I can further use in later life.
Tuesday 24 April 2012
Evaluation
In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
My magazine is conventional in the sense that it uses the traditional colours usually associated with rap magazines and also the bold fonts that other existing rap magazines do. Magazines such as XXL, Vibe and The Source were where I gained inspirations for my magazine from. On the cover of my magazine, I tried to emulate XXL’s theme of black, red and white. My masthead is similar to most rap magazine styles as it covers the top of the whole page and I’ve used the colour of white just like XXL magazine. My artist was placed in the centre of the page, looking right at the audience with a angry expression this is typical of pretty much all rap magazines especially the anger portrayed on the artists faces which is why I decided to do the same with my artist. My double page spread also follows the conventions of a real magazine. The use of drop lettering to show the beginning of the article, one large image on right side of the double page spread with the text on the left is also a typical convention and the use of pull quotes which are a main feature in magazines.
How does your media product represent particular social groups? Who would be the audience for your media product?
I tried to represent social groups through the use of language and colour however in particular images. The artist I used represents this group as he is of a similar age of my target audience which would attract them to purchase the magazine. He is also wearing a hoodie and new era cap which would appeal to my social group as this is how teenagers/young adults who would buy this magazine would typically dress themselves so they feel as though they can relate to him as an artist. My target audience is people aged from 16 – 20 predominately males who enjoy rap music and hearing the latest news from the rap scene.
What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?
I would like my magazine too be distributed in newsagents and supermarkets such as Tesco, Sainsbury and Asda. I also feel as though the magazine could be distributed through social media such as our own website where you could purchase yearly subscriptions to the magazine for an overall cheaper price than buying it each month at the retail price.
How did you attract/address your audience?
I attracted my audience by manipulating the colour, images and text throughout the magazine. The colours of red, white and black of my magazine are usually associated with males who are a part of my target audience. My artist being male, aged 19 and wearing a hoodie and cap gives my typical audience something to relate to as he is dressed and aged in relation to my typical audience. The fonts I used throughout the magazine were either bold or had an urban/graffiti edge to them which would appeal to my audience and give it a kind of street/underground vibe. Also the text which is used took quite an informal tone which is something my audience could relate too as they would probably use some of the words themselves. The added artists listed on the cover of the magazine would also attract the audience as it consists of famous rap artists those they most likely listen to and have a interest in further attracting them towards the magazine. The masthead immediately attracts the audience and addresses that it is a rap magazine as ‘rap’ is incorporated into the title of the magazine, ‘RAPCITY’. The angles of gaze, having the artist look right at you.
What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?
I’ve learnt how to use Photoshop efficiently to improve my work and take it to the next level. I also learnt how to effectively use a camera to take photographs and the variety of different shots that can be taken too show something for example a close up too see someone’s expressions or a long shot so that mise en scene can be taken onto account. I also learnt how to use social networking such as BlogSpot where I created my own blog.
Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?
One of the major progressions I made was learning new skills on Photoshop. When I first did my preliminary I struggled with everything even the basics such as resizing an image. However throughout the main task I developed my skills and learnt new things (such as the magic wand tool to get rid of parts of images you don’t want). I also learnt shortcuts such as ‘Ctrl T’ to resize images which helped speed up the process rather than looking for the resize image every time. When taking photos for my preliminary I only took one shot and relied on that but for the main task realised the importance of taking a variety of different shots at different angles and points of views which then allowed me to choose which picture I felt would work best and have a choice instead of having too use one because I had no other alternative. I’ve also learnt a lot about the music industry especially rap.
My magazine is conventional in the sense that it uses the traditional colours usually associated with rap magazines and also the bold fonts that other existing rap magazines do. Magazines such as XXL, Vibe and The Source were where I gained inspirations for my magazine from. On the cover of my magazine, I tried to emulate XXL’s theme of black, red and white. My masthead is similar to most rap magazine styles as it covers the top of the whole page and I’ve used the colour of white just like XXL magazine. My artist was placed in the centre of the page, looking right at the audience with a angry expression this is typical of pretty much all rap magazines especially the anger portrayed on the artists faces which is why I decided to do the same with my artist. My double page spread also follows the conventions of a real magazine. The use of drop lettering to show the beginning of the article, one large image on right side of the double page spread with the text on the left is also a typical convention and the use of pull quotes which are a main feature in magazines.
How does your media product represent particular social groups? Who would be the audience for your media product?
I tried to represent social groups through the use of language and colour however in particular images. The artist I used represents this group as he is of a similar age of my target audience which would attract them to purchase the magazine. He is also wearing a hoodie and new era cap which would appeal to my social group as this is how teenagers/young adults who would buy this magazine would typically dress themselves so they feel as though they can relate to him as an artist. My target audience is people aged from 16 – 20 predominately males who enjoy rap music and hearing the latest news from the rap scene.
What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?
I would like my magazine too be distributed in newsagents and supermarkets such as Tesco, Sainsbury and Asda. I also feel as though the magazine could be distributed through social media such as our own website where you could purchase yearly subscriptions to the magazine for an overall cheaper price than buying it each month at the retail price.
How did you attract/address your audience?
I attracted my audience by manipulating the colour, images and text throughout the magazine. The colours of red, white and black of my magazine are usually associated with males who are a part of my target audience. My artist being male, aged 19 and wearing a hoodie and cap gives my typical audience something to relate to as he is dressed and aged in relation to my typical audience. The fonts I used throughout the magazine were either bold or had an urban/graffiti edge to them which would appeal to my audience and give it a kind of street/underground vibe. Also the text which is used took quite an informal tone which is something my audience could relate too as they would probably use some of the words themselves. The added artists listed on the cover of the magazine would also attract the audience as it consists of famous rap artists those they most likely listen to and have a interest in further attracting them towards the magazine. The masthead immediately attracts the audience and addresses that it is a rap magazine as ‘rap’ is incorporated into the title of the magazine, ‘RAPCITY’. The angles of gaze, having the artist look right at you.
What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?
I’ve learnt how to use Photoshop efficiently to improve my work and take it to the next level. I also learnt how to effectively use a camera to take photographs and the variety of different shots that can be taken too show something for example a close up too see someone’s expressions or a long shot so that mise en scene can be taken onto account. I also learnt how to use social networking such as BlogSpot where I created my own blog.
Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?
One of the major progressions I made was learning new skills on Photoshop. When I first did my preliminary I struggled with everything even the basics such as resizing an image. However throughout the main task I developed my skills and learnt new things (such as the magic wand tool to get rid of parts of images you don’t want). I also learnt shortcuts such as ‘Ctrl T’ to resize images which helped speed up the process rather than looking for the resize image every time. When taking photos for my preliminary I only took one shot and relied on that but for the main task realised the importance of taking a variety of different shots at different angles and points of views which then allowed me to choose which picture I felt would work best and have a choice instead of having too use one because I had no other alternative. I’ve also learnt a lot about the music industry especially rap.
Monday 9 April 2012
Double Page Spread Progression
I begun by placing my image on the right hand side of the page. Originally I wanted the photo in the middle however after being told that is where the page would fold I decided to put it elsewhere. I then pasted my text in from word. I did it first on word so that i could spell check it and make sure there were no silly errors. Following this I added the gold columns to make it look more proffesional as most double page spread articles had columns in them to seperate the interviews and not make it look squashed together. I distinguished the interviewer and interviewee by choosing the colour gold for the questions being asked and white for the answers. This was a regular convention of rap magazines in particular XXL so I decided to do the same to try and convey a more proffesional looking spread page.
To finish off the double page spread I added in the large pull quote and the title of the article. Once again I chose my font from 'dafont'. I used this font because it had a graffiti looking edge to it which is typically associated with rap and its artist especially my main artist, as he grew up in the hood where graffiti would have been a prominent feature.
Interview for Double Page Spread
So how you finding life and your new found fame?
Life’s great. Still adjusting to everything all this popularity is new to me but I’m enjoying all the popularity it may not always be here so you know just taking everyday a sit comes and enjoying it while I can.
When did you know you wanted to do music, what made you start rapping?
Ever since I was a kid I used to love music especially rap, I would listen to the lyrics, watch the music and think I want that lifestyle. The big houses, the cars, the jewellery I said I want to be that guy. I want to be in the videos, so you know I started writing lyrics started off performing in front of my bedroom mirror and here I am now.
So apart from the new track with Jay Z what else can fans expect from you this year?
No problem, anytime it was a pleasure.
Life’s great. Still adjusting to everything all this popularity is new to me but I’m enjoying all the popularity it may not always be here so you know just taking everyday a sit comes and enjoying it while I can.
When did you know you wanted to do music, what made you start rapping?
Ever since I was a kid I used to love music especially rap, I would listen to the lyrics, watch the music and think I want that lifestyle. The big houses, the cars, the jewellery I said I want to be that guy. I want to be in the videos, so you know I started writing lyrics started off performing in front of my bedroom mirror and here I am now.
At what age did you start take rapping seriously?
At around the age of 15, 16 Did you have any other aspirations or was rap always what you wanted to do?
Well when I was young I always wanted to be an astronaut (laughs). Funny how things change. My Mother wanted me to be a lawyer; however my father used to DJ so was always supportive in my choice.What artists did you listen to growing up? Who do you listen to now?
I grew up listening to everything. Literally everything. I was a big Redman fan, Big Daddy Kane, Biggie, LL, Jay Z, and Nas. That¹s what I’m about. I love the total package emcees. There aren¹t a lot of them around at the moment.
Originally your from south London however you just returned from the U.S after a long stint over there collabing with Jay Z. Tell us about that.
Ahh man where to start. At first when my agent told me Roc-A-Fella (Jay Z’s record label) had phoned I thought it was a joke. It all became reality quickly and next thing I knew I was on a plane to America to meet Jay Z as he said he’d admired my work and had an idea for the two of us. It’s funny really I’ve always admired him and seen him as one of the all time greats so for him to even acknowledge my work let alone want to do a track with me I was speechlessOriginally your from south London however you just returned from the U.S after a long stint over there collabing with Jay Z. Tell us about that.
Any plans to move over to the U.S on a permanent basis?
Definitely. I already feel as though I have dominated the U.K music scene and the challenge of the U.S would be something I’d love to do. The music industry in the U.S is more renowned and much bigger than in the U.K however South London will always be my home and the place that made me the rapper I am today. So apart from the new track with Jay Z what else can fans expect from you this year?
Just more music really. Music is my life. If I’m not eating or sleeping I’m writing lyrics or listening to music. So you can expect a lot more music from me this year and my album ‘Coming for the Throne’ that’ll be out in June.
Anyone else you would like to work with, dead or alive?There are a few names I could say Notorious B.I.G, 2Pac, Nas, Jay Electronica. Oh and DMX he was a great rapper.
Do you still consider yourself as an underground rapper even now after all your new found fame?I hate labelling myself as one particular thing. However I’m trying to bring back the lost art of raw emceeing, not any of this soft rap stuff so yh I’m definitely repping for all the underground artists who want to bring hardcore underground rap back to prominence.
What do you credit to your success?Apart from God and my parents I’d say just due to me being myself and not following anyone else.
So what would you say to any young upcoming artists that want to be just like you, trying to break out into the music scene?Work hard, stay focused and you can be whatever you want to be. Never let anyone tell you can’t do something. Your gonna have to grow some really thick skin as there gonna be some people that don’t like you and want to see you fail, but keep your head up stay strong and keep striving to be the best that you can.
Well thank you for coming in and speaking with us, Rapcity really appreciates itNo problem, anytime it was a pleasure.
Thursday 5 April 2012
New & Improved Contents Page
This is my new contents page following Ms Mottrams constructive criticism I changed the contents page over. I moved the photo from the left tothe right and instead of having the 'contents' in three seperate parts I put it all together along the top of the page. I find this one much better in comparison to my previous one where there was no continuity between colours on the front page and contents and the layout was also very simplistic. I tried to encorporate some of the red from the cover into my contents so decided to use red line sort of like columns to sepearte the different articles.
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