Analysing HipHop Magazines

As I have decided to create a HipHop magazine I am now looking into specific covers for that genre. I have taken the following examples from HipHop magazine VIBE.

This cover is featuring R&B artist Miguel as the central image. The VIBE masthead is bright and vibrant, and a fading effect has been used over his head, to keep focus on him but meaning the magazines name is clear. The cover editor has used many cover lines to let the consumer know what is included in the magazine, for example "your guide to the best...", "Kendrick Lamar the new god mc" and of course the tag line related to the focus model, "Miguel; sex, drugs and r&b". The strapline "Kanye VS R.Kelly: Who is music's number one genius?" is intriguing, and an audience who is interested in Hip-hop would find this strapline and the cover lines captivating, and would be compelled to buy the magazine. 

This cover is featuring Nelly and the central image is his half naked body covered in letters and his gaze is directly staring at the camera, creating a bond between the consumer and model. This cover and the above both have colour pallets of predominantly white, black and red. "NBA report; The good ball young" this cover line brings in basketball which could open up the subject of sport into the music, and could interest people who are looking for a varied points from the magazine. No coverlines nor the masthead are covering the main focus, which conforms to the magazine convention that the main image is usually clear of anything covering it.

This cover is a little different from the previous ones.  In the other two, the white backgrounds makes the red and black writing stand out as well as the models used, however here we see Rihanna in front of a bright blue background. The previously red Masthead is now blue and in front of the models head. Rihanna is looking very dramatic just off centre with the lens. The use of putting the cover line "what's love got to do with it" is covering Rihanna, which is unconventional in these types of magazine publications. Contrasting the other covers and challenging the convention of keeping the main image clear demonstrates that the editors thought the "juicy gossip" induced cover line about Rihanna's relationship with Chris Brown would appeal to more consumers than being in small writing and the same colours. They have made the decision to place the writing in front of Rihanna and in different sized fonts and different colours as they believe it will appeal to their audience.

Beyonce looks amazing here, however this cover is inherently sexualising her in a way that could be attempting to appeal to people who are attracted to females. 

This would potentially persuade them to buy the magazine with her breasts on show, a see-through shirt and the cover lines "Beyonce strips down" & "10+ pages of B like you've never seen her before" 

This is the type of magazine cover I would like to avoid replicating. The yellow and red colour theme is very tacky despite being eye-catching. It is laid out like that of a tabloid newspaper, the headlines grab your attention as they include celebrity scandals.  

I would like to avoid the seeming tactless tabloid-esque covers as they seem to promote stories that are outside the realm of serious journalism.  I would prefer my female model on the cover to be presented in a classy way (not that Beyoncé doesn't look great, but if my model was going to be sexualised, I'd rather her look empowered and strong, as opposed to just for men to see her "Strip down".)