Textual Analysis of a R&B/Hip-hop Front Cover

The magazine cover that I will be analysing is the XXL front cover of Lil’ Wayne and Baby. This magazine cover is constructed perfectly to suit the audiences it is aimed at. A lot of different presentational devices were used in the formation of the front cover, I will be going through some of them and analysing how they attract the target audience.

The first glance at the front cover reveals the main image of Lil’ Wayne and Baby to be the most dominating factor on the front page. The main image is of the two rappers Baby and Lil’ Wayne, both rappers containing a lot of tattoos on their bodies, and are also wearing a lot of jewellery. The tattoos can connote a lot of things from toughness to fame and wealth. The jewellery is another wealth connoting feature but they are also used as Lil’ Wayne advertising his record label (Young Money). Also, the topless nature of both men could be used as an attractive feature to girls in the age range of the target audience. Through the main image alone, we can see just how many attractive techniques are used to attract various readers.

The masthead of the magazine, although pushed to the side by all the other features, is still really dominant. The red background on the diamond encrusted XXL is much more attractive to the Hip-hop audience than expected and it once again connotes wealth. Diamond is basically wealth and the red background could refer to a red carpet rolled out for royalty. Therefore, it backs up the main image and again, is really attractive for the target audience of the XXL magazine.

The cover lines are another feature which stands out and ties the whole magazine together. The “&” in “Baby & Lil Wayne” is red and a different font is used to show the uniqueness of the two artists. The red also matches the masthead and goes along nicely. The phrase “survival of the fittest” is also really great on the page and makes you want to read it, therefore a form of attracting the audience.

In conclusion, I think the front cover is really successful in targeting and attracting its target audience. Although the front cover is a norm in the hip-hop magazine world, I believe that it should be a bit simpler, but for XXL, it is a convention.