Textual analysis of XXL Front Cover.

 

 XXL is a widely recognised Hip Hop magazine on this front cover that featured ‘Baby and Lil Wayne’ had specific links to its primary genre as they are two dominating well known artists. Firstly focusing the masthead that had been studded with diamonds, this simultaneously with the jewellery presented on the rappers conveys the luxurious ‘bling’ lifestyle that is stereotypically attached to a hip hop lifestyle.  There is a textual link between the puff line ‘a decade of dominance’ symbolic of the magazines ongoing success and then the cover lines listing ten major artists of the hip hop industry boosting the successes of the music industry. The main image on the front cover shows two well known rappers standing topless side by side with high chests and tilted heads. This pose and bodily posture have the connotations of confidence and camaraderie implying hip hop is a big and powerful presence in the industry of music and suggest a link between the two artists, as this magazine would appeal to a specific audience the consumers would know the link is their music label. The powerful main image has a noticeable contrast to the background image of a less glam and money driven area this contrast highlights the ‘grounded’ nature the two rappers are trying to give off and the fact that with their rise to fame they haven’t forgot where they started effectively providing them with a better connection to their audiences. Finally looking at the colour scheme of the front cover it uses mainly reds, blacks and white. The colour red has the deductions of a power and passion again relevant to the hip hop nature. Overall this magazine cover proves to be effective to its specific target audience, this can be said as in order to understand the connotations of the cover in full affect you would have to have an interest and knowledge of its specific genre.