Record label case study

• G-Unit Records is an American record label, specialising in both hip hop and gangsta rap. The label was founded in 2003 by rapper 50 Cent. Upon its inception, the label operated as a subsidiary of, and was distributed through, Universal Music Group's Interscope Records. In August 2010, the label added another distribution with EMI. In February 2014, G-Unit Records severed its eleven-year relationship with Interscope Records, and the label now operates under the mantle of Capitol Music Group and Caroline Records. G-Unit Records has a subsidiary label, G-Note Records, that caters to other genres of music, including R&B and Pop
• History: 2003 saw the release of G-Unit's commercial debut, Beg For Mercy, which sold 377,000 copies in its first week of release. It has now sold over 2.7 million units in the U.S. and 6 million copies worldwide. It has been certified double platinum by the RIAA. After bringing in West Coast rapper and Aftermath signee, the Game in early 2004, Spider Loc was also signed, around the time of Young Buck's Straight Outta Cashville release. However, Game and 50 Cent later had a falling out. As a result of Game's falling out with G-Unit, 50 Cent became unsure whether or not to sign any new artists to his "family," how he perceived G-Unit as a group and record label. Later that year, though, the opportunity to sign Mobb Deep and M.O.P.came up.
• Present-2014: On February 20, 2014, Tony Yayo stated 50 Cent "ain't rocking with [him]" and that G-Unit is over. He also announced his retirement from music stating "Too much stress. I flew the world already. Dropped an album. Time to try new things and the Unit not together. Then after what seemed like condescending comments about Lloyd banks and Yayo in multiple interviews, on April 25, 2014, 50 Cent said that due to the recent inside-fighting, G-Unit is currently "dismantled. However, on June 1, 2014, G-Unit reunited at the 21st annual hip-hop fest Summer Jam with 50 Cent, Lloyd Banks, Tony Yayo, Young Buck, and G-Unit's newest member, Kidd Kidd. The following day, G-Unit released a song titled "Nah I'm Talkin' Bout", a remix of HS87's "Grindin My Whole Life", making their comeback official.

Key artist case study- Eminem

• Eminem is an American rapper, record producer and actor known as one of the most controversial and best-selling artists of the early 21st century.
• Early life: As a teenage dropout, Eminem found a way to express his passion for language, as well as to release his youthful anger, through the emerging musical genre of hip-hip. He identified with the nihilistic rage of late-1980s and early-1990s rap music, and he was especially taken with N.W.A., the popular and highly controversial gangster rap crew from Los Angeles.
• Career Highlights: Eminem released his second studio album, The Marshall Mathers LP, in May 2000. The album showed off Eminem's poetic talents as well as his emotional and artistic range. His songs vary from manically funny to heartbreakingly poignant to explosively violent to disarmingly self-critical. The Marshall Mathers LP sold over 19 million copies worldwide, won the Grammy Award for Best Rap Album, received a nomination for Album of the Year and is widely considered among the greatest rap albums of all time.
• Rehab, 'Relapse' 'recovery': For the next several years, Eminem recorded very little music and was largely consumed by personal problems. Eminem and Kim Mathers divorced in 2000 but continued to maintain a tumultuous off-and-on relationship until remarrying in 2006. Nevertheless, they divorced again several months later and began a protracted, ugly and highly public custody dispute over their daughter Hailie. Meanwhile, Eminem slipped further into alcoholism and addiction to sleeping pills and prescription painkillers. In December 2007, he overdosed and nearly died. "If I would have got to the hospital two hours later, that would have been it," he said. By early 2008, Eminem had managed to kick his addictions to drugs and alcohol and returned to recording music.

Front cover analysis

• The title 'VIBE' is slightly obscured by T.I.'s head and they are able to do this because of how well known and popular their magazine is. consumers of this magazine will still recognise it despite the obstruction.
• The main image is a mid to close up shot of the artist featured, and shows T.I. smiling. The effect they were trying to do with this may be to express T.I as a upbeat character. Also, his wealth is expressed with the use of his luxurious looking clothing.
• The plug in located at the bottom left corner 'New Orleans Reality Check' is very effectively boxed up. This allows it to be separated from its surroundings, therefore allowing the reader to focus on it. It enables it to stand out.
• The layout of the sell lines keeps to the symmetrical pattern of the magazine and the font and colours give it that professional look. the contrast of colours between sell lines and background make it clear to see. 
• The button placed in the bottom right corner of the page has been thoroughly thought about. This is very intelligent and creative as the editor has curved the shape of the text to make it look like a baseball. making it relevant to the text in the button. In addition to that a silhouette of a man swinging a baseball bat is below it. This gave it an effect of the button getting 'Hit out of the park'.
• The white background allows for all the dark colours featured through out the front cover stand out really well. Ultimately it seems like the editor has gone for the simplistic approach and I think this adds to the professional look. 

Contents page analysis

• The word contents is very bold which helps it stand out and it is split up into three parts whilst the wording is not straight, this all is unique and in contrast to other magazines. these features help it stand out more to readers, however this is a frequent style which vibe use in their contents page, so it will be more recognisable.
• The large 'V' in the background symbolises VIBE and so adds to the effect of making it recognisable and keeping the professionalism.
• The sell lines follow the slanted effect of the title 'contents' and a variety of different fonts are used which give it a formal and professional look. the fonts are all very fancy which relates to the image and the information involved.
• The background is plain and simple which attracts the readers attention to the image of Kayne West. The image expresses Kayne as a powerful figure and the red heart stands out from the other dull colours which may connote to him having a big heart.

Front cover analysis

• Billboard as a magazine brand is so well known and popular that they have the ability to have their image block out some of its masthead. This is because consumers of this magazine will still recognise it.
• The image is positioned on the left hand side of the magazine whilst the sell lines are positioned on the right. The image is a very upbeat one with the artist featured singing and dancing on stage, this will stand out to magazine consumers when searching the selfThis is effective because it separates the two so both are clear and easy to focus on.
• In addition to the sell lines, they are are well organised which gives that professional effect. the colours of green and white are easily visible alongside the black background. Also the sell lines which are considered to be more important/significant have a slightly larger font. This is a intelligent and creative way to attract readers to specific sell lines first.

Analysing Feature article- DPS

Rap and Hip Hop origins

Front cover analysis