Drafting and planning- organizing my own front cover

I have produced a XXL front cover and have thought about the ethos of the hip-hop/rap magazine whilst creating the cover. 

I have included lots of different codes and conventions of a music magazine, such as, left third, main cover line & cover lines, date line, price and barcode. All of these typical codes and conventions make the front cover more professional and easy to read. 

I've used a mid shot of Jae to ensure that he takes up most of the cover aswell as his head covering the masthead highlighting the importance of the artist to this edition of XXL. I think he has the hip-hop/rap image and is appropriate to the style of this magazine. 

I've used a puff with the buzz word 'FREE' as the magazine offers a free demo of the cover star's music, this would attract hip-hop/rap music fans as they would like the chance to hear a new artist's music.

The name of the artist is the largest boldest piece of text on the cover as fans of the magazine and genre would be intrigued by a new artists name.

The colour scheme and layout is very simple and all sticks to the simplicity and plainness of the masthead.