Hip-Hop Magazine closer analysis: Layout/colour

The conventional layout of Hip-Hop magazine covers is to have a central picture, surrounded with cover lines spaced equally around it. They will usually have one banner-like cover line which much larger than the rest. In the above examples it is 'Eminem' and 'The Game'; and this cover line is nearly always on the left of the cover. The masthead is usually placed behind the head of the model, but still clearly visible and mostly uncovered. above the the masthead we usually see another/more cover lines.
The Background of most Hip-Hop magazine front covers is clear, although 'The Source' (above) uses a kind of texture. The majority, however, use a clear, usually white or black background with a subtle gradient. Usually darker at the bottom and lighter at the top. Sometimes, another very faint gradient can be seen behind the masthead, making the background behind darker and causing the masthead to stand out more.
Hip-Hop magazine covers usually have a colour theme, and as seen in both above examples, this is usually red. They tend to use only one colour, and mix it in with black and white to create a professional and tidy look. The themed colour is usually on the masthead and selected parts of coverlines.

I will take all these factors into account when designing my own magazine.