Task 9 With Task 10 (Comments) Completion of Double Page Spread

`Task 9- My Journalistic Text

Dorian Santos is a Hip Hop Rapper and singer. He was born and raised in the streets of Hackney. He has been around music for two years and is due to release his first mixtape, ‘Time Will Tell’. We speak to him in an exclusive interview as he opens up to his early life, his work with a major artist and his completion of his first mixtape.

What generated your passion for music?

I listened to a lot of music, watched a lot of music videos, which inspired me to make music and try to film a video for one of my songs. It felt like a true norm to start making music and I got this conformation from my parents as well as teachers in my secondary school. I started rapping when I was 14 and started writing when I was 15. At 16, I was performing for my school’s leavers’ assembly. I also found out that I had the talent to sing, which was a slight amazement, but it also caught the attention of girls, which seemed to be a bonus.

Who is your inspiration and why?

My inspiration seems to be Tupac. His music was sensational and he was mainly a true artist. His words ‘spoke volumes’ and it had a huge impact on the way I conducted myself in society. I also look up to August Alsina. Although I am a few years younger than him, I still believe he can be an inspiration. He has been through hard times, and has managed to pull through, releasing his album ‘Testify’. Listening to the whole album made me change my whole writing style. I stopped talking about my dreams and started to talk about my thoughts and visions.

Who gave you the most help in creating ‘Time Will Tell’?

Time Will Tell should become a success, hopefully! Let’s just say my mother was the most help. Although she never helped on the productive side, she raised me. I have to give thanks to God first, as none of this would happen if I didn’t have faith in him. I wouldn’t be sitting here with UpBeat talking about a mixtape of my own, so thanks to God. I also thank my manager, productive team and special thanks to ReggieBeatz, for producing one of my best songs on the mixtape.

“Music is Knowledge, Knowledge is Power, The Power to shine...”

We’ve been told that someone is looking to feature you on tour with them! Who would this person be?

I don’t want to give much away, but it is true. I’ll be heading on tour with someone. It is a UK tour, heading to Manchester, Birmingham and hometown, London o2. The artist is well known in the music industry and it is a delight to work with them.

What song would you rate the best from ‘Time Will Tell’?

What is my best song on the mixtape! I think every song is as equal as each other. This is a hard question, but I can say that I like ‘Angels Fly’. It just has this Hip Hop buzz and it was produced by ReggieBeatz. He was very fun to work with. I think working with Wretch 32 was one of my true highlights. He was heavily interested in my music style and was keen to write and perfect the song. Hackney and Tottenham artist equals perfection! Music is knowledge and knowledge is power. My music gives me the power to shine.

Task 9 With Task 10 (Comments) Completion of Contents Page

Task 9 With Task 10 (Comments) Completion of Front page

Task 9 Magazine Construction of contents page

Hopefully this will be my final edit of my contents before it has been declared finished in my eyes

Task 9 Progress of contents page

I feel like the contents page of my magazine is coming along. Slight adjustments will need to be made, for example, whether to have a background image on the B side, similar to what the A side has. This may have its advantages but it may also have disadvantages. I also know that I need to add in page numbers for the contents page, which links in with the flat plan idea. I have decided to give out the twitter name as I believe that Twitter is a media site mostly used and can interact with fans/readers easier than Facebook. I have changed my colour scheme from black, white and yellow to black, white and red. I have been told that yellow may seem slightly childlike and very bright. Red is also used in the magazine XXL, so it seems to be a popular yet reliable colour to have in a magazine. Following the conventions of my colour scheme, I have added colour outlines to the words “regulars” and “features, for them to stand out more that “the A-side” and “the B-side”. It also stands out totally different to the rest of the text. The picture on the “A-side” (especially the rose) again, links in with my colour co-ordination of my contents page. My pictures on the B-side will soon contain page numbers that will link to the features /regulars included in the contents page. I will also look to increase the font size of the page numbers, so that my audience are able to see clearly where my articles are to be located.

Task 9 Progress of contents page

Slight changes have been made to my contents page. The font colour of my writing has changed from black to yellow with a black outline. For my Coverlines, they have also changed to a white colour with a black outline. Furthermore, I have changed the words "Features" and "Regulars" from the colour white to the colour black, with an italic font.

Task 9 Contents page so far

Task 9- Front page so far