Typography Choices
The images below show how and which typefaces are used within the hip hop genre, be that album covers, magazines or posters ad flyers. Recurring typefaces include Cooper Black, Harbour, Euclid Flex. There is also a very diverse mix between sans serif and serif fonts. The serif typefaces work better and would be most appropriate as it shows the roots of hip hop and uses the style of graffiti introducing a more cursive style. The sans serif fonts, especially those used as title text encourages the commercialisation of hip hop brining it to modern times and forgetting about where and how hip hop came about in the first place. It is also generally the more well known artists who do a lot of advertisements, turning hip hop into a commmodifcation. Sans serif works best for the body text as it still ties in with the modernisation of hip hop and how it exists now, however for title texts serif communicates the more underground, original artists which aren't that well known.
The images below show how and which typefaces are used within the hip hop genre, be that album covers, magazines or posters ad flyers. Recurring typefaces include Cooper Black, Harbour, Euclid Flex. There is also a very diverse mix between sans serif and serif fonts. The serif typefaces work better and would be most appropriate as it shows the roots of hip hop and uses the style of graffiti introducing a more cursive style. The sans serif fonts, especially those used as title text encourages the commercialisation of hip hop brining it to modern times and forgetting about where and how hip hop came about in the first place. It is also generally the more well known artists who do a lot of advertisements, turning hip hop into a commmodifcation. Sans serif works best for the body text as it still ties in with the modernisation of hip hop and how it exists now, however for title texts serif communicates the more underground, original artists which aren't that well known.
Display Fonts
Cooper Black Font
In the 1970s, Cooper Black became overused everywhere you went you could find it. Which is when it found hip hop, breakdance crews and DJs used it for their uniforms and posters. Then obviously Cooper Black informed graffiti, as it resembled the 'bubble' writing that is stereotyped by graffiti. The font appears as part of the book 'Subway art' by street photographer Martha Cooper. It is also featured on the book Shirt Kings: Pioneers of Hip-Hop Fashion. The typeface, designed by in 1921, shows influences if art nouveau, art deco and the machine age, which mirrors the innovation of hip hop. Cooper Black has also become iconic of the 1970s when the hip hop movement came about. The font is best used on divergent background, therefore it would be most appropriate to place over the portraiture photography used within the publication.
Harbour Font
Designed by Gareth Hague, Harbour has a sense of medieval and blackletter personality, however this style represent being old or out of fashion and out of context which contrasts the modernity of hip hop now. It contrasts the usual designs and typefaces used now and takes a step back and strips everything away and goes back to the beginning of hip hop. It delivers an essence of handwritten skill which has a likeness to graffiti. It is mean to be used alongside contemporary fonts and contemporary layouts therefore it is no longer a pastiche. Graffiti has taken references from blackletter type and takes influences from the decorative style.
Euclid Flex
Harbour Font
Designed by Gareth Hague, Harbour has a sense of medieval and blackletter personality, however this style represent being old or out of fashion and out of context which contrasts the modernity of hip hop now. It contrasts the usual designs and typefaces used now and takes a step back and strips everything away and goes back to the beginning of hip hop. It delivers an essence of handwritten skill which has a likeness to graffiti. It is mean to be used alongside contemporary fonts and contemporary layouts therefore it is no longer a pastiche. Graffiti has taken references from blackletter type and takes influences from the decorative style.
Euclid Flex
This typeface is designed by Swiss Design and it is a very flexible as it contains a range of alternate characters and ligatures. It is a geometric sans-serif typeface, it goes against type design rules. Rather than the history of type, it tales it's roots of design from street culture such as graffiti and the train writing and the speed, rush and adrenaline associated with graffiti writing. The typeface has definitely taken it's ideals from the youth of our time. The typeface can be used as headline text but also as standard text. Euclid flex pushes the boundaries of creative type design.
Body Text
Neue Helvetica
Neue Helvetica is a reworking of the typeface with a better structure and a unified set of height and widths. What also changed was improved legibility, heavy punctuation marks and increased spacing. The original helvetica font was redrawn and reworked to overcome the technological limitations of it's time, which no longer existed. The outcome was Neue Helvetica, a mix of aesthetic and technical refinements and modifications that resulted in improved appearance, legibility and usefulness. The reworked font demonstrates the development of hip hop and how hip hop has changed to adjust to modern times.
Giorgio Sans
Giorgio Sans drew it's inspiration from french enamel signs and American sign lettering. It has an extreme x-height and long lettering which mirrors the long lettering used within graffiti and the start of the development of hip hop. Giorgio sans is elegant and takes design in unexpected directions, therefore it will contrast against the urban and grunge photography and imagery within the publication.
Caslon
Caslon adds a touch of class to a design and can be used as headlines, design element. It also lends itself well to publications and books, especially where reading is necessary. Caslon can contrast the content of the design and add a touch of class and the history that comes with the typeface. The serif font also mirrors the type used within graffiti which was very ornamental and cursive.
Body Text
Neue Helvetica
Neue Helvetica is a reworking of the typeface with a better structure and a unified set of height and widths. What also changed was improved legibility, heavy punctuation marks and increased spacing. The original helvetica font was redrawn and reworked to overcome the technological limitations of it's time, which no longer existed. The outcome was Neue Helvetica, a mix of aesthetic and technical refinements and modifications that resulted in improved appearance, legibility and usefulness. The reworked font demonstrates the development of hip hop and how hip hop has changed to adjust to modern times.
Giorgio Sans
Giorgio Sans drew it's inspiration from french enamel signs and American sign lettering. It has an extreme x-height and long lettering which mirrors the long lettering used within graffiti and the start of the development of hip hop. Giorgio sans is elegant and takes design in unexpected directions, therefore it will contrast against the urban and grunge photography and imagery within the publication.
Caslon
Caslon adds a touch of class to a design and can be used as headlines, design element. It also lends itself well to publications and books, especially where reading is necessary. Caslon can contrast the content of the design and add a touch of class and the history that comes with the typeface. The serif font also mirrors the type used within graffiti which was very ornamental and cursive.
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