Feedback Requested - Hip Hop Map

[RjBeals]

Looking for a bit of feedback. In case you don't know, I'm involved with a mapping contest themed with mapping New York. I chose to showcase the birth of Hip Hop. As usual, I didn't have a concrete theme in my head. As my map evolved, it sort of ended up like the attachment. The bottom right will be reserved for a subway/DJ and a big blurb of text explaining the map.

But... my wife thinks this new theme, which she calls graphic novel / comic booky / playbill, does not make sense. She thinks it looks like the playbill of a comedy play - especially the title.

I on the other hand sort of like it.

So, ignoring the bottom right, do you all think I've missed the mark with this? Or do you think it's come together nicely. Thanks all.

(edit) there's tons of "graffiti fonts" out there, but I didn't like any that I tried. I agree the bubble title letters do not necessarily look like spray paint - but it looks close. And the Old rappers I spraypaint on the subway (not there yet) will be in the traditional graffiti fonts.

 

[ghost]

to me.. it's your color scheme.. it doesn't really work for me.
a good site to look for colors that work/palettes is colourlovers.com..
try mixing it up a bit.. if you don't find anything you think works better, stick with this..
i don't think it looks like a comedy show playbill.. but i do think, messing with the sizes of text like that all in
one area is too much.. is it possible to move the text around some? to me, that would pull it together more.
the font is 'ok'.. try dafont and type in some of the text.. see what works for you.

it's cool though.. i am really digging the map itself all the details and elements.. very awesome.
can't wait to see it when you're done with it.

 

[ORBOTRON]

I love the map, but the fonts def give me the wrong feel. You need something gritty and badass. Something off an old school rap album cover

 

[andyokc]

Overall, I like it. I agree with ghost re: the color scheme. Something more urban/industrial (black & gray, concrete, etc.) might work w/ the primary set (especially red & yellow). And some graffiti font is probably a necessity, so i think it'll look better when it's got the subway scene in the bottom right.

 

[RjBeals]

thanks guys - how but something along these lines?

 

[ghost]

thanks guys - how but something along these lines?

i dig this arrangement of colors much more

 

[RjBeals]

I might try to lighten it up a bit. It's really dark at the moment. Thanks Ghost. Now I wish your man would drop me some feedback.

 

[Badorties]

I think the title treatment does look like a playbill. but I can't say why. either way its not very well composed, the text that is. the type is a bit too light hearted i think, especially when you combine it with a word like Hip hop, which has to safeguard against lightheared associations. There are tons of graf fonts out there, i've used many while making concert posters from hiphop folks.. it's just about finding the right one. sometimes combining ot tweaking them.

I like the new colors too.

 

[RjBeals]

word.

thanks bado.

 

[ghost]

i personally dig the last text treatment Bado suggested.. it screams "hop hip"... lol.

 

[andyokc]

i agree - the last font is pretty fontabulous.

 

[RjBeals]

i sort of liked the 3rd.

 

[ghost]

i sort of liked the 3rd.

go with what you like, it's always the best idea.

 

[asunder]

i know ghost mentioned colourlovers for pallet inspiration, i also use http://kuler.adobe.com/

its great for browsing through, or brainstorming to create your own combination

 

[acaminante]

was burger king really that influential in the origins of hip hop?

 

[Badorties]

was burger king really that influential in the origins of hip hop?

I hear humpty dances were performed there.

 

[RjBeals]

Believe it or not, BK was a gathering place after it closed. They would move tables, set up the DJ booth and have parties. I thought it was strange also, but it's been verified by old schoolers and a book. The 2 listed in the map were landmark sites for hip hop

 

[acaminante]

Believe it or not, BK was a gathering place after it closed. They would move tables, set up the DJ booth and have parties. I thought it was strange also, but it's been verified by old schoolers and a book. The 2 listed in the map were landmark sites for hip hop

There goes, RJBeals... droppin' some hiphop knowledge.

I think the map looks great - don't change the colors. I agree that the font is off, but for me it is not so much the font as the brick wall behind it. I don't like the bricks as is - instead of laying on top of Queens / NJ, maybe they would look better as a texture coming through instead? Perhaps give all the land masses a "concrete" texture, and where you have the bricks now it just becomes more pronounced or turns into bricks, but the map itself looks like bricks rather than having a layer of bricks on top. Right now it is an element that doesn't jive with the rest of the map for me.

Have a writer sketch the title for you, scan it and color it. Drop "manhattan and bronx", just have a "Origins of Hip Hop" in a cool style using the green, yellow and blue. Maybe move it to Queens instead of NJ.

Problem with most graff fonts is readability. I like the font on this page's title - readable but not overdoing it: http://grove.ufl.edu/~hhc/

 

[RjBeals]

Dude.. seriously repped for that post.

 

[RjBeals]

http://www.cartographersguild.com/s...Mapping-the-Big-Apple-***&p=133449#post133449

If anyone wants to help a brother out - the New York Mapping Challenge poll just went up. 26 entries - you can vote for 6. I hope one of those 6 is for my hip hop map


http://tinyurl.com/259eqkp