2. Jay Z
Watch The Throne
2011
Reasonable Doubt
1996
The Blueprint
2001
Kingdom Come
2006
Magna Carta Holy Grail
2013
Artist’s name on the
cover
Dark image
Light
imageArtistic/conceptual
Smoking
Artist on the coverBlack and white
Wearing a hat
Wearing a hat
Artist’s name on
the cover
Artist’s name on
the cover
3. Eminem
The Slim Shady
1999
The Marshal Mathers
2013
Recovery
2010
Infinite
1996
The Eminem Show
2002
Dark image
Artist on cover
Artist name on
the cover
Album name on
the cover
No Photograph
Photograph
Album name on
the cover
Album name on
the cover
5. Snoop Dogg
Bush
2015
Reincarnated
2013
The Blue Carpet Treatment
2006
Doggumentary
2011
Artist on the cover
Artist name on the
cover
Album name on cover
Light image
Dark image
SmokingBlack and
white
Features a dog
Conceptual
Different artist name
Dark image
Black and
white
Artist name on the
cover
Album name on
cover
6. Hip-Hop album covers much more commonly featured the artist of the
album on the cover or an instead featured a piece of artwork, pre 2000.
Gradually, the album covers for hip-hop artists have developed to
feature a more conceptual image rather than the artist as the main
feature of the cover. Some modern hip-hop covers do not include the
name of the album or even the name of the artist on the front, instead
relying on the fans to understand the cover and be able to identify it.
Hip-hop conventions recognised in music videos are and have been
utilised in most album covers of this genre; and feature people
smoking, in dark clothing, baggy clothing, sunglasses, etc.
Analysis
