The document provides background information on three albums: Kanye West's "Graduation", Eminem's "Recovery", and Nas' "Life Is Good". It analyzes and compares elements of each album's cover artwork, including images, logos, and production details. It also discusses how the covers relate to the artist's brand and target audience. Advertisements for the albums in print magazines are presented and similarly analyzed for design choices and messaging.

1. CD Album Cover Analysis
Kanye West’s Graduation was released in 2007 on Roc-A-Fella records which is a subsidiary of the
Universal Music Group, it’s distributed by The Island Def Jam Music Group in the USA and Mercury
Records outside of the USA. The genre of the music from the artist is predominantly hip hop/R&B.
Eminem’s Recovery was released in 2010 and is his seventh studio album making him an already established
artist within the music industry. It was released by Shady Records and Aftermath which are ultimately
subsidiaries of Interscope Records. Eminem usually makes music in the hip hop genre also.
Nas’ Life Is Good is the eleventh studio album from Nas who is also an established artist within the music
industry however as you will see later in this presentation their cd album covers are different (Eminem’s straying
away from a conventional album cover) both with images they may not obviously link to the genre of music
which means they have relied on their name and a familiar audience recognition
Background information on albums

2. Artist name
Album title in a
different font to
distinguish it from
artist name which is
right next to it.
Main image links to
title concept
‘Graduation’ as it
depicts a college
campus on top of a
colourful speaker
which looks like it
was drawn by a
young child. The
graduation hats in
mid-air also reinforce
this concept
Kanye West’s common
logo earlier in his career. It
links to the concept of this
album as well as earlier
albums released by the
artist (College Dropout). A
clever image as the bear is
a likeable image dressed
like a mascot which
further links to college and
his potential alter ego.
Production details on
the front which is
unconventional as its
generally placed on the
back of albums this has
been done to further
promote the
production company, a
main figure at his label
thus he is probably
required to do so also
the cover art/logo
(bear) may be exclusive
to Kanye West and his
company so this is a
message to deter
copyright.
Parental advisory
conveys the explicit
content within many of
the songs of the album
perhaps not suitable for
children
Target audience for
album perhaps
students in the late
teen phase and during
there twenties

3. Back Cover
Tracklist with the
list of people who
also feature
expanding the
audience and
interest
Main image links to
the front cover’s by
being a reverse shot
keeping the theme
the same and not
confusing the
audience
More production
details and company
promotion/details.
Barcode in the
corner as it is a CD
that is available for
purchase in stores

4. Eminem himself is on the
cover walking down a
road, links to a common
phrase that depicts the
route to recovery being a
road. Reflecting the topic
of most of the potential
musical content and lyrics
however upon a first
glance of the background
some may argue that the
musical genre don’t
match.
The album title has an
ambulance cross logo as a
substitute for the letter ‘o’ a
symbol for what the title is.
Main image is a
long shot of a
deserted road with
only a man on it ,
Eminem’s name is
no where to be
seen as he status is
already large so the
audience would
already know who
it’s by
Parental advisory to convey
explicit language and
content within the language
Backwards E is a
symbol/logo for
Eminem used
previously
If the audience aren’t
familiar with Eminem
they won’t understand
that this is his album
and how it the cover
art links to the
concept, won’t
understand why he
has to make a
‘recovery’ won’t
notice subtle logo in
album title

5. Album title, at the bottom in a
central position. Typography is
fancy, crisp and underlined links
to theme of artist’s life being
good
Name in different
font to the album
title and has
become somewhat
of a logo/signature
for the artist which
has been used on
previous albums.
Perhaps suggesting
that the core
underlying message
of the music is
similar to the past.
Main image is a long
shot of the artist
Nas, the mise en scene
is significant he is
wearing a white suit
holding a green
wedding dress alone
surrounded in a black
room with black
furniture
highlighting/drawing
attention to Nas but
the dress more so.
However his face
contradicts the title as
he isn’t smiling possibly
an important link to the
content. The green is
also significant in his
life as people familiar
with Nas will know it is
his ex wife’s wedding
dress replica perhaps
giving a sign for the
music stemming from
that key event in his life
An audience unfamiliar with
Nas will probably know the
type of genre this album will
consist of as the subtle
clothing or rather accessories
such as gold chain and ring
link in to rich rapper
stereotype. Perhaps this
album is aimed at older
people in contrast to Kanye
West’s album (See slide 1) as
when I see this main image I
think of sophistication and
maturity also highlighting the
maturity of his music style
and how long he has been
around for

6. Print Magazine Adverts For CD’s

7. Main image the same as
album cover, he’s made
musical instruments
look like a city so
audience know it’s an
album. Carefully placed
instruments and items
that reflect time such as
the old radio that would
of being used in the
early 1900s in addition
to items such as turn
tables which would be
more recent. The
instruments all being
white perhaps highlight
the point of his music
being pure in contrast
to some people within
the music industry
linking to one of his
singles (D.O.A – Death
Of Autotune)
Name of the artist
headlines and is the
biggest writing on the
poster so magazine
readers who may not
be familiar with his
work know who it
is, which is different to
his album cover as his
name is in the corner
in a smaller font.
Album title present
under name above
picture
Repetition of logo it
stands out represents
the third of as trilogy
Name of company/record
label further advertising
his brand. Also mentions
singles from the album
that reached a high
number in the charts so it
attracts/appeals to a
larger audience that may
recognise the song
Further advertises his
website for things such
as tour dates,
merchandise, deluxe
editions etc.Date of release on display so people know when to get it

8. Artist name is big in contrast to the
album title, audience will recognise the
artist’s name more than the album title.
Main image the same as
the album cover, medium
long shot of Drake at a
table with a golden chalice
among other golden items
again gives off the
impression that it’ rapper’s
album as the stereotype
suggest that rappers like to
show off their fancy
accessories
Tells audience when the
album is out although
doesn’t have a specific
date as this advert was
probably done a week
before release
Mentions two hit singles
from the album that have
been released as well as a
range of other popular
artists that appear on the
album as features to attract
fans of the other artists to
purchase his
album, similarly to the way
magazines have side stories
to appeal the audience into
purchasing it and reading on
Also the artist represents himself
as a deep thinker as despite being
surrounded by golden items his
head is down with a drink in hand
perhaps relating to most human
beings who are sad/over-thinkers
but sometimes do not realise what
they’re actually surrounded by, this
album looks to be full of somewhat
sad content due to the title
(making it seem like love problems)
in addition to the mise en scene
(he is wearing all black in a dark
room)

9. Album title big and noticeable
in bold black font. It has also
caused controversy as some
believe it may be a play on the
name ‘Jesus’ so even before
this advert viral marketing had
already taken place in the form
of word of mouth on the
internet likewise among people
in the real world. As he
commonly referred to as
‘Yeezy’ it makes the title
somewhat relevant.
Artist name also in bold in
case anybody didn’t know
that it was a Kanye West
album as they may be
unfamiliar with the title and
there isn’t a clear image that
consumers can associate with
the album yet making it
possibly harder to remember
In this current day and age in media,
products being sold such as games and
music can be pre ordered, most
common with games, usually pre
ordering perhaps gets the consumer an
extra incentive in contrast to the
consumers that buy the album
normally. For music it may be bonus
tracks or signed limited editions
however the choice for Kanye West to
neglect this practise on his latest album
could mean that he doesn’t need to do
that because of his stature or that the
work is unfinished as of yet so
consumers can’t also get a pre ordered
version due to it usually coming early. It
could also perhaps reflect the main
image which is a blank cd with a red tag
of the album title on the side, a possible
statement to say to the audience it’s a
blank canvas and your interpretation of
the album will be different to another
audience member. He also may not
want/need to spend money on extra
incentives in a ploy to gain as much
profit as possible. Many other artist
may not be able to pull this off because
they aren’t as famous (infamous in
some respects) and don’t have a
significant position within the industry,
he is also rich enough to do this so it
won’t affect him severely if this album
doesn’t do well
Small print advertising on the
actual cd and production
details promoting his company.
The poster itself and main
image particularly are simple as
Kanye doesn’t want anything to
distract the consumer from
purchasing his album it’s very
direct giving you perhaps all the
information you need such as
the date of release and title.
Simplistic and potentially
effective.