1) The covers typically feature close-up portraits of the artists showing tattoos and expressions to portray a tough image. 2) Bold text is used for the artist's name to catch attention. 3) Symbols like jewelry, hand gestures and clothing are intended to represent the artist's persona and meanings related to their music. 4) Conventions like parental advisories and album titles placed near the name communicate content. 5) Background colors, cropping, and photo styles are chosen deliberately to represent the artist or album concept.

1. Rap/Hip-Hop research of
existing digipacks!
By Denisa Sykaj

2. Examples of the many Rap/Hip-
Hop CD Covers out there…

3. Wiz Khalifa
A close-up of the This front cover is a
artist, showing his common pose to
expression. have by other
rap/hip-hop artists
The name of the artist
is clear and catchy, as is
the title of the album. The tattoos are
common and
The fact that he is expected on a
not wearing a shirt lot of rap/hip-
could represent one hop artists.
of the many
meanings of the
title ‘Make it hot’. The jewellery
represents the genre as
rap/hip-hop artist go all
out with the ‘bling’.

4. Fat Joe
His facial expression
gives off a fierce Another common
impression which front cover for a
connotes him being Rap/hip-hop artist.
a ‘bad boy’.
The name of the artist is This image –
very clear and bold – the having a snapback
use of this random on and a hood up
bright colour ensures shows the physical
that it captures peoples character e.g. this
attention, the title of the artist could be
album however is not as perceived a s a
clear or bold. gangster due to this
image.
The CD cover as a whole is
quite mysterious because
the main colour is black,
including the little bit of
clothing that is shown.

5. Game
The name of the
A close up of the artist artist is clear and
showing his face positioned at the
top of the cover, a
bolder, darker red.
Again a common
feature that many The use of the colour
rap/hip-hop artists red on this CD cover
have is the facial links with the name of
tattoos. the album which is
placed underneath
The hand gesture could the artist’s name in
be either symbolic for red ‘The Red Album’.
something which links
with his songs or just a
typical hand gesture The ‘Parental Advisory Explicit
showing his status. Content’ sign at the bottom
connotes that their will be
explicit language used.

6. Creative CD Covers
Different Conventions used
Different meanings or symbols portrayed
Same genre ; Rap/Hip-Hop

7. Lil Wayne
The image on the front
cover represents the Unlike the previous
artists name ‘Lil Wayne’ as three CD covers, this
a younger version of him. has a white bright
background which
complements the red
The tattoos on the artist which is also used.
represent the rap/hip-hop
common features, The clothes he is
especially because this wearing is a
particular artist has a lot graduation outfit
of tattoos. which could have a
few meanings – one
being he is smart.
The number IV under the A medium close up of
artist’s name shows the the artist – showing his
second album with the clear expression which
similar image to his previous seems very childlike and
ones as he has more that are almost giddy.
child like.

8. Nelly Furtado
This female artist of
The artists name is clear the same genre has a
and bold and positioned very unique front
at the top of the cover cover. - the big
which ensures to capture hoop represent the
the attention of the title of the Album
public. which is shown in
clear text.
The background
colors used are the An extreme close up
same as they color of of the artist – this is
the artists eyes. This so people can
could be a symbolic establish that the
match or have a background color is
different meaning. the same as her eye
colour.