The album cover of Kanye West's "College Dropout" is unconventional in several ways. It does not feature the artist's name prominently or follow typical hip hop album conventions. The use of natural colors like brown and gold suggests the artist's authentic nature. While minimal on information, the cover intrigues viewers and sets expectations that the music will provide a bold statement. The back cover continues the natural motif and provides more context about the artist through its tree design and inclusion of the tracklist and artist name.

1. Digipak
Analysis of Kanye West – College
Dropout

2. Front Cover
There is a colour motif of gold and
The album cover could be described brown on the front cover. Gold is
as unconventional not only for hip often associated with royalty and
hop but for all album covers. Due to wealth, and brown is often associated
the fact it does not have the artists with something natural. The motif is
name on the front at all. The fact his used as the colour gold suggests there
identity is concealed as well as not is something special about the artist,
quoting his name on the front says and the colour brown is used to give
something about the artists character. the audience a more natural side of
He is not after fame and his album is the artist.
all about the music and not the
image. This approach was rare in the
hip hop scene at this time, and
represents his individual approach to
genre that was receiving criticism
from governments for inciting hatred.
This appeals to a target audience who
are after an artist who stays true to
the music and doesn’t use their image
to sell music. There is a sense of
enigma surrounding the album cover,
due to the lack of information on the
front.
The ironic use of the mascot which is
often associated with happiness and
excitement is contradicting of the
mascots pose which is very lethargic
and sluggish.

3. Back Cover
Colour motif is continued on
the back of the album. The tracks are titled in the
The artists name is middle of a brown circle. This
written on the back of represents a tree cut and the
the album cover. The tracks in the middle are the
intricate design of the rings to tell how old the tree
font in which his name is is. The idea of drawing a
written suggests the connection between a tree
intricate and complex and the tracks on the album is
nature of the artists to suggest, the tracks are
music to the target natural, trees are sturdy,
audience. However the strong and long lasting. The
album title is written in likening to a tree suggests
large bold letters. This experience as trees with lots
suggests the album will of rings suggest they are old.
make a bold statement. This allows the audience to tell
an awful lot about the artist
before even hearing the songs.
The colour motif is continued
onto the back.
The tree could also be used the represent the growth and
development of him as an artist, and suggests the album will
depict different stages of the artists life.

4. CD Cover
The album cover drops the colour Juxtaposition. The use of the pink,
motif of gold and brown, and almost feminine CD is a form of
adopts the brighter colours of juxtaposition. Making the CD so
pink and yellow. These colours different from the album cover is an
are often associated with almost ironic, humorous move and
children's colours are girly allows the audience to draw upon
colours. I believe this has been differences between the two.
done in an attempt for the artist
the challenge the forms and
conventions of typical hip hop
albums, which are often
associated with ideas of
masculinity. This is done in an
attempt to represent the artist as
one not afraid to challenge the
typical conventions of hip hop
music, and this is also portrayed
in his music.