This document analyzes the digipak designs of albums by Chris Brown, J.Cole, and Jay-Z. It discusses design elements like the artist images, backgrounds, typography, and color schemes. Key points made include that Chris Brown's design focuses on his visual image and persona, J.Cole's references his past album themes of basketball, and Jay-Z's simple black design emphasizes his authority and status in hip hop. Consistent design elements like fonts and colors are used across the digipaks to create cohesion.

2. Chris Brown – F.A.M.E Digipak Analysis
The main image is of the artist The background image of the front
who appears to be looking at cover is very image orientated just
the camera. The direct mode like the main image it focuses on
of address shows confidence, the visuals of the artist, This is
his facial expression is a stern similar for all hip-hop genre
look which could be linked to Albums. The clothing of the artist
part of the persona of the consists of caps and casual
artist as having quite a harsh clothing which is also common for
and masculine side to him. The this genre of hip hop. The images
use of this main image tells us used are extremely colourful
that the genre of music which attracts the target audience
focuses on the image of the for this genre which tends to
artist, rather then mainly the mainly be a younger audience
music. It uses a graffiti style of aged 13-20, in addition it could
drawing which has references refer to the multiple talent of the
to the street and connotations artist and his artistic nature, in
of an urbanized and particular his dancing and acting
underground theme. The artist which invites the RnB target
is seen with no musical audience profile as well as the hip
instruments which suggests he hop side of his target audience to
uses solely his voice. be interested in his digipak.
The typography used is consistent throughout the album, the title ‘F.A.M.E’ stands out even on the chaotic
background and foreground images due to the use of capitalized letters and large font which could be used to
show his flamboyancy which makes him as an artist stand out. It follows the graffiti style and stays consistent
throughout. Multiple colours are used however the typography is limited to blue and white on this front cover.

3. Black on white on
background – creates a
strong contrast making the
image and font stand out
to the audience, in
addition it could denote
another persona of the
artist, being black and
white conventionally
having connotations of
sophistication and Chris
Brown’s persona of being
stylish. The long shot
allows audiences to see
the costume and leant
forward - arms back
position that he is in, this Consistent typography.
is fairly reminiscent of Graffiti style font
Michael Jackson. This however the colours
denotes the relationship have been changed in
between him and MJ (a order to contrast with
song on the album is the white background.
dedicated to Michael
Jackson) but also his talent
as a dancer.

4. Another picture of the
artist on the back cover
in a metal mask, which
Black font this time not
could have connotations
in the graffiti style font
of being imprisoned or
contrasts well with the
hidden behind a mask
pink background which
especially in
isn’t dull or
contradiction to the
monochrome, which
album title ‘F.A.M.E’, we
again shows the visual
cant see the artists
aspect of the hip hop
face, which could be
genre music.
linked to his history from
Side panels show the
becoming famous, in
album title and artist
particular the events that
name, consistent to
happened with his
the front cover in
girlfriend at the
terms of both font and
time, Rihanna, the mask
colour.
therefore could denote
his shame or wanting to
be obscured form the
media’s vision. This time
looking away form the
camera a wide shot is used, we can see his whole body including body language and costume
which is more formal compared to the front cover again looking quite Michael Jackson like. The
back cover seems to contrast in terms of the artist costume and the direct mode of address again
showing multiple personas of the artist and denoting what comes with fame. Pink background
makes the artist in black and the songs list stand out a lot more.

5. J.Cole – Cole World The Sideline Story – Digipak Analysis
The main image shows J.Cole The background image is of
sitting on a bench looking a locker room, this gives a
directly at the camera denoting lot more attention to the
confidence. The use of a long main image of the artist. In
shot enabling the audience to previous albums released by
see all of the artist, including this artist such as “Friday
his position, costume but at the Night Lights” J.Cole is
same time facial expression. featured in a basketball kit
From this a lot can be signified sitting on a basketball. This
about the artist and his album. theme has been carried
His leant forward-hands through a few of his albums.
together position and facial Again the idea of locker
expression is quite relaxed and rooms in a school has been
slightly sympathetic, which used on this album this time
when compared to Chris the idea of ‘being on the
Browns facial expression was bench’ which denotes the
quite harsh and unsympathetic. mindset of J.Cole since
The costume of the artist being signed by Jay-Z and
shows a fairly urbanized but at the impression of being on
the same time sophisticated the sideline waiting for his
element to the artist, in turn to be chosen.
addition there are also traces
of wealth and success, for
example his watch - this is Typography used is consistent similar to al other digipaks however font size of the
quite subtle however, denoting artist this time is larger then the font size of the album, this could have connotations
it’s not common for him to of the artists name being well known, it could also just be for the layout of the
mention materialistic things in digipak and general aesthetics.
his album.

6. Consistent typography
used throughout digipak
including on CD. The The idea of being on the
adaption of the letter ‘sideline’ is used again as the
‘O’ to make it look like a image on the CD. It shows a
devil has been used in basketball court which
other albums released denotes the feeling of being
by this artist which on the bench and waiting to
creates consistency and be put in the game. which in
almost creates a symbol real life represents his
for the artist that the chance as an artist, since
audience use to being signed with Jay-Z,
recognize him. In (who is seen as the coach) to
addition it could generally become a more
represent part of the mainstream hip hop artist.
artists persona as being
quite devilish, having a
bad side to him as well
as a good side - which is
represented by the halo
on the letter ‘E’ of his
name.

7. The foreground image The background image is
features J.Cole sitting down similar to the front cover of
similar to the front cover the digipak in terms of using
image, light is focused onto a photo of the artist on a
the subject which gives plain background, this time a
focus to the artists image, much more simplistic black
similarly his costume background which makes
represents an urbanized audiences focus on the two
fashionable trend which main subjects of the back
could be representative of cover – the track list and the
his target audience profile. image of the artist.
Consistency is managed with Side panels allows the
the use of the black and red audience to read what the
jacket, and this time he is album is when stood on a
looking away from the shelf, more importantly
camera which denotes, continuous use of colours to
along with his position, a create consistency
much more relaxed and also Consistent use of typography, capitalized white font for the throughout the album.
profound image, this could track names, and red coloured font for the track numbers
relate to some of his songs and artists featured in songs. The capitalized white font has
as being quite insightful with been made a larger size than the red font, it stands out
a lot of meaning to them. against the dark background and grabs the audiences
attention. Record label and certificates are also featured on
the back cover again using the consistent red and white
font.

8. Jay-Z – The Black Album Digipak Analysis
The main image of the artist is The background is all black
very obscured, the audience to match the image and
doesn’t see all of Jay-Z’s face make the audience focus
besides his nose and lips, and on the artist image and
unusually for Jay-Z this digipak features that stand out.
doesn’t consist of materialistic The costume of the artist
objects such as expensive is urbanized which relates
jewellery or cars which is to the genre and the
usually fairly typical of some of artists lifestyle. The use of
his more recent music. The the cap covers his eyes
fact that this album was an and creates a dark
earlier release of around 2003 shadow, a direct mode of
could be representative of the address is still used even
image and the fact that he had though we cant see his
to start off with the bare eyes which denotes
minimum to work up to his confidence but also to add
current status, fortune and to the simplistic style of
fame. The image is all black the digipak. The
with no other colours which NME also said that he ‘changed American music’ his capitalized font is used to
makes it very simplistic and position on the digipak is quite representative of a attract the
ideal to carry across the idea person who is confident to achieve big things and has audience, especially due
of the image representing all authority, in addition an aspect of masculinity is also to the fact that white on
that Jay-Z is for example, as portrayed through the image used. black is used.
said by NME magazine, ‘The
king of New York’

9. Consistency created The record label is shown
through use of white font along with the website of
on black background, and it, this promotes Jay-Z as
the simplistic design of the its his record label and
digipak is carried out again a white capitalized
through to the back cover font is used to create
with the use of majorly consistency, the use of
black colouring. The plain capital font could signify
black background could be Jay-Z’s persona as an
suggestive of Jay-Z’s subtle individual/unique hip hop
but high status that he artist, separate from
obtains i.e. he doesn’t others in the industry.
need to show off with Culturally the use of
expensive objects and the capital letters in
plain background is quite someone’s name also
representative of this. adds to a sense of
In addition the black and uniqueness.
white could also denote
sophistication, where
commonly white and black
represents wealth and
class for example white
and black parties.

10. The same typography is used along with the black background which creates
consistency on the digipak. The font is again capitalized but also its aligned to the
middle of the page, its centre of attention and the most important thing on the
back panel. This makes the audience focus on the track names rather than anything
else.