This album cover summarizes the key characteristics of a successful hip hop album cover: 1) It attracts the target audience by including stereotypical elements like tattoos and do-rags. 2) The artist's expression and pose are typically masculine and "hard" to appeal to hip hop fans. 3) Simplicity and lack of distraction point audiences to focus on the raw music itself.

1. Genre Album Covers
Album covers are used to attract audiences into buying an artists music, but
each genre of music attracts a different kind of audience, therefore the
album cover is used to entice its target audience according to that genre.
This means that there are particular characteristics, conventions and
features of a Hip Hop album cover that will be different to those of a Pop
genre. It is important when my group and I are creating our album cover
that we are appealing to our target audience and include some of the
stereotypical characteristics of a Hip Hop album cover.

2. This album cover
automatically has
Notorious B.I.G
attraction that will cause I think the idea of life is a
potential audiences to continuous theme that runs
notice the album cover throughout this album cover
and that is through the and I also think that it is
use of the baby. The subliminally illustrated in its
baby projects font. The fact that the words
innocence and life ‘BIG’ and ‘die’ are written in
which are not ideas red could relate to the idea
usually associated with that red represents blood
the genre however I and blood is what gives us
think this is why the life. Also the ‘BIG’ is written in
image is clever. The use capitals whilst ‘die’ is written
of the baby may not be in lowercase, to me this
used to represent the suggest that the artist will
artist but used in order to live through his music even
showcase the meaning he does not die. However I
behind the music. The there are a variety of
baby could also messages and it is based on
represent a natural state audience interpretation.
which could imply that
the music on this album
is also in a natural raw The simplicity of this album cover suggest to me that the music will
state, which would speak for itself as there are no distraction, it is just an image which
appeal to hardcore Hip could relate to the artist or the music and the artist and album
Hop Fans. name, this simplicity is what causes this album cover to be so
attractive as the audience want to know more.

3. It is very typical for all
Ja Rule
artists to use close up Tattoos are very much linked with the
shots of themselves as Hip Hop genre and the fact that the
album covers. In this artist has used a tattoo as the way to
case however the showcase the album name makes a
artist is looking away direct link with the genre.
which suggests there is
something more to the
audience and adds an
The font of the artist name
element of mystery
suggest an element of
this causes them to
wealth about the artist as the
want to know what the
style of writing is commonly
album is about. The
associated with rich people
facial expression is
and the idea of money. Also
something that is
the size is used so it can
commonly associated
stand out to audiences and
with the Hip Hop genre
they will instantly pick it up
as it shows the artist
because the artist is well
with a ‘hard’ and
established.
‘intrigued’ expression,
this has been done so
it prevents the artist
from looking angry
and unfriendly but
stops them from The fact that the artist is wearing a do rag, automatically makes an
looking happy as well, association with the Hip Hop genre as at that time period a do rag was a
which is an expression common item of clothing worn by Hip Hop fans and artists. Also the fact
not associated with that the artist is wearing no clothes showing a strong masculine body
Hip Hop. means that the artist is reaching out to a variety of audiences and this will
appeal to the women as well as the men.

4. When creating my own album cover my
group and I will have to think of alternative
ways of enticing audiences and projecting
Jay Z
a message.
The fact that the font of
the artist and the album I also feel when looking
name is in such small at this album that it is
letters would suggest to targeted at the artist
audiences that the album audience and fans and it
is all about the music and not used to entice new
it is not about who the fans. This is because of
artist is. This also could the 3 stripes, the album is
suggest the music the third part to the
contained on the will be trilogy ‘Blueprint’
real and truthful as there however to know that
is a sense of honesty that you would have to follow
is shown through this Jay Z’s music. I also think
cover through the that is aimed at its
simplicity of the writing previous fans because of
and the colour . the lack of the artist
image.
This album cover is one of the best Hip Hop album covers as it doesn't feature the artist. However it
uses simplicity through the colours to hide the complexity of music which is hidden behind. The
idea of using all musical instruments all the same colour suggest that they all play an equal role
are all necessary in creating a great song. This gives an indication to the audience the standard of
the songs that will be on the album. Also the fact that they are stacked on top of one another also
suggest that there is a form of build up of music within the songs.