The document discusses the analysis of CD packaging and how it creates an identity for artists and their albums. It provides two examples: - Giggs' 2016 album "Landlord" features a gritty font and imagery of Giggs walking through a destroyed London, reflecting his experiences with the law and feelings of paranoia. - Stormzy's 2017 album "Gang Signs & Prayer" shows him at a table reminiscent of the Last Supper, combining religious and street aspects of his life to show he is not one-dimensional and establish his status above others. It also features a child in a balaclava to represent how youth get pulled into street violence.

1. Analysis of CD Packaging
Charlie Stopler

2. CD packaging is a very important part of creating an identity
for an artist and their album, the design and meaning behind
it playing very important roles. A lot of the time, one may not
understand the relevance of the artwork until they have
listened to every track on the album, and vice versa. The
design will often have an emotional meaning, one that is
special to the artist and is something they want to share. The
artists opinions may be reflected in this, be it about their
personal/love life, political views or feelings. It can also
tell customers a bit about the general feel of the album before
they have listened to it, alongside the interior of the CD cover
usually designed with artwork for the listener to enjoy.

3. GIGGS
Giggs is a London
rapper from
Peckham born
1983.in 2016, his
4th album 'Landlord'
which ranked 2nd in
the UK album
charts.

4. This album presents Giggs walking through a post-
apocalyptic version of the city of London. The font is
large, gritty and reads 'when will it stop', perhaps a
comment on the violence so apparent in London's
streets, but the destruction and yellow sky also has
connotations of nuclear fallout, perhaps his call for
disarmament. The cover shows him strolling through
rubble with smoke stacks rising high above London
bridge burning. He walks through unharmed, glowing
and permeating yellow light from behind him. This
makes him appear almost as a messiah or a deity in
his all black attire. However, the most prominent
meaning is that of his recent brushes with the law,
being convicted of carrying a gun. The songs on this
album reflect his paranoia about authorities,
wondering when he can relax and no longer be seen
as a target. It is a comment on society and is a media
text that helps people who relate to the artists
situations regarding day to day life. It is geared
towards a younger audience but still has high acclaim
with older listeners.

5. Stormzy
Stormzy is London
rapper born in
1993. He won best
grime act at the
2014 and 2015
MOBO awards. His
2017 album 'Gang
Signs & Prayer'
became the first
ever Grime album
to reach Number 1
in the UK album
charts.

6. The album 'Gang Signs & Prayer' instantly holds a
certain juxtaposition in the viewers eye. He wanted to
combine religious and street related aspects of his life
on the cover to show that he is not a "one
dimensional character". The setting Is of course
reminiscent of the 'last supper' which would make
Stormzy Jesus in this image. His knuckles are bare on
the table and he is higher than everyone else with no
balaclava, showing his status above everyone else.
Every cup and jug is black, including the background
and table which blend together. This is to show
togetherness in the image. There is also a child in a
balaclava which is a comment on how young children
often get pulled into violence on the street and do
not follow religion as much as they used to.