2. ALBUM/CD COVER
An album cover is the front of the packaging of a commercially released audio
record, or album. In an increasing digital age it is also the primary image on any
track of digital format on individual tracks or the complete album. The main use is
much like the advert to attract the audience to the album as well as giving the
listener a little knowledge of what the album’s theme will be about.
In addition, except for digitally recorded music the cover serves as a protective
sleeve.
Background
Typography –
artist/band name
Additional Information – this Main Image – Usually
includes puff’s advisory is the main
warnings and extra content convention on the
cover. Is not always a
picture
Album Title

3. KENDRICK LAMAR – SECTION. 80
Section.80 is the debut digital independent album by
American hip hop recording artist Kendrick Lamar, released
exclusively through iTunes on July 2, 2011, under Top
Dawg Entertainment. The album is his first studio release,
following five mixtapes and an extended-play. Section.80
sold 5,400 copies in the US solely based upon digital
downloads, debuting and peaking at number 113 on the US
Billboard 200 chart with minimal mainstream media
promotion and coverage.
Firstly the typography of the of the CD cover is rigid and
formal. The actual title a of the album and the artist name is
not truly visible to the audience meaning that the main point
of focus is the images surrounding the typography. Also the
layout of where the typography is placed is linked to the
genre as it is presented as an envelope and notice or
receipt shoved under the drugs, ammo and harmful
substances. In additon the title “Section 80” and “HiiiPower”
have contextual meanings. “Section 80” refers to the
problems his generation of the 80’s grew up with thus
connotes the concept which is the problems the generation
of today now face, HiiiPower uses the 3 “I” that stand for
heart, honor and respect the three main things that people
should have and live by
Overall this representation would appeal more to a male Which leads to the next convention the pictures that are
audience because of the imagery and the dark lighting shown in the frame. Specific items have been placed closer
almost of the images on the cover, however because of the to the frame coming more into focus. This could suggest
message the album is trying to illustrate it is arguable both that these are the most significant problems in todays
gender groups will find appeal in this album cover . This generation. However the images are made to make the
cover appeals to me because of the unconventional images audience think that it is a stereotypical genre adhering to
on the cover, such negative images create an political the ideas that come from these items however upon further
message which is what the album is all about. The element analysis you can see, self motivation books and the Bible
of meaning is what appeals to me suggesting themes of hope through the struggle

4. LYRICS BORN – AS YOU WERE
As U Were is a 2010 album by Lyrics Born set for release
on Decon Records and Mobile Home Recordings October
26, 2010. The album currently has two proper singles,
"Pushed Aside/Pulled Apart" featuring Lateef the Truth
Speaker and "Lies X 3".
The typography of both the album and band/artist aren’t
rigid more curved yet slightly straight. The album title in
particular is faded. This creates a representation of word
play from the three features of the band/artist name, title
and images. The fading presents the idea of fading to “as
you were” and that is most commonly thought to be when
you were “born”. The close positioning of both titles
suggest a simplicity which is supported of the idea of
when you born you are simply that born, innocent to the
world nothing else. This is enforced by the plain white
background it also simplistic but the element of white as a
colour that suggests themes of innocence and angelic
ideas.
Linking into the imagery on first glance it looks like the
people in the images are growing much like the evolution
of man however as stated before because of the word play
and name of the album as an audience we are forced to
Overall this cover doesn’t appeal to me it has look at the imagery in a different representation that in fact
the man in the picture is de-evolving going back from the
very visual appealing parts of it such as the
stages again “as they were” when they were “born” the
images and the use of a well known theory and
colour scheme seems to blend into each other linking
using it unconventionally. The colour scheme is together; purple blending into pink, to red, to orange and
visually appealing however the white space in finally yellow. Further analysis shows that the colour
the background seems to draw my attention scheme links into the idea/theme. The colour blending
from the typography makes it visually appealing to both gender audiences

5. AB SOUL – LONGTERM MENTALITY
Longterm Mentality is the first independent studio
album of American hip hop recording artist Ab-Soul,
released April 5, 2011. Longterm Mentality is the third
instalment in Ab-Soul's Longterm series. Preceded by
Longterm (2009) and Longterm 2: Lifestyles of the
Broke & Almost Famous (2010), Longterm Mentality
serves as the first project Ab-Soul released to digital
retailers. Ab-Soul explained that the three instalments
paint a picture of his personal life and growth.
The typography of the album cover is square rigid with
smaller shapes to make it stand out from the
background as the cover uses a general colour of red
this could be for appeal as red is usually used to
convey power . Upon further viewing you can see that
the title is used to make up the background in red
writing, this could be to put the words into the readers
mind “Longterm” especially. The colour scheme is an
effective as the white is able to draw your attention to
what needs to be brought to your attention the artist
name and title
The picture is simplistic yet effective, much like the
This album cover appeals to me as the Lyrics Born cover illustrates the wording and is a play
simplicity of the cover allows the artist to on words. “Longterm” is illustrated through the noose
set the ideas about what the album is around the neck of the silhouette , interpreting death
about it is nothing else but what is on the as a “Longterm” while mentality comes from the brain
drawn in the head. This suggests that these are all
artists mind. original thoughts from the artist mind .

6. ALBMUM ADVERTISEMENTS
Album Advertisements are used to attract the target audience into further research
as well as prompting interest into new and existing artists. In most cases it
advertises the current album from the artist or group however it can also include
any tours, new singles, and sometimes plain promotion for the group or artist (e.g.
Friendly Fires… the band of the summer.).
In some cases as well the adverts are used to send a political message or idea
through the genre or type of music that the artist/band specialises in.
Background
Main image
Typography - artists Album Title
name, release dates and
featuring artists
Additional information
(e.g. retailers)
Institutional
information
Additional
image/Album
cover

7. JESSIE J – WHO YOU ARE
The typography of the album advertisement are the artists name and the
name of the album, the advertisement also contains the some of the
tracks that will be on the album. There is also a link to the artists website
as well as logos of the company's that this artists is partnered with. The
name of the artist is coloured gold which could be to symbolise wealth.
The advertisement follows a gold, white and black colour theme through
out this is seen in the main image and the text. The advertisement also
follow a colour scheme as text appears to go in the order of gold then
white which could suggest wealth and possibly something angelic. The
album title reads “Who You Are” which could link into to the main image
as the artist is showing who she is, thus forcing the audience to question
themselves as an individual, something they can interpret.
The main image on this album advertisement shows the artist the artist
is dressed in a way to keep the colour scheme consistent throughout the
poster, for example the artist is dressed in black with gold earrings and
black gold lipstick. The background of the main image is white, this
adheres to the colour scheme of the advertisement, The album
advertisement is framed logically to make it easier for the audience to
locate the required information, the name of the artist and the title of the
album is placed logically to prevent confusion, this is then followed by
additional information which the audience may find useful. However not
all the information is displayed this may be to interest new audiences into
looking more into the artist
This album advertisement use a close up of the artist to make the album
title make sense, the close up give the audience a good view of who the
artist is.
The colour of the font and who the way the artist is present could suggest
a hip hop or rnb style genre, the colour gold is usually used to symbolise
“bling” culture which is usually associated with the hip hop genres.
From this advertisement women are seen to be aggressive and in your
face while still being able to maintain there femininity.
I think this would appeal to both the male and female audience. This
would appeal to a male audience due to the fact that the artist is a
women, she is not dressed in the colours that would be expect of a typical
women this advertisement could also attract a female audience due to the
fact that this artists as an example of how women can successful.

8. J COLE – COLE WORLD: THE SIDELINE
STORY
The typography of the poster is split into two different conventions. The
main text with all the information is in a rigid masculine font as
common in most music posters of the genre. It lists all the information
needed by the audience, songs name featured artist and the puff of
being the “#1 Album in the Country”.
The artist name is what uses the unconventional features in the
typography however the sole reason is that the artist; J Cole has used
his trademark way of presenting his name. this un-conventionalises it
as the small symbols that connote ideas of a “Demon” and “Angel” may
suggest the artist is trying to subvert; he isn't as “black and white” as
being good or evil within the context of the hip hop genre. This music
poster uses most of the conventional features with the framing and
content of the typography due to the fact that the genre of music is
more mainstream, which can be seen as the artist is featuring with
large names such as Jay Z.
The images vary on the poster however it is the same image one is just
a close up of the artists face where the artist name is presented this
enforces the idea the artist wants you to think more of him than just
being “good or evil”, and the use of a close up allows the audience to
decide thus getting us involved which is appealing for most audiences.
The other shot shows the album cover. This is a typical features as it
shows the audience what the album looks like, helping new audiences
find it both visually and by the long name the album has. Upon further
inspection the image on the album the lighting effects used have a
correlation with the typography of the artists name with the bright light
shining behind him yet still quite dark shaded areas. Also there is a
coherent colour scheme throughout of red white and black colours that
work well together that visually appeals to audiences
This poster can appeal to both genders but arguably men more , the
colour scheme and font along with the dark background and lighting
are more masculine themes that appeal to men more than with
women. However you can argue that the slight posing in the close up
shot of the top image is to appeal to women more as an attractive
artist.

9. ELTON JOHN – BREAKING HEARTS
This poster is different from the other analysed, probably
because this is from a different time period. This poster
focuses much more on the image that the additional content
and information.
The typography is all quite similar, pointed and simplistic
which has suggestions to the genre. There a small details
that allow the audience to distinguish this from style of
typography is the capitalised font and the font size. The
colour is white which could enforces the simplicity of the
idea, the poster wants the audience to focus solely on the
image on the poster.
The image and background work together in this picture
creating the whole image the shatter effective purposely
placed above the text and near the ”heart” as if it was
“broken”. This is a effective play on words for existing
audience while the placement would draw newer audience
to the info. The conventional technique of using the album
title as the main theme for the poster. The main image is
the main feature on the poster with the artist; Elton in a
mysterious pose as we cannot see the majority of his face
as an result of the hat tilting down. This could signify that
this particular album was something new, mysterious and
uncharted for the artist.
This would appeal more to the female gender rather than
male as the sophistication in what Elton John is wearing
may appeal to some females as well as the mysteriousness
provided from the shadow above his eyes.