CD COVER RESEARCH (FRONT AND BACK)

BY KOMAL RANA

What these slides include? In the following slide I will be analysing CD covers of

famous rap artist such as Eminem, Jay Z, Nicki Minaj and 50 Cent. I will also be analysing the back of CD covers.

I will evaluate the cause and effect this has on there target audience through the use of representation.

I hope this will help me understand the purpose and importance of every aspect of a CD regarding the front and the back of the CD.

I will also be constructing a Mood board of these main stream rap artist regarding the front and back.

As a result, by analysing CD covers relating to the front and back I hope to construct a successful CD cover that attracts and meets the convention on my target audience.

Analysing Jay-Z’s CD cover The artists name is

in bold and white font. The fact that it stands on through the contrast of black background allows the target audience to establish who the artist is.

One of the props that has been used in the CD cover is a cigar. The cigar in Jay Z hand stereotypically signifies power. The reason for this is because representation of cigars throughout the years have been associated with upper class. For example, in the first James Bond movie the audience see ‘Roger’ smoking a cigar who is establish to be an upper class character. This reinforces the fact that cigars are associated with upper class. The effect this has on the audience is, it enables them to look up at Jay Z as a role model. This is because the audience are aware that Jay Z started from the bottom from the ‘Hoods’ and made it to the top.

On the CD we can see light shining from left onto Jay Z face. This reinforces Jay Z struggle of life. Stereotypically we associate light with happiness and darkness with sorrow. The fact that the light is over taking Jay Z’s face implies that there is a way out of the hard life in the ‘hoods’.

Through the use of camera angles Jay Z has allowed himself to be established. The CD cover illustrates a high angle close up shot. This grabs the audiences attention as he is the dominant focus that takes up the whole of the CD cover. This is very beneficial for Jay Z as it allows him to be recognised.

Analysing Eminem’s CD Cover

The font looks like graffiti, which reinforces Eminem’s background since he was a kid. Stereotypically the audience associate this type of front with lower class. The reason for this is because the media represents gangs that are from lower class creating graffiti as a hobby in movies. The fact that Eminem’s audience is mostly lower and middle class, it allows them to connect to the artist and the culture he brings through the use of his fonts.

One of the conventions of rap music is the types of props they are represented with. For example, when we think of rap artist we imagine loads of heavy jewellery such as chains and baggy clothes and artist surrounded by loads of females. The fact that Eminem is shown with a limited amount of jewellery, reinforces his sorrow of life. Stereotypically women are shown in rap music video as a prize or object. Eminem has challenged this convection and instead through facial expressions has cleverly grabbed the audiences attention by making them feel sympathetic towards him as he is the dominant focus in the CD cover. .

The fact that the background is pitch black and the artist has light shining on him, it allows Eminem to be the dominant focus. This is beneficial for the artist because it allows him to be recognised and build an identity through the use of a low angle close up shot. Close up shots are of an artist are on of the conventions of Rap music which allows the audience to identify what genre the CD cover belongs to. This is very powerful it enables Eminem to exploit his target audience.

Analysis of Nicki Minaj’s CD cover

The pink background, and props (shoes, and dress) reinforce gender stereotypes. Stereotypically females are portrayed with the expressive roles and males are represented with instrumental roles. The fact that the CD covers dominant colour is pink, it stereotypically reinforces that women are soft and emotional and males are strong. I personally do not find this impressive as it reinforces stereotypes of women being soft and unequal to men.

In this CD cover we can see a lot of skin being revealed on the legs. In today’s society women are exposed to skin as they are stereotypically represented as ‘sex objects’. The fact that Nicki Minaj is sitting with wings like a barbie doll it reinforces this stereotype. I personally believe this is disturbing as it takes away the innocents of women.

The fact that the artist is the only character in the CD cover, it allows her to be the dominant focus. This is beneficial for her as she can easily be identified by people who may not necessarily be her target audience.

Analysing CD Cover Of 50 CentThis CD cover features most of the conventions of a rap music videos. For example, one of the conventions for rap music videos is, the artist would wear heavy jewellery. 50 Cent is shown to have a range of heavy jewellery such as heavy necklace and heavy watches on both hands. This allows the audience to identify what genre the music video belongs to. Moreover, the fact that he has tattoos all over his arm represents stereotypically that 50 cent came from ‘hood’s. The reason for this is because most films represents the people within the ‘hoods’ to have heavy tattoos which is part of there culture. This influence the target audience to also get tattoos as it enables them to represent there culture. Also throughout the previous slides, I have realised that the facial expressions of these artist are very serious, the audience do not see them smiling. I think this signifies there struggle and power throughout life.

We can see jay Z sitting on a chair through the use of camera angles (medium low angle shot). This implies his power, as the audience see him sitting in a rich chair that has gold designs. Moreover, the fact that Jay Z is looking directly at the camera, grabs the audiences attention as it creates eye contact with the audience and the artist. The reason that Jay Z is looking directly into the camera is to represents his power and that he is not scared of anyone. This also reinforces gender stereotypes that men are the are masculine and carry out the instrumental role. This is also represented through Jay Z muscles.

The following slides will represent individual mood boards on some of the main stream rap artist of 2012 – 2013 that I

researched. The reason for this is to provide me with inspirational ideas for my CD cover.

Analysing CD back Cover – 50 cent

In this CD back cover, the track list is situated on the right. I think the reason for this is because when you place CD’s on a shelf and it tilts the audience are

able to read the tracks that the CD contains.

This can attract the audience to

listen to the track as they

notice the CD.

Jay Z is looking directly into the camera. The effect this has on the audience is, it creates eye contact. This also

reinforces Jay-Z’s power and pride. As he is looking directly into

the camera.

I think Jay-Z is not wearing a top to show of his muscles to attract his females audiences. The masculinity of Jay Z is reinforced through light shining on his muscles. Moreover, In todays society stereotypically women are attracted to men that have huge muscles as they find it sexy. Jay-Z represents this stereotype as the audiences attention is grabbed towards his body.

The use of purple background in my opinion is used to represents Jay-Z

feminine side. This attracts the female audience because it

illustrates that he is not arrogant.

The text in the CD back cover is un white. This grabs

the audiences attention as it contrasts with other colours within the CD back cover.

Analysing CD back Cover – Rick Ross

In the back CD cover the audience can see a low

angle close up shot of Rick Ross. This represents Rick

Ross’s power as he is looking down at the

audience. Moreover, the fact that it is a close up, it reinforces the conventions

of what genre this CD belongs to. Moreover

another way conventions of rap music are reinforced

is through the use of props. The audience can see Rick Ross wearing

heavy gold jewellery as it stands out from the contrast of the black

ground from Rick Ross’s t-shirt. The reason he has these props is represent his power and wealth. However, I think that

power and wealth is not the same in everyone's opinion. For example,

power can be surviving from an operation.

The white font is used to stand out to grab the

audiences attention as it contrasts the black

background.

Conclusion Having constructed a variety of CD

covers (back and front covers) I have understood the impact and effect it can have. For example, through the use of black backgrounds with white font the audience’s attention is grabbed towards the CD track lists. This encourages the target audience to purchase the CD as it stands out.

By doing this task I have gained a range of ideas that I would like in my own CD cover for example, I want the camera angle to be a low angle close up shot of the artist. This will reinforce ‘WA’s power.