FLOETRY – Flo’Ology Analysis

This is Neo Soul/ Hip-Hop Floetry’s second studio album, front cover, Flo’Ology, recorded between 2004-2005 and released in

November 2005.

The picture features Natalie Stewart (left) and Marsha Ambrosius (right) with the wide shot catching them mid-way through walking.

The concept of the album name relates with the mise-en-scene of the picture. The duo being shot whilst mobile creates a theme of elegance rather than it being taken static.

The purple, white and black colouring of the picture can be associated with

sophistication and simplicity.

The purple ink-like bursts on the left and bottom right of the cover could give

representations of the duo bringing a new found ‘colour’ to their simple

society. This idea is highlighted with the purple also being both the duo’s album

and name colour.

The lack of any natural colouring on the two shows that ethnicity doesn’t is not important in their music. However, the

The title ‘Floetry’ being placed behind the two could be to signify that they have their ‘flow’ wherever they go, backing them. Furthermore, them standing side by side with no one else being in the background could emphasis them to be equals; relying only on each other.

Another aspect that furthers this is the albums name ‘Flo’Ology’ being in a

handwriting font, similar to that used in their ‘Say Yes’ music video. For this reason it shows

that they are still developing themselves as artists, which makes the ‘Ology’ in the title.

Front Cover

The back cover shows the duo from the back, having the same wide shot shown on the front cover.

The album name is still shown, this time being placed on the left. I thought this was placed quite carefully as it takes up most of the white sky, not drawing attention away from anything significant. The standing side by side emphasis the equality even more as the concept.

The colour coordination is kept similar to the front which works well for the continuation between the and back.

One unique element is the way in which the track-list is set. For many albums, track-lists have been shown listed downwards, either on the left or right of the cover. However, in this case, they chose to have the list constructed in the middle bottom, aligned in a upside down pyramid. If put on the sides, it would distract the viewer from the main image, being the duo.

Back Cover

DRAKE – Nothing Was The Same Analysis

This is R&B/ Hip-Hop Drake’s third studio album, front cover, Nothing Was The Same, recorded between 2012-

2013 and released in September 2012.

The front cover of Drake’s ‘Nothing Was The Same’ features a side-profile portrait of himself.

The cover showing him with a shape-up and hair slit connotes thoughts of urban appearance. The attaching beard and moustache could represent elements of growing up and maturity

The use of the chain around Drake’s neck is a very big statement in terms of

financial strength. It shows him in a light of having wealth. Not only this but

the chain being gold as well as its size only furthers this idea.

The whole idea of wealth reflects similar props and ideas that are shown in hip-hop music videos. However, the sky shown in the background subvert

this, being linked more with peace and relaxation, heard in some forms of R&B.

The title is barely seen, shown on the bottom left corner of the cover. The small font could be so the concentration of the cover is more on the actual picture, with little attention on the name being a priority. Therefore, the image reminds the viewer of the album.

The font of the title is done in a graffiti-like style seen on the streets but done

with little creativity. The colouring only being white follows a similar shade to the clouds in the background, possibly

enforcing feelings of the title being little in importance.

Front Cover

Nothing Was The Same also has a continuation impression from the back and front. When putting both the front and back picture

side-by-side, they link intentionally. The background of the sky is still established, which helps

maintain the theme.

Even from the picture showing drake as a child to him in the present, the colouring is done to match perfectly, from the skin

pigment to the hair colour.

Props such as the afro comb shown in the child Drake afro hair stresses the idea of style even as a youth. The neatness in its

appearance correlates with how he is in the future and furthers the titles context; he may be the same person but ‘nothing is the

same’ on the way he looks.

Back Cover

Instead of having the track-list shown on the back cover, Nothing Was The Same has each track listed inside, with detail on the production team, ‘thank you’s, the features

of the song and musicians. This allows for full on concentration on the cover art.

I thought this works well as a personal characteristic to the album.