My Album CoverBy Anthony Williams

Lighting I think that my album cover should contain High Key lighting, back lighting or star lighting,

these are basic lighting techniques although they are common techniques used within hip-hop albums.

High Key Lighting – This type of lighting appears more natural and realistic to the viewers eyes. It can recreate sunny days towards audiences as it can be used brightly in many different areas even in the dark. Although shadows will be produced the contrast will be a lot softer, for example this is used in Lil Kim’s Album The Naked Truth (2005) its shows a close up a of her while the high key lighting makes her stand out making her look attractive and pure as she looks brighter more than her normal skin colour. This type of lighting hardly leaves any shadows on her face although its makes her lip stick stand out making it look bright while also showing her eyes which connect more to the audience.

Back Lighting – This lighting is used behind a person. If little or no light is used outlines are created. This causes the shape or artist to glow and the other areas surrounding it stay dark. Backlighting normally effects the hair of a person to glow if he or she has fuzzy or curly hair. This makes the person look good or pure. This lighting is commonly use to separate the artist from the background. This is used in Michael Jackson’s album Thriller (1982) as it shows a full out line of bright light around his body making the actor’s hair look fuzzy, bright and white this makes him look good and pure as the back lighting allows us to focus on him and not his background, successful separating him from the surroundings.

Star Lighting – This last lighting technique is a bright light which focuses all around the person which who is well known to the audience through many types of media; it can also make the audience remember the audience as a future star and someone who will be very successful. By using this technique it allows the audience to remember the artist from past works for example music video or acting. This is used in Tinchy Stryder’s debut album Star In The Hood (2007) to show him an individual talent and make the audience focus on him and to acknowledge his appearance.

These types of lighting techniques effect the key focus point on my album cover for example the artist, mise-en-scene and body language which have an effect on the genre and subculture they follow.

Lighting part 2

On my artist’s album cover I will use high-key lighting because it allows my audience to see my artist in full detail and it will also bring out more of my artist’s facial features. As I will be using a close up in my album to create more of a connection with the audience the lighting will help the audience recognise my artist even more. This is shown in the album covers below as we can see the full detail of artist while seeing their facial expressions clearly.

Rihanna – Loud (2010)

Kelly Rowland – Here I am

(2011)

Leona Lewis – Spirit (2007)

Cassie – Cassie (2006)

Monica – All Eyez on Me

(2002)

Iconography In the hip-hop genre and culture most artist visualise on

wearing expensive outfits and jewellery for example chains, rings, trainers, tops (Gucci), and cars. Although many artists album covers only have themselves in the album as they wish to show that have become successful. Many album covers contain innuendo references for example drugs, violence, money and power.

These iconographies are shown my album covers below for example Snoop Dogg is shown wearing a dog chain in his album cover Tha Blue Carpet Treatment (2006), this is used as an intertextual reference to his name Snoop Dogg; the chain also shows diamonds this relates to his high status which hip-hop artists glamorise.

Snoop Dogg – Tha Blue Carpet Treatment (2006)

50 Cent – Get Rich or Die Tryin' (2003)

Dr Dre – The Chronic (1992)

Camera Shots

I believe that the use of close-ups will help promote my artist as it helps create a connection with the audience as they will see the artist’s face and recognise him/her as an artist. Close-ups allow the audience to see the artist’s facial features and emotions, close-up shots do not show the subject in the broad context of its surroundings.

As my artist is new I do not believe he should use any other camera shots because I want the audience to recognise him if I use any other techniques it may the way I want to portray him.

Jay-Z – The Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse (2003)

50 Cent – Curtis (2007)

P Diddy – Press Play (2006)

Locations Hip-Hop/Rap artists use locations which appeal to their past experiences,

where they come from, income, or innuendo references. For example in Nas’s album Illmatic (1994) it shows a close up picture of him as a baby while a transparent background of his area USA, New York, Queens. This shows a reference of where he grow up from a young age, this is a common technique that many hip-hop artists use and this is a technique I will use as I believe it is important for the audience to see a paradox one so they can see where my artist comes from but still seeing him as a star. This will help appeal to my target audience as they will see him as ordinary as they come from the same background and seeing extraordinary at the same time being a music artist.

LL Cool J – Bigger And Deffer (B.A.D.) (1987)

Nas – Illmatic (1994) Eminem – Recovery (2010)

Brief Outline Of My Album

MC REAL

Artist Name or Album NameName must be bold, brightly colour and should stand out

Close up of Artist, I have chosen here because it’s a point of focus and eyes are easily drawn to this area

Logo, Catch Phrase, Label Name, these things may go here as they are easily seen.

I have still not decided on which background I will use, thus I will make three albums covers of one being inside a studio, the other outside estates and one behind a graffiti wall. After this done I will choose the one I feel is more suitable.