Friday 5 December 2014

Digipak Analysis: Lil Wayne - "Rebirth"




Rebirth does not use monochrome features like those that are seen on an array of indie albums (Artic Monkeys, The Kooks etc.). However, the difference in genre is one of the key reasons that the mise en scene and colour scheme on Lil Wayne's album manifest significant differences: he is trying to appeal to a completely different audience/demographic. The album cover poses some form of juxtaposition: rap music is renowned for utilising materials such as 'synth' sounds using computer programmes such as logik, fruitloops and maybe even cock garage band depending on the stature of the artist, however, Wayne poses with a guitar placed across his lap - this causes us to question why he would have a guitar on his person as a rap artist whos songs use no guitars whatsoever. This could essentially be considered somewhat of a binary opposition - rappers who maintain a very macho image and remain loyal to hip hop (almost hip hop/rap 'purists') and guitars that are usually considered 'rock n roll' or 'indie' do not go hand in hand, which is what makes this a very intriguing digipak cover.

As it can be expected a bold and very modern typography is used and centralized within the confines of the frame, this is a commonality I have noticed on an array of different digipaks. The colour of the typography (which features no serifs due to it's more modern look) contrasts the colour of the background image. This is important in catching the eye of potential consumers so that they are immediately aware who the artist is (also due to the image on the anterior of the digipak).

The gold colours used in the image are clear connotations of high status and wealth, which are the exact words that hip hop artists want associated with them. It is also clear that the lethargic position the artist is laying in suggests a certain nonchalance about his personality, as if he is of a high status but almost 'isn't bothered' about it as if to say that being successful is easy. The artist himself is also centralised, and when taking into account the rule of thirds in the mise en scene, this denotes that he is important and the pinnacle of the album - as it is his album. In addition to this, the artist is wearing a white t shirt - white, the colour that represents purity is an interesting choice of colour, and it only adds to the artists lavish look.



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