Likes the genre a lot.

Listens to Hip Hop because he connects to it emotionally expressively

through the abundance of lyrical content.

Thought the Madvillainy album cover to be dark and mysterious, and

enjoyed that about it.

Thought the second album cover, Section 80, was stereotypical of the genre.

Alluded to many props being typical of Hip Hop artists to associate

themselves with, such as the Bible.

Comments on focal image of the Ready To Die album cover. He finds the

polarising contrast between the image of a baby and it being ready to die

“striking”. This is most likely because of how complex the topic is thematically.

However, he doesn’t find it conventional.

Finds the Illmatic album cover conventional, and makes the connection that,

on the main focal image, the young boy has seen and been through a lot.

Personal experience and how it changes us as humans is arguably the most

prominent and impactful theme in modern day Hip Hop music.

Comments on the post-production of the cover. How the kid is blended into

the background signifies, to him, that he is part of the environment he grew

up in: A product of the ghetto.

He liked the Section 80 album cover the most. He saw it as a

“documentation” of the lives rappers lead, all presented

through props.

He also found it the most conventional of the four album

covers, for the same reasons he enjoyed it for.

Found Madvillainy the “least conventional, but not

necessarily the weakest.” This means that subverting expectations of genre can be appealing in it’s own right.

Ready to Die was the weakest album cover in his opinion.

Personally thought that subverting genre conventions could

be an effective way of attracting the eye of an audience.

Praised Madvillainy’s minimalism.

Thought that a great way to continue innovating and being

different as a Hip Hop artist is to push a more alternative

route.

Was not a fan of the Hip Hop genre. He doesn’t enjoy it very much.

Thought the Madvillainy album cover made the artist appear mysterious,

unusual and original. Claims that he stands apart from other rappers.

He thought Section 80 was conventional in that the cover portrayed the

lifestyle of a rapper through the use of props, such as the gold and drugs.

Didn’t think the image of Ready to Die was conventional for the genre, but

thought the title befitted Hip Hop. This probably because of the connotations

of danger that are closely associated with the genre.

Immediately began analysing the connotations of the Illmatic album cover,

showing that it intrigued him. Quickly talked about the theme of experiences

in the hoods of America, and how they impact someone from a young age,

and continue for the rest of their lives. Highlighted the kid’s “miserable” face.

Believed Illmatic to be the most effective of the three album covers, due to

the message it was trying to get across. He could sympathise with it the most,

because it conveyed the struggle of young black youths, rather than

glorifying the street lifestyle.

Thought Section 80 was the most conventional , as it portrayed a rapper’s

interests, lifestyle and gives insight into the personal characteristics of one.

He believed the weakest to be the Madvillainy album cover.

He couldn’t see how it related to the genre, and thought it

would alienate the audience the most.

However he did think subverting audience expectations

could take the audience by surprise and draw in a larger

audience through how different it could be.

He said you could appeal to more people by going for a

more alternative image.