How to Make a Cover for a Rap Album

A good album cover, such as one for a rap album, tells a story. It may be that of an album, an artist or even an era. It is influenced by current design trends and other albums of the same genre, such as rap. Creating one can be difficult, even if you have good graphic design skills. Try to capture something unique about the rap artist, even if it is just his face. With a little perseverance, you are well on your way to creating a great rap album cover.

Instructions

1. Arrange a photo shoot with the rap artist. If you feel confident, shoot the pictures yourself. Try to get some interesting angles in addition to the same old poses.

2. Listen to the rap album all the way through. Write down some adjectives or concepts that come to mind while you listen to it.

3. Look through other album covers, and pick ones by artists who are in the same genre, such as rap. Get some input from your artist as to which ones he likes.

4. Use the information gained by listening to the album and looking at other album covers to develop a theme.

5. Create your cover in Photoshop. Bling and grafitti, as well as special effects, are popular on rap albums. Place the photos in a prominent position on the page, and add other effects as necessary.

Tips & Warnings

• Check the Internet for unique typefaces you can use for your album cover or software to create your own. Make a few versions and allow the artist to choose the best one. Create your album cover as a layered file. This way you can easily add, remove or rearrange elements.

• Designing these albums requires a high level of skill. Don't attempt it unless you are highly skilled in graphic design.

Resources

• The Ten Worst Rap Album Covers Ever Made
• Awesome Rap Album Covers