Digipak Analysis

Drake - Take Care

Take care is the second studio recorded album from the Canadian artist Drake part of young money entertainment and cash money records, released on November 15th 2011, originally meant to be released on October 24th but was delayed due to sample clearances. However, November 6th, Drake dropped one of his album tracks on the flow radio station 93.5, crew love featuring the weekend. However shortly after, the whole album was leaked.




Moments after the new songs was leaked Drake tweeted ' i am not sure if the album leaked. But if it did thank god it doesn't happen a month early anymore'. Shortly after he tweeted ' listen, enjoy it buy it if you like it... and take care until next time.' not seeming to be too concerned about it, just wanting to ensure that his fans are happy with his second album.

The front of the digipak portrays the artist, Drakes second studio album was titles 'take care'.  This front cover portrays the conventional features of a rapper through the use of props and the mise en scene. The use of gold suggests wealth and status which coveys the view of sterotypical rapper who is showing their weath through various items such as a watch and a gold chain. Drake is sitting there staring at his watch perhaps connoting that he cant wait for his album to be released and him to make his fans happy. He also has a gold cup connoting his wealthly status. The use of the gold theme throughout the cover shows Drakes superioty as he is very wealthy. The camera shot of drake is a mid shot as we see the top half of his body. Drake isnt looking straight at the camera suggesting that he could be shy which can be portrayed with many of the songs on the album being about love. The album cover gives off the idea that he is kind of old school as he doesn't look very modern with the use of art work and candle. This subverts the typical stereotype of a rapper as they usually pose in front of urban areas, tall buildings and flashy cars, so the album cover shows Drake to be subverting the usual representation of a rapper. Even the album name on the cover continues with this theme with the font. The typography is typed with a laid back approach, looking mellow fitting in with the whole cover of the digipak as on a whole it looks extremely calm. However, one thing thing that is unconventional is that the album cover doesn't have the artist name on the cover reinforcing Drakes power to the music industry showing that people already know who he is so there is no need for him to put his name on the front cover of the digipak.

The back of the digipak cover follows with the theme of the front cover with the same colour tone of gold and same typography. The back cover also follows the front cover as the same simple theme has been implied.  The use of the simple theme connotes that Drake doesn't need to be over the top to create a huge fanbase. The institutional infomtion at the bottom shows who Drake is signed to which helps promote the CD as young money are a major label with a global audience appeal.

This is Drakes album poster which follows the same theme throughout the use of typography and the colour gold. Gold is Drakes visual motif, the colour gold connoting that he has worked his way to the top and is now wealthy and powerful.  Once again Drake isnt looking at the camera in the picture connoting that even though he is powerful, he also has a shy, emotional side which is portrayed through most of his songs on the album. He is again wearing black costume which connotes the simplicity of the album cover and poster. The prop of the gold rather than silver jewellery also follows the gold theme. These props also portray Drake as a conventional rap artist.