Album covers research

Nicki Minaj "Pink Friday"

I have decided to deconstruct Nicki Minaj's Pink Friday as I feel it is not only visually interesting, but how the album unconventially differs from the aesthetic and visual elements of other albums deriving from the American rap/R&B genre.

• The images used focus solely on the aesthetic of the artist. The central focus on the front of the album cover is a shot of the arist in elaborate clothing, accentuated by a mass of delicate pink mesh creating a tutu effect around the waist of the artist, which then stands stuctured behind her.

• The background colour of the cover is soft pink, as are the artists shoes, outfit, lipstick. Even the artist's hair is a shade of eye-popping bubble gum pink. This cleverly reflects not only the name of the album, but conveys the unique style, personality and artistic style of the artist.

• The combination of white and pink on the cover connotes the ideology of innocence, youthfulness and fun; the pink and white reminds me of sweets and all things feminine. This could be representative of the message of which the artist wishes to convey about her music and her personal sense of style, personality and outlook on life. It could also indicate at the demographic of audience she wishes to appeal to.

• The bold font used reflects the importance of the artist herself, but could also be symbolic of the genre of music and the bold/significant statements of which she makes in her work. The delicate pink writing is juxtaposed with this to create a clash of femininity, sexual empowerment and the female gender's professional ability and capability witting a modern day context.

• A poster of the artist is included in the inside sleeve of the album which could suggest that the artist wishes to be portrayed in a mode sexually appealing manner. She adopts provocative stances in each image, therefore appealing to a male audience. However the elements of femininity and inpirational collaborations of the latest fashion trends with futuristic embellishments indicates a female demographic of admiration seekers, materialists and anti-authority rebels.

• The inside sleeve also serves the function of allowing the artist to thank all those who have helped her on her journey to success

• The front cover also displays the symbol for notifying consumers of explicit content wich reinforces the idea that the artist appeals to an older demographic of audience. This contrasts immediately with the overall theme and content of the album cover: even though the artist essentially focuses on delicacy and felinity in her personal presentation and aesthetic, the symbol highlights the clutching onto her american rap/ R&B roots.

• The tracks on the album are quite controversial. One song in particular named "I'm The Best" comments on sexual empowerment and in parallel the artist's aspirations to become an inspirational role model for women who have the ability to achieve, but have never let themselves believe it due to restraints imposed by the modern world "I'm fighting for the girls that never thought they could win, Cause before they could begin, you told them it was the end, but I am here to reverse the curse that they live in".

• It is evident that Nicki Minaj is keen to sever the restrictions that stereotypical perceptions impose, such as the ideology that to be a successful rapper you have to be male, or masculine. By communicating her feminine aesthetic and juxtaposing it with her ability to rap and produce controversial music, it creates a whole new appeal to a niche demographic of audience.