By Brandon Perkins
Album art might’ve had a digital death, but one has to wonder if mixtape art ever lived. The illegitimate inherency of the street tape game has created nearly laughable art, from bad photocopying to even worse photoshopping. However, these four artists–who’ve cut their teeth creating slim case art for the greatest DJs out–prove quite brightly that mixtape masterpieces are in the midst of a renaissance.
Def tone Design: The Warrior
Visions of struggle and strife dominate complicated compositions
URB: Where does mixtape art stand at the end of 2007?
Def tone: I think it’s healthy. Over the past couple of years I feel that DJs and artists alike have increasingly recognized the importance of presentation. You visit mixtape Web sites and there are literally hundreds of new tapes dropping everyday. If a DJ is not as established as the bigger names, they may get looked over and would struggle to stand out regardless of the quality of their work. As a result they seek eye-catching covers and that has reflected upon the style of artwork around today.
URB: What inspires your creations?
Def tone: I draw great inspiration from the title of the project. If the title is imaginative and leaves room to go wild, the artwork will come out looking wild. But if it’s typical and generic there’s nowhere I can go with it. As for my actual design style, I draw inspiration from everything around me, but especially from fashion. It may seem a strange comparison, but just like fashion, mixtape artwork follows trends and fads. I take these trends from the outside influences in the mainstream and then apply them within my mixtape artwork. . .like bright colors, retro style, etc.
Leave A Comment!