DJ Shadow: Endtroducing...
Endtroducing… was one of the first records I ever purchased (I have somehow ended up with 3 copies of the LP since). In one way or another, this album exposed me to a new world of records, dj’ing and the diversity of hiphop music. It’s a timeless classic 10 years on.
To me, the photograph on the cover is synonymous with DJ Shadow and his dedication to the art of digging for records. His knowledge for the most obscure records and sampling them with an MPC led to this masterpiece. Many aren’t aware of this, but DJ Shadow has one of the worlds largest private record collections with over 60,000 LPs.
LA-based photographer B+ aka Brian Cross shot this photograph. His images have appeared on over 100 hiphop record covers for artists including Mos Def, Q-Tip, Jurassic 5, Ozomatli, Blackalicious, Warren G and Eazy E.
An interesting anecdote on the shot:
We measured the focus really quickly because of the cat and we measured in feet when it’s set for metres. That’s why the foreground is out of focus. It was honestly a total mistake.
Photography by B+. Sleeve design by Ben Drury and Will Bankhead.
Ash:
I’ve never noticed the cat before!
The guy in the grey jumper on the cover much get pulled up all the time by people asking “Where have I seen you before?”
And he’d go “um…. errr… I was that blurry dude on the DJ Shadow album”
# 26 Sep 06 at 12:38 pm
Gaz:
Whenever I lend Shadow to anyone, I always ask if they spotted the cat…
They never do!
# 04 Jul 07 at 9:40 pm
Mike:
But did you notice the Super Mario Bros movie poster? :) If I had to name something I could remember from that image, it’s that poster.
# 09 Jul 07 at 11:27 pm
Rickert:
I have the cardboard cd version, and it has this cool fabric innersleeve.
# 12 Aug 07 at 1:21 am
Mike:
@Rickert: You must take a picture and email it over (submit@sleevage.com). I was not even aware such a version even existed! Very curious now…
# 12 Aug 07 at 1:48 am
Sergio:
Anybody know which record store this was taken in? I’m thinking Amoeba Records on Haight in San Francisco, but I’m not sure…
# 25 Aug 07 at 12:32 am
Lee-Roy:
I’m pretty sure Amoeba on Haight did not exist at that time. Could be wrong, though. I think it was still Rock N Bowl?
# 28 Aug 07 at 7:29 am
Lee-Roy:
Yup, confirmed. Endtroducing came out in ‘96, but the Haight Amoeba opened in ‘97 (according to wikipedia articles on dj shadow and amoeba records)
# 28 Aug 07 at 7:37 am
bill:
The store is called simply “Records” and is on K street in Sacramento.
The newly relocated store is featured on the DVD “Scratch”…it is said that most of endtroducing was made from records taken from the basement there.
# 05 Sep 07 at 5:20 am
statts:
Classic. Never noticed the cat either.
# 06 Sep 07 at 7:30 am
Overton:
Blurry dude wearing wig is Lyrics Born, other guy is Chief Xcel from Blackalicious… other dude wearing baseball cap is Beni B from ABB Records.
# 15 Sep 07 at 9:41 am
50Hz:
Awesome record and cover work - i love it.
# 05 Nov 07 at 4:13 am
evil:cat:
I have the original MoWax 1996 Ltd CD release of this… It is a card slipcase, with an LP style gatefold interior containing a fabric CD sleeve (as with many MoWax releases on CD at that time), separate booklet, and mail-in registration card.
It’s a shame I didn’t look after them better (several house moves since), as this and the original CD version of the Spiritualized LP ‘Ladies and Gentlemen…’ in the Pill box were the ones that got me into limited edition packaging.
# 09 Nov 07 at 12:51 am
hhomero:
ok, i’m gonna go ahead and be that stupid guy who asks… where is that cat? i can’t see it, i can’t find it… gosh, this is embarrassing.
# 14 Nov 07 at 4:47 am
Ash:
The cat is in the open cover to the far left.
# 18 Nov 07 at 9:28 am