Shape of Broad Minds: Craft of The Lost Art
I’m a sucker for an illustrated cover, especially one so intricate and sexy as this one. I’m not sure what the brief was but microscopic underwater fantasy is what they ended up with. How that fits into the theme of the album is anyone’s guess but does it really matter? I need to retract my statement about Hip Hop having a bad reputation for artwork.
Here’s the back cover which is reminds me of an overly complicated Roger Dean illustration for Yes.
If you’re lucky enough to track down a limited edition LP it features glow in the dark ink and spot varnishes. You can only just make this out on the photo below. Here’s hoping Lex can throw one our way so I can photograph better.
The designer EH Questionmark are the same people who did the sexy UK version of DangerDoom. Lex was also the record label. EH? put a site up already!
The release details were thoughtfully put onto a top left corner sticker. This looks like a bit of a Lex trademark as they have done this with other releases too.
Shape of Broad Minds is a relatively new hip hop group featuring Dr Who Dat?, Jawwaad, Jneiro Jarel, Panama Black, Rocque Wun. A quick check of Jneiro’s Wiki page reveals that all but Jawwaad are alter egos of Jneiro.
I guess you can demand a bigger tour bus if you use a few extra names. And conversations like “Sorry bro, we need another $5k for the tour. Yeah Panama Black needs bail money and Dr Who Dat? needs to pay the hoochies” can be expected :) Here’s Jnerio talking to Urb magazine on his fav hip hop alter egos.
I’ve only sampled the tunes on their Myspace page and it’s not your standard hip hop tunes here. It’s more intune with MF Doom and the more experimental beat masters. Note: I’m talking way outside my pay grade on hip hop so please take my comments with a grain of salt or feel free to educate me in the comments.
An EP title “The Blue Experience” was released before the album. Is it just me or is this artwork mildly sexually suggestive? Anyone studying psychology like to elaborate on that?
I also found this orphaned piece of art that seems to be a half finished version of the cover. What ever it is I offer it here for your viewing pleasure.
And if that wasn’t enough underwater doodling to keep you happy Lex just released 20 minute mix titled “Raiders of the Lost Mix”. MP3 here. As this is a free download the artwork is less important. In fact I’m not even sure what the artwork is for?
And if you’re a huge fan and want a desktop based off the artwork the best I can offer is this background tile I took off their Myspace page. I had to clean up the edge too. They work quite well.
Theodore:
One of my favorites of 2007! It’s a great album, and Ehquestionmark nailed the artwork.
# 02 Jan 08 at 11:39 am
John Coulthart:
Most of the polyps and things look like they’re based on Ernst Haeckel’s drawings from ‘Art Forms in Nature’, a book I’ve plundered myself on many occasions. See this plate for an example:
http://caliban.mpiz-koeln.mpg.de/~stueber/haeckel/kunstformen/icons/Tafel_075_medium.jpg
Or this:
http://caliban.mpiz-koeln.mpg.de/~stueber/haeckel/kunstformen/icons/Tafel_037_medium.jpg
# 02 Jan 08 at 1:43 pm
Ash:
hey John, you’re a walking visual reference library! Another great spot.
I would update the post but that would assume I knew what I was talking about.
# 02 Jan 08 at 8:34 pm
Pink Flarp:
This is a great blog!
That’s it
# 02 Jan 08 at 10:38 pm
13strong:
Lex puts out so much beautifully packaged stuff. One of my favourite pieces of packaging this year, and one of my favourite records, was Subtle’s Yell&Ice EP, which was also on Lex.
Kings of the Digipak, they are.
# 03 Jan 08 at 10:52 pm
Jason:
Very Very Very………..HOT!
Best one yet. Need more like this!
A far better cry then the
Interpol package.
NuFF Said.
# 04 Jan 08 at 8:28 am
Mike Dillard:
Excellent!!!
Hip Hop with a BANG!!!
Wish there was more, soon there might not
be anymore like this. Did anyone here
Virgin Records on 14th Union is CLOSING! FINISH! See for yourself…
# 04 Jan 08 at 8:35 am
Carl:
Very nice!! Reminds me of The Ocean vinyl artwork.
# 08 Jan 08 at 11:23 am
Carl:
(Link)
http://www.riotdesign.de/fluxionaeolian00.html
# 08 Jan 08 at 11:25 am
Katy:
thanks i found your blog really helpful for my course work.
# 30 Apr 08 at 4:55 pm
simon:
this and the Ernst Haeckel stuff is great.
# 06 Jul 08 at 9:06 pm