50 CENT50 Cent (Curtis James Jackson III) is a typical

example of 21st century commercialized, manufactured hip-hop. His image is based on the representation of a gangster rapper, with most of

the codes and conventions of such associated with him. However, the image of the product ‘50 Cent’ has been changing throughout his career

to adjust it to the needs of market.A promotional photograph for the first album ‘Get Rich or Die Tryin’

Cover for the second album ‘Massacre’ Cover for the last album ‘Before I Self Destruct’

The most recent update photo on 50 Cent’s website

At the start of his career he was presented to his audience in a very explicit way. The guns, bling-bling jewellery, variety of tattoos, even a full cap or do-rag, all attain to the image of a ‘gangsta’ rapper which his initial career was definitely driven with in its early stages. The reference to guns in the marketing

campaign for his first album had foundations in the shooting incident that he was a victim of. Jackson was shot nine times and the legend of a ‘bulletproof’ rapper from Queens was definitely helping him in gaining popularity. As 50 Cent’s career was developing his representation was gradually changing. Comparing the

promotional photo for his first album and cover of the second we can see a lack of

gun and do-rag swapped for a better perceived full cap. The image of a mobster rapper, later in 21st century stopped getting as much attention and Curtis was already way beyond the age of thirty therefore it was suitable for his branding to become ‘softer’. In his music videos, 50 Cent still makes use of some of his old, signature

marketing items but you simply do not see the initial amount of half-naked girls,

jewellery and cash.

Cover for their first album – “Bleach”

Cover for their second album – “Nevermind”

All of the Nirvana’s members were into punk rock music in their teenage years, the genre of music played by them – grunge developed from punk and the basic ideas and attitude developed from punk music can be seen in Nirvana’s branding. Looking at the album cover of ‘Nevermind’ we can see a baby swimming after a dollar note on a fishhook. This scene represents the people obsessively chasing money but not only as adults. It suggests that we are brought up with a persuasion to, as the cover says clearly, even dive to capture it. The idea of putting an innocent baby into such act is very explicit, although it worked. It recalls the anti-establishment notion, it is rebellious, it is punk, it is grunge.

The obvious codes and conventions associated with rock music are long

hair which all the band members had throughout the majority of their

careers. The specific, always the same typography used for the name

of band has become probably the most significant graphic symbol of Nirvana. That wild west font style

was a big point of band’s recognition and appeared on all album covers and a number of

promotional photographs.

The word ‘NIRVANA’ with its specific typography and Kurt Cobain’s face along with the album cover for ‘Nevermind’ are the most recognizable symbols of the band.

The promotional photo above is satiristically implying the anti-establishment idea. They are all wearing suits and have serious faces but they are widely known as a rock band . It can be understood as a sarcastic approach towards the corporations, politics etc.