Digipak Research and Analysis

A digipak is a type of packaging for CDs or DVDs, typically made from cardboard with an internal plastic holder for one or more discs.

Essentially a digipak offers the audience a lot more in terms of content than a disc with a regular CD cover. It is a marketing tool intended to offer the buyer an incentive for purchasing the hard copy from a high street or online retailer rather than downloading/streaming the music.

What is a Digipak?

NWA - Straight Outta Compton

Imposing photo of the group, as this is their first album it’s an introduction to the boys.

Parental advisory logo – The lyrics in their songs were on another level to what America had previously heard.

NWA Logo – Standing for ‘Niggas with Attitude it would become a symbol for their movement. In a edgy red coloured font to portray a message about the innocent black lives being tainted by the police at the time

Gun in easy E’s hand. To go along with the gang culture in the lyrics.

All of the members have straight faces, to show that they are serious on the issue the album surrounds.

NWA were a revolutionary group of black males from Compton who formed as a collective to rap about issues that faced them in their daily lives. Their songs were met with fierce criticism from an over censored America that couldn’t take the lyrics. ‘Straight outta Compton’ was their first album.

NWA - Straight Outta ComptonTracklist – on all digipaks, containing the names of each song on the album. Written in a bold white coloured font to stand out.

The CD is a 20th Anniversary Edition releasing in time with a film made about themBonus tracks to entice the buyer to hear more, that weren’t on the original album and unreleased

The borders of each page have the bandana-esque theme with the art of a gang bandana, possibly to say they’re from the hood but want to represent the hood as a general. Institutional information

NWA - Straight Outta ComptonThe borders of each page have the bandana-esque theme to continue the effect.

The location of the photo being downtown LA near Compton, to show they're from the streets and are a rap crew.

Inside the booklet we have a textual part too, including stories from when the album was being created and lyrics from the tracks on the album.

Inside the booklet we also see a number of pictures including this two page spread one, this shows all the members of nwa and shows traits of their personality. With Easy E and Dre in the forefront and Cube and Yella in the background.

The CD itself is a 20th anniversary rerelease so it includes a tribute to Easy E, a member who died after the group split, and this would not of been in the original late 80’s version.

Digipaks Template Analysis• This is a simple, most commonly used

digipak template, with a front and back cover, a disk tray and a space next to the disk for either a booklet, poster or picture.

• This template is easy to work with, cheaper to make and gives a simplistic effect to the buyer.

• There is adequate space for a tracklist and a booklet containing information about the artist.

• However this digipak may show a lack of care to the buyer/fan, making them weary of the artist and unlikely to buy again.

• The digipak doesn’t give to many options to the artist either, only the basics can be included, not leaving much options to personalise.

Digipaks Template Analysis• This digipak however is more advanced,

with 6 plates in total, one for the disk, a front and back and then 3 for personal customisation.

• This template is a bit harder to work with, more expensive to make and gives a more complex effect to the buyer.

• There is plenty of space for a tracklist and a booklet containing information about the artist.

• However this digipak may be a bit too much for the buyer/fan, as it could cause the album to be more expensive, making them weary of the artist and unlikely to buy again.

• The digipak may give too many options to the artist either and prove to be a waste of money and effort.