CD 2:

Instructions: Please read all of the following information carefully:

Create a new folder on your “My Documents on daisy” student folder, call it “lastname_final.” All of the work for this final will be saved into this folder and the folder will be submitted for grading. Download the file called "CD_Cover_Template.PSD" and save it into your Lastname_final folder. Open this file in Photoshop.

This final is a “mini project” which will allow you to demonstrate all of the skills that you have learned over the year. It is primarily a “Graphic Design Process” exercise, but please make sure to incorporate as much of your learning as you can into the project:

• Filters • Blending Options • Fills
• Layer Blends • Attach Text to Path • Cutting Objects from Backgrounds
• Shapes • Strokes • Image Adjustments
• Patterns • Gradients • Transformations

In addition, I would like to see evidence of the various Visual Communications exercises which we did this year, as well as some of the “History of Graphic Design” problems completed this semester.

THE PROJECT:

You are a graphic designer and you have been given the opportunity to create the CD graphics for a new album. Before you get started, you should review the following information regarding your album:

Genre: Hip Hop
Artist: Eshy
Album Title: "Attention Deficit Disorder"
Short Review:

From E-shy's Bio: E-shy began performing as a teenager. He started out as a spoken word poet on Manhattan's Lower East Side. At 16, he was already heavily involved in poetry competitions; many of which he won. After success in the poetry underworld of Manhattan, E-shy decided to branch out and add music to his words.
E-shy teamed up with several of the hottest underground hip-hop producers who provided him with beats and studio time. Many of these contacts E-shy earned for himself by competing victoriously in rap competition. E-shy is a seasoned veteran of the hip hop world, he has performed at such venues as the Cheetah Club, The Leopard Lounge, S.O.B.'s, Emerson College, the Pyramid Lounge, The City, Remote Lounge, the Bowery Poetry Bar, the Nuyorican Cafe, the Lion's Den, and the Tunnel. He has also traveled to Germany and done shows in Hamburg Berlin and Frankfurt. E-shy has been interviewed at numerous college radio station including, WERS Emerson College radio, Columbia University, and Wesleyan University.
His upcoming album features production by Needlz of G-UNIT. The album is called “Attention Deficit Disorder,” and will be dropping soon with AMOS Music Group.

An online review: E-shy's album “Attention Deficit Disorder” does boast some fine tracks that showcase Eshy’s New York spoken word roots: “Blacks and Jews” might become the rallying street cry for all rhyming Jews looking for street cred, and as far as requisite MC meglomaniacal self-intros go, “Hebrew” solidly places Eshy among the genuine players.

But there are couple of disappointments. The sad irony contained within the main loop of “School Sucks”, “I don’t really want to go to school ‘cuz they don’t really teach me nothin” doesn’t exactly evoke respect for someone who purports to be a word artist. And while “Kill the Boss” echoes Eminem’s “Kill You,” so-angry-it’s-funny aesthetic, it’s not much of a message for the young people.

Overall, though, Eshy’s effort is worth a listen. The surface attitude belies an obvious knowledge and care for language; the lyrical complexity and original beats buoys this artist into the ranks of the authentic rappers, Jewish or not.
Sound clips from your album:

-Clip #1: Blacks and Jews

-Clip #2: Dawn of the Dead
Song Listing:

1. Blacks and Jews 4:39
2. The One that got Away 5:02
3. School Sucks 3:26
4. Hebrew 3:50
5. Irresponsible 2:48
6. Ice Cream Truck 4:40
7. Koshanostra 3:59
8. Loco 3:29
9. Born to Die in the Usa 3:45
10. Straight Flush 3:21
11. Mr. Kotter 2:03
12. Could it be 4:10
13. Kill the Boss 3:58
14. Devil's Game Remix 4:20
15. Dawn of the Dead 3:41
16. New York 3:25
Production Company: ©2006, A Matter of Substance Records

 

NOTE: I HIGHLY recommend that you do not look up the actual graphics of this album, or if you are familiar with the album, put the graphics out of your mind, as preconceived notions will make this assignment MORE difficult, not easier.

To start, download this template file for your CD graphics and save it in to your “lastname_final” folder. You will be creating your CD cover on this Photoshop file.

You will be creating the following for your CD graphics:
1. A nice typographic representation of the Group or Artist’s name, as well as a typographic representation of the title of the Album (these SHOULD NOT look the same!) Create these two graphics on separate files and copy them into your final project when needed. Please save these two files as .JPGs into your “lastname_final” folder.
2. Graphics for the front cover of the CD (and possibly continuing onto the back cover, as well) which fit the mood and theme of the Album. This is where much of your Graphic talent with Photoshop will come in. Use your blending, cutout and filter skills here! Feel free to get images from the Internet, as needed, to bring about your graphic. Remember, the Template is the outside border of your CD, do not go over it!
3. Text for the spine of the CD which includes the Group or Artist’s Name and the title of the CD.
4. Graphics for the back of the CD which follow a similar theme to the CD. On the back of the album, you will include the Song Listing.
5. Include the production company information on the back of the CD as well.
6. Place your Artist and CD Title graphics onto the cover of your CD as you see fit to enhance the look of the work.

When you have completed your design, please save the work as a .JPG file and place it into your “lastname_final” folder. Using “My Computer,” COPY your “lastname_final” folder to the class drop box on the M: Drive. (If necessary, see highlandtechnology.org FAQ page regarding this step)