The official album cover artwork.The official album artwork (front cover).The official album artwork (inside spread).The official album artwork (inside spread).An alternate album cover (unused).An alternate album cover (unused).An alternate album cover (unused).Cover to a single titled People Tryin' (original photography from the 2009 Presidential Inauguration).Promotion used prior to the album's release. The shirts were also part of the design program (photo © J David Cross Photography).
Elevator Music Ink is an independent music label based in my hometown, Columbus, Ohio. Their collaborations include work with well-known hip-hop artists such as Jadakiss & Styles P of The Lox, Truck North of The Roots, and Stalley Massillon of Rick Ross' Maybach Music Group. I was asked to create the album art and promotional material for the label's first commercial release by the hip-hop group The 3rd titled "1979." The objective was to convey a message of Black pride, identity, and awareness without being preachy or militant (the colors red, Black, and green were used as a visual theme throughout the marketing campaign).