2 cover stories in our archive
Behind the Covers' archive includes 2 album covers documented under the "contemplative" design theme, spanning the 1970s, 1990s. These covers sit within the soul, r&b, hip-hop tradition and feature work by Marvin Gaye, Dr. Dre. Each entry below includes the cover artwork, the designers and photographers behind it, and a short story about the visual choices that defined the release.
Marvin Gaye's masterpiece broke Motown's visual rules with an intimate portrait showing the artist in a knit cap looking pensively into the distance. The cover's casual, contemplative mood perfectly matched the album's shift from pop to socially conscious soul.
The stark black-and-white cover featuring Dr. Dre in a contemplative pose became one of hip-hop's most influential visual statements. Shot in simple studio lighting, its minimalist approach let the music speak louder than flashy graphics.