01 Overview
HIP HOP HIGHSCHOOL
01-A The Idea
During 2018, I decided to get a booth at Fan Expo for the first time, however I have never created any “fan art” before, at least not in the traditional sense. I decided to keep things untraditional but choose a topic that makes me stand out, so I turned to my second love; music (specifically Hip Hop, which I adore, but is also more popular than ever).
Music has always been a huge part of my life, I also used to perform live from ages 15 to 20, then the visual side of the arts took over. Taking that experience into account, I thought about creating a world where all the hip hop artists go to the same delinquent highschool, and they fight to get to the top spot. This was the bud of an idea that I created this project around.
01-B The Story
The students of this highschool are current hip hop artists. Ranging from up and coming artists in grade 9, to fully established ones in grade 12. Where as veteran artists are teachers, admin, custodial staff, counselors etc. Also the characters would range from music groups who are much like gangs with leader/s to duos to solo artists who are fighting with only their skills, though they can always team up to fight a common enemy.
Based on their personality each character would have a special power. Their story details would stem from their current career paths. Their visual style would take heavy inspiration from their already fashionable selves. And they’re all fighting to try and get the top spot, to be known as the best.
01-C The Subject
I wanted to create a concept art book illustrating each character, giving a little bit of their origin story, their affiliates or crew, their turf in the school (i.e. Kendrick Lamar rules over the west side wing of the school), special powers etc. Also wanted to write vague story arcs to give the characters depth, motivation, life styles and more. Each artist would also get an animal that suits their style, has powers, and fights with them.
However there are too many prominent artists right now, so a book within the timeline I had was too ambitious. So I wanted to create promo posters, which I can also reformat into concept vinyl album covers. For the time being I created 3, from the graduating class of hip hop. Kendrick Lamar, Tyler the Creator, and A$AP Rocky.
Each Illustration is created in a style that suits each Artist.
02 Artist 1 of 3
A$AP Rocky
Beyond Dimensions
02-A Why Rocky
A$AP Rocky, a.k.a. Pretty Flaco, Lord Flacko, Lord Pretty Flaco Jodye, the leader of A$AP Mob, has taken up quite a bit of fame and real estate in the hip hop game. I'm also quite a big fan of his music, his style and swagger, and persona.
He has the star appeal, the crew, the talent, and the fans, so I decided he is going to be one of the three artist (part of The Big Three forces of power in my book) I focus on for the Hip Hop High-school promos.
02-B
about the prints
The A$AP posters come in 2 different sizes and as a Vinyl Album cover.
Large
24” X 36” | 60.96cm X 91.44cm
Medium
16” X 24” | 40.64cm X 60.96cm
16” X 24” | 40.64cm X 60.96cm
Vinyl Cover (Board Size)
12” x 12” | 30.48cm X 30.48cm
12” x 12” | 30.48cm X 30.48cm
(16” x 20” | 50.80cm X 40.64cm)
The Large and Medium Prints are limited edition, matte finish. 15 prints were created for the large size, and 25 for the medium. The non reflective material makes it easier for it to be framed inside glass without having to worry about the sunlight.
The Album cover is displayed on a white board, with half of the vinyl protruding outwards, providing a presentable touch, and the board size makes it easy to frame.
02-C
The style
As mentioned in the intro, I wanted to create each poster in a different style, befitting the artist. Earlier in Rocky's career the style of his music was considered as acid rap. I decided to bring in elements from 70s/ 80s psychedelic art, and acid rock album covers, and inspiration from the famous illustrator: Moebius.
Since Rocky talks about fashion a lot I added a lot of details on the patterns of his clothes, and made sure to add accessories. At first I went with a more subdued, watercolor approach for the colors, but decided to go with a more solid, bright, popping palette, because Rocky demands that attention. I felt that blending these styles and elements I was able to capture Rocky, and bring forth the fictional powers and story.
02-D
The Power
A$AP Rocky is obsessed with beauty, so I decided to draw him with a third eye, so he can observe and take in his fill of all that is beautiful, and also see over everything. Bring out the inner desires from others, inner thoughts, insecurities, inner beauty, nothing is a secret from Rocky. The background is filled with psychedelic peacock feathers with eyes, which refers to his early acid rap style, and peacocks being a symbol of beauty, however I also wanted to allude to his power of illusion. Making his opponents "trip" in beautiful illusions with his music, making them easy targets. It was this power that gained him the respect and the position of leader for such a powerful cast of rappers, who otherwise could've led their own crews.
I have added hints of other powers such as his hand turning white, with energy particles floating around. The book will have a more detailed list and description, with stats, of his powers, his crew, his story etc.
02-E
The Details
In the intro I have also mentioned that each character gets an animal, that they can summon, which symbolizes them but also fights with them (kind of like a patronus, but more physical). For Rocky's animal, I decided to go with a boa constrictor, which is another symbol of beauty, it's also bedazzled up, just to drive that point home.
I also subtly added hints of his crew behind with puffs of psychedelic smoke, you can just make out the faces, adding a sense of mystery.
In the story for the book I created a plot line where Rocky might be joining with Tyler the creator (another one of the big three) to take down Kendrick (the other member of the big three). Interestingly enough Tyler and Rocky did coincidentally start working on songs together a couple of months after I came up with that story.
03 Artist 2 of 3
Kendrick Lamar
The Heir
03-A Why Kendrick
Kung-fu Kenny, King Kunta, the recipient of the west side torch, Kendrick Lamar, one of my favorite, if not the favorite hip hop artist of the current era. There are a very few artist that can match Kendrick's lyricism and delivery.
He stands out even more with his artistic depth, storytelling without preaching, and sharing his experience without glorifying the "hood". Even though he's primarily a solo artist, he does have the "Black Hippy" super group, even though the group is small, each of those artist are huge on their own. Thinking of him as one of the big three for this project was a no-brainer.
03-B
about the prints
The Kendrick posters come in 2 different sizes and as a Vinyl Album cover.
Large
24” X 36” | 60.96cm X 91.44cm
Medium
16” X 24” | 40.64cm X 60.96cm
16” X 24” | 40.64cm X 60.96cm
Vinyl Cover (Board Size)
12” x 12” | 30.48cm X 30.48cm
12” x 12” | 30.48cm X 30.48cm
(16” x 20” | 50.80cm X 40.64cm)
The Large and Medium Prints are limited edition, matte finish. 15 prints were created for the large size, and 25 for the medium. The non reflective material makes it easier for it to be framed inside glass without having to worry about the sunlight.
The Album cover is displayed on a white board, with half of the vinyl protruding outwards, providing a presentable touch, and the board size makes it easy to frame.
03-C
The style
For Kendrick, I took inspirations from illustrators such as Matt Taylor, for his use of realism with a limited palette, and Jilian Tamaki for her fluid line work. I wanted to represent kendrick's authentic story telling accompanied by his smooth flow. I decided to switch over to a dark background/ night time color scheme to give a head nod to his work with the Black Panther film, which had come out earlier that year. His clothing stye is inspired by his nick name Kung-fu Kenny, and his fictional royal, militant character from the book.
03-D
The Power
Kendrick is dominating the not just the hearts of pure hip hop heads, but also the main stream, which is hard to do with his style in the current age. With Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg ceremoniously passing the torch to him during a live concert, there are many that take him as the new king of hip hop. He doesn't have a gimmick, just skill and talent. So fitting with his Kung Fu Kenny nick name, I decided his main power is his strength, with unrivaled technique, and a mind for battle. Ability to understand his opponents move, thinking 4 or 5 steps ahead and crushing them with raw strength. A militant strategist groomed for the crown. The other 3 members of crew School Boy Q, Ab Soul and Jay Rock, each independent, and has the ability to rule on their own, still acknowledge Kendrick as their unofficial leader.
the glasses Kendrick is wearing show different stats and other information about his opponent. More details about his powers are going to be included in the book.
03-E
The Details
I've drawn the rest of Kendrick's crew more prominently than the other two posters, because as mentioned in the "His Powers" section; Kendrick is the unofficial leader of Black Hippy, and the 3 other members are very successful on their own.
The lion was an easy choice for his animal, the whole character is about getting the crown. The lion is also armored, to emphasize on the focus of strength for Kendrick's character, always ready for battle.
On the background I've added subtle line drawings of Tupac and Biggie with angel wings and halos, previous candidates of the crown, and Kendrick's favorite artists.
04 Artist 3 of 3
tyler the creator
Duality
04-A Why Tyler
Tyler The Creator, the chief of the prominent OFWGKTA (Odd Future for short) crew. When he bursts into the scene with his over the top lyrics and persona, it served a corner of hip hop that didn't fully exist before. Mosh pits started happening during his concerts, younger and younger people from cross cultural backgrounds started to listen to hip hop. His goofy sensibility, contrasted with his various aggressive styles of delivery, brought out the artsy kids, the hipsters, the leftovers from the punk era, as his fans.
Since then he has mellowed out and brought forth albums with different styles that cross genres. His influence on this era alone makes him one of the big three. Coupled with his huge crew and what they have achieved, I decided he was going to be the third centerpiece for this project, also helps that I am quite the fan of his music.
04-B
about the prints
The Tyler posters come in 2 different sizes and as a Vinyl Album cover.
Large
24” X 36” | 60.96cm X 91.44cm
Medium
16” X 24” | 40.64cm X 60.96cm
16” X 24” | 40.64cm X 60.96cm
Vinyl Cover (Board Size)
12” x 12” | 30.48cm X 30.48cm
12” x 12” | 30.48cm X 30.48cm
(16” x 20” | 50.80cm X 40.64cm)
The Large and Medium Prints are limited edition, matte finish. 15 prints were created for the large size, and 25 for the medium. The non reflective material makes it easier for it to be framed inside glass without having to worry about the sunlight.
The Album cover is displayed on a white board, with half of the vinyl protruding outwards, providing a presentable touch, and the board size makes it easy to frame.
04-C
The style
I tried a few different styles to match the art work with Tyler's versatile music. I went with a mimicked vector style, simple yet detailed approach. Getting rid of all lines, using basic shapes such as rectangles and circles, and a prism texture overlaid on top, to give a geometric feel, parallel to Tyler's simple yet bold lyrics, easy to follow flow. I used bright crisp colors to underline his youthful persona. There's a sense of roundness, throughout the illustration, which emits friendliness, despite Tyler's lyrics he does not drink or does drugs as many of his peers. His music is just an imaginative expression, so I wanted to convey that with the soft corners.
04-D
The Power
Duality the name of this piece, it comes from his shift in style of Tyler's music. However I thought it would also be an interesting way to display Tyler's power, from his earlier near psychotic style to his later more pop influenced flower boy album. It is said that monks only forgive thrice. Tyler under normal circumstances uses his power of nirvana, "The Flower Boy" to calm his opponents and slow down their movements, however once things go out of hand, and he has been hit three times, his serenity disappears and almost as if possessed by a demon, he takes care of his enemies in a berserker fashion.
Since I made this piece, Tyler also added the album "Igor" a different take from the previous two directions. So in the book I'm thinking of having him with multiple personalities, which he transforms himself into depending on his opponent.
04-E
The Details
I thought it would be cool to switch up Tyler's animals based on his different personas. I thought insects would suit him well, since they aren't as large as the other animals it would balance out with the numbers. For his flower boy persona I gave him a bumble bee and for his over the top character, I added a cockroach (in the mouth, much like his music video for "Yonkers")
As the other posters I also added Tyler's crew in the background emerging from from the sunflowers, it's subtle but there's quite a few of them.
05 Synopsis
hip hop highschool
2018
This was a very fun series to work on. Once it gets traction I would love to create more pieces, one for each grade of high-school and finally get to the book, and write out different story lines, plot points, power stats, transformations, alliances etc.
It is a very ambitious project, so I might take this to Kickstarter for funding, and to get the ball rolling again. Meanwhile hope you guys enjoyed these posters and concept album covers. Feel free to message if you would like to purchase a piece!
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Thank you for viewing!
