This is the cover artwork for Greenhouse’s Electric Purgatory (Parts 1 &  2) combined tour version. Greenhouse (Blueprint & Illogic) released Electric Purgatory as a two part limited edition series. Blueprint is about to head out on the To All My Friends Tour with Atmosphere and wanted to offer a version that included both parts of the series.

In a way it felt like I was designing this album for the third time, so I had some trouble coming up with a concept initially.

After taking a couple less than stellar cracks at the cover, I took a few days to think and listen to the album. The idea that got the ball rolling was the visual of hanging light bulbs.  There’s something interesting about lights hanging from thin wires-not to mention it plays off electricity and the album title.

Blueprint and I agreed it was a good idea to include photos of himself and Illogic to help fans seeing them on tour identify them from the stage to the merch table. I’m happy with the outcome and look forward to seeing the full packaging.

A musical commonwealth. An idea that came to me for my homies at Central City Recording. Not sure how/if it will be used.

If you are a musician, rapper or otherwise could use somewhere to record yourself, Central City is the spot. Good guys, great atmosphere, professional sound.

**Update – I met Corey and his manager Sheridan the other day and they slid me a copy of the promo disc. First off, the production value is really high and Corey has some singing and songwriting abilities. I was pleasantly surprised by the music. I was also real happy with how the artwork came out, especially the disc! Hot!**

Since the project title “Radical. Totally. Dude.” conjured thoughts of California I decided to go with a surf inspired, youthful, energetic look. I think it works, but I could be sleep deprived.

Here are a few of the unchosen comps for Blueprint’s (Weightless/Rhymesayers) upcoming album Adventures in Counter-culture.

The people at the label gave the thumbs up and Print expects to have a Fall release date. Next step is figuring out something bitchin’ for the packaging.

I’m excited to finally be able to share some of the versions that didn’t get selected.  I like each of them for different reasons and I think it’s neat to see the completely different directions we explored.

The Blue Note look

This was the first swing.  Blueprint wanted to try a design that was based off on the style of old Blue Note soul records a la John Coltrane/Thelonious Monk.  He had his friend Bridget Brown shoot the photography for him.  One element I saw pretty consistently in the blue note art was stacked type.  Straight letters, nothing fancy or over the top.  I also tried to replicate the wear from the record that was present on a lot of the older sleeves. We used a duotone color effect on the image, and re-made the blue note logo for the treatment of the artist name.

The Globetrotter Collage
This was a concept all of my own so I take full responsibility for it’s failure or success.  Since I’m showcasing it here you can see that it was not selected.  I think the overall feeling was that it was a little too bright and cheery and didn’t represent the sound of the album. I had asked Blueprint for a list of some of his favorite cities/venues and then created a design based upon his adventures in touring and traveling. There’s also quite a bit of a Columbus local bias in the design. I like how this turned out.

Apocolypto

After having a phone conference with the people at Rhymesayers, Print came back to me with some new direction.  As I previously mentioned, the first two options had been shot down. RSE felt like the album had a darker feel to it, and that the album art should reflect that.  We agreed.  The idea that was hatched on that phone call was to take some photos of Blueprint wearing a gasmask, and then build around that main focus with complimentary objects and create the feeling that he was breathing in all of the surrounding elements, which we thought should be futuristic/tech/culturally based. This particular version ended up looking more industrial, nonetheless I liked the result. I liked this version but thought that it seemed a bit overworked.

Poster artwork for Blueprint’s (Weigthless Recordings) new project featuring samples from and paying tribute to legendary band The Who.

Black & Silver Greenhouse T-shirt (printed on American Apparel t-shirt), plus The Electric Purgatory CD/EP w/ instrumentals, and an 11×18 electric purgatory poster for only $15.00.

Artwork by your boy.

Artwork I create for Kim Joyce’s lead single from her upcoming album. Available today on iTunes, YouTube.com.

Album artwork for Greenhouse’s “Electric Purgatory” EP featuring new music from Blueprint and Illogic as well as instrumental tracks from Blueprint.

Flyer I designed for Blueprint for a show he is throwing in Columbus.

“I know I’m weird, but….”
Review by James Korte

I first became aware of the L.e in April of 2008 when Fly.Union dropped their first professional product, an EP titled “Kill Fly.U.”  To me, the highlight of what was an all-around stellar project was the single “Dumb Down” a vocal effort from L.e supported by some seriously thick, head-nod inducing production from Jay Swif.  Although Dumb Down left a little something to be desired content-wise, it was hypnotic, intriguing and hinted at an artist with depth.

In many ways, The Anti-Parachute Theory picks up where “Dumb Down” left off, in that L.e leads off with some songs meant to pull the casual listener in, before taking a gradual turn toward the trueschool and experimental sides of his skill set.  L.e is successful in meshing production and hooks that wouldn’t sound out of place on the radio or in the club with lyrics that wouldn’t sound out of place on a Lone Catalyst’s album.

The Intro – moody, sparse track that lacks, but doesn’t require drums. The song explains his reason for parting ways with Fly.Union and also positions L.e as a bit of an enigma. The end of song acts as a bridge transitioning into Bulldog BMX, a clever technique that recurs again later in the disc.

Bulldog BMX picks up the pace and is something of an anthem, with a catchy hook and well-done Rashad beat.  Think “Black Mags” by the Cool Kids, the difference here is the L.e doesn’t spend his verses talking about his bike.  If any formula can be derived from L.e’s efforts, it’s that he believes a great deal in solid beat selection and strong hooks, coercing the listener to stick around for the real meat of his songs – the verses.

The title track, Anti-parachute, is the projects’ crown jewel.  Here, Rashad delivers a great success of a beat, sampling the Beach Boys “I Wasn’t Made for These Times” for the hook.  The chorus compliments L.e’s positioning as an artist, and seemingly, a human.  The beat is haunting and memorable, while at the same time bouncy and hopeful.  This is a song that will be added to iPods and revisited.  A good song.

From the Midwest – revisits the sampled/repeated hook that has become a workable trend for artists of L.e’s ilk–that is, those that wish not to distance themselves from the mainstream, nor from the underground.  While this song isn’t amongst my favorites on the project, it’s also not skippable and serves as a precursor into another of the project’s highlights, “Polo on My Body,” a true and large anthem produced by fellow Columbus resident AU.

The music (interlude) at Track 6 features what seems to be a short response, possibly to an interview question, where L.e asserts that, “…at the end of the day, all that matters is your music.”  It seems like a very deliberate placement for such a comment, as L.e spends the remainder of the disc, seemingly, without much regard for the average rap fan, instead going hard after traditional fans of hip-hop (the 4-elements kind) and experimental/indie music.

The next pair of songs are remakes of Lykke Li’s “Until we Bleed” and MGMT’s “Kids” and give an indictation of how L.e’s style could translate outside of the hip-hop box into a crossover role.  He also showcases a seemingly wide-ranging appreciation and taste for music.

Holy Koran is as close as L.e comes to submitting a throwaway track.  Both the beat and the verses leave something to be desired–it’s song that’s proven expendable after repeat listens.  Still, on a 16 track effort, can’t we allow L.e a song or two off?  Thankfully, he only seemed to need one mulligan.

She and Her is a concept song where L.e is accompanied by Von Pea of Tonya Morgan and P. Blackk.  Here, each MC takes a turn explaining their struggles in balancing their relationships with hip-hop and real human females. A solid effort production and otherwise.

American Idol, produced by J. Rawls was a pleasant surprise for me.  The track finds an energetic L.e over a well-crafted Rawls beat.  The song serves as an introduction of sorts, with Rawls mentioning “he’s got a deal with this new dude…”  I was caught off guard to find these two, a bit of an unlikely pairing, working together.  L.e uses the end of American Idol to lead into the next song, spitting “I went to see the Oracle, this is what she say to me, you already know that I know that you’re the man to beat.”  Oracle is a fuzzy, rugged signature Blueprint track where L.e’s performance is solid but unspectacular.

His departure from Fly.Union may have left some with questions about what type of musical and production relationships L.e would forge.  Needless to say, Rashad, AU, Nicotine, J. Rawls and Blueprint are much more than sufficient in picking up the slack in the beat department.  Beyond their musical adequacies, these producers lend their credibility to the artist and the project.

Hometown is the final musical offering from The Anti-Parachute Theory and is a great end point.  Sampling Adele’s “Hometown Glory” for the hook, L.e stays on topic, discussing his hometown of Columbus, OH and stating that he doesn’t view himself as more important than any artist from his city, and that he would gladly collaborate with any willing artist, provided they support him, because as he says, “we’re all in this together, right?”

Click here to download The Anti-Parachute Theory

L.e - Anti-Parachute prod. by Rashad

L.e - Bulldog BMX prod. by Rashad

L.e - Hometown prod. by Rashad

L.e - Polo on my Body prod. by AU

Artwork I did for Meta4ce and DJ M80’s mixtape project “Dance with the Devil”