Thursday Throwback is a weekly colour scheme inspired by an iconic album cover of yesteryear. This week’s throwback is the 1985 album “Radio” by LL Cool J. The colours are as follows:
| Colours | HEX | RGB | HSB | CMYK | LAB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colour 1 | #BF3952 | 191, 57, 82 | 349, 70, 75 | 0, 70, 57, 25 | 45, 54, 16 |
| Colour 2 | 304673 | 48, 70, 115 | 220, 58, 45 | 58, 39, 0, 54 | 30, 6, -28 |
| Colour 3 | #E4E9F2 | 228, 233, 242 | 219, 6, 95 | 5, 3, 0, 5 | 92, 0, -4 |
| Colour 4 | #9CA1A6 | 156, 161, 166 | 210, 6, 65 | 6, 3, 0, 34 | 65, 0, -3 |
| Colour 5 | #F2C53D | 242, 197, 61 | 45, 75, 95 | 0, 18, 74, 5 | 81, 2, 69 |
“Radio,” LL Cool J’s debut album, was released on 18 November 1985 through Def Jam Recordings. This album marked a significant milestone in hip-hop history and played a crucial role in the genre’s mainstream success.
The producer Rick Rubin, played a crucial role in shaping the album’s sound. Rubin’s approach, often described as “bare-bones” or “skeletal,” emphasised drum machine-led beats and stripped-down aggressiveness, giving the album its gritty feel. The recording sessions featured LL Cool J’s vocals and DJ Cut Creator’s scratching, with Rubin’s production creating an equally innovative and influential musical style.
Upon release, “Radio” garnered widespread critical acclaim and commercial success. It was one of the first hip-hop albums to achieve significant commercial success, having sold over 500,000 copies in the space of five months. It eventually received platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
The album is credited with helping to define the sound of East Coast rap and is considered a genre classic. Tracks such as “I Can’t Live Without My Radio” and “Rock the Bells” became anthems, resonating with fans due to their hard-hitting beats and LL Cool J’s confident lyrics.
The album cover, designed by Steve Byram, features a close-up of a JVC RC-M90 boombox, an iconic piece of technology associated with new school hip-hop culture.
“Radio” is widely regarded as a landmark in hip-hop history, capturing the essence of a growing musical movement. Its raw production and cultural significance have secured its place as one of the top albums in hip-hop history.Did you like this week’s colour scheme? Do you fancy using it for your next release cover? Then visit the shop or contact the founder!