Pen & Pixel
Pen & Pixel Graphics, Inc. was an American graphic design firm based in Houston, Texas that specialized in musical album covers, especially for gangsta rap artists in the Southern United States. For a long time, it was the house design firm for No Limit Records, Cash Money Records, and Suave House Records.
History
The company was started in 1992 by brothers Aaron and Shawn Brauch. The Brauch brothers and their staff worked with over 8,000 clients and completed 19,180 album covers before the company closed its doors in 2003. The brothers cited peer-to-peer file sharing website Napster and the September 11 attacks as reasons for the close; artists were reluctant to fly to Houston to view artwork that listeners would be unlikely to see.
The album covers Pen & Pixel produced have been described as "gaudy", "more-is-more", and "outrageous". Common themes included bullets, cars, drugs, fire, gems, money, women, and other examples of wealth and riches. Pen & Pixel would fulfill client requests for custom album covers, with sketches of the album cover being drawn based on the concepts requested. These sketches would then be scanned by a computer, which would generate a list of items needed for the cover, such as cars and diamonds. Photos would then be taken of these items from different angles, so the same item could be reused in the future. Pen & Pixel apparently refused to produce political covers, and they once rejected a concept by Insane Clown Posse involving a pregnant woman being shot.
In 2020, Pen & Pixel came out of retirement to design the cover art for 21 Savage and Metro Boomin's Savage Mode II. The artwork is in their signature design, heavily inspired by those of Cash Money and No Limit and is a nod to the bling-rap album covers of the 1990s.
Timeline of notable covers
1992
I'm Goin' Out Lika Soldier by Willie D
1993
Comin' Out Hard by Eightball & MJG
1994
Ocean of Funk by E.S.G.On the Outside Looking In by Eightball & MJG
1995
Hillwood by SPMMystic Stylez by Three 6 MafiaSailin' Da South by E.S.G.On Top of the World by Eightball & MJG
1996
3 'n the Mornin' (Part Two) by DJ ScrewChapter 1: The End by Three 6 Mafia
1997
Tru 2 da Game by TRUStackin Chips by 3X KrazyI'm Bout It by various artistsSolja Rags by JuvenileGhetto D by Master PGet It How U Live! by the Hot BoysChapter 2: World Domination by Three 6 MafiaUnpredictable by MystikalNo More Glory by MJGLyrics of a Pimp by Eightball & MJGHow You Luv That by Big Tymer$
1998
Make 'Em Say Uhh! by Master P Charge It 2 da Game by Silkk the ShockerHustle Town by SPMLife or Death by C-MurderGive It 2 'Em Raw by Soulja SlimLost by EightballMP da Last Don by Master PDa Game Is to Be Sold, Not to Be Told by Snoop DoggAngel Dust by Indo GHow You Luv That Vol. 2 by Big Tymer$Mean Green by various artistsGhetto Organized by the Gambino Family400 Degreez by JuvenileDa Good da Bad & da Ugly by the Geto BoysGhetto Fabulous by MystikalPower Moves: The Table by SPM
1999
Made Man by Silkk the ShockerCrazyNDaLazDayz by Tear da Club Up ThugsDa Next Level by Mr. Serv-OnShinin' n' Grindin' by E.S.G.Chopper City in the Ghetto by B.G.First Come, First Served by Dr. DooomRear End by MercedesBigger & Blacker by Chris RockDa Crime Family by TRUGuerrilla Warfare by the Hot BoysGhetty Green by Project PatOnly God Can Judge Me by Master PTha Block Is Hot by Lil WayneThe 3rd Wish: To Rock the World by SPMTha G-Code by Juvenile
2000
I Got That Work by Big TymersWhen the Smoke Clears: Sixty 6, Sixty 1 by Three 6 MafiaThe Leprechaun by Lil' FlipMatthew by Kool KeithBaller Blockin' by various artistsLet's Get Ready by MystikalSpace Age 4 Eva by Eightball & MJGGhetto Postage by Master PTime Is Money by SPMLights Out by Lil Wayne
2001
My World, My Way by Silkk the ShockerProject English by JuvenileChoices: The Album by Three 6 MafiaBang or Ball by Mack 10Never Change: The Pain and Glory Album by SPMTarantula by Mystikal
2002
500 Degreez by Lil Wayne
2003
Let 'Em Burn by the Hot BoysDa Unbreakables by Three 6 MafiaTerrorist Threats by Westside Connection
2020
Savage Mode II by 21 Savage