Craig Dyer: cover artworks are more important now than ever

Hi Craig, we’ve been following your work for a long time and really appreciate how you visually translate the aesthetic of the underground hip-hop scene we love. Your artworks perfectly capture the sonic essence of the artists you collaborate with. Can you tell us about your origins? How did your passion for hip-hop and illustration begin? And most importantly, when did you realize that these two worlds – underground rap and your graphic skills – could merge in your work?

I appreciate you having me thank you. I guess art has always been my thing. I was always good at art all the way through school and that. And I got into hip hop music when I was 11 off of the back of the Street Fighter soundtrack, and from then I always enjoyed drawing (before I discovered painting) my favourite musicians and albums covers on my school projects and in my spare time. I was always heavily into fusing my music interests with my artwork before album covers even became a possibility. I realised it was a possibility to start getting into album cover work around 2018 when I saw CXPs work with Griselda. 

When and how did you start illustrating album covers for hip-hop? What was your first commission and how did you get in touch with the American underground scene?

I did my first album cover in 2018 for a UK musician, Micall Parknsun, He’s produced for a lot of your favourite MC’s recently. I did the work in 2018 and it didn’t actually get released until 2020. But the fact I had that conversation made me realise I was onto something and I just started painting some of my favourite musicians and concepts I would think of.

It put a battery in my back, and around the same time as that cover dropping Westside Gunn asked for a painting of mine which I sent over to him, which was a Pray For Paris concept idea before the official cover got announced. That put a lot of eyes on my work once he posted that on his instagram a few times. Then working with Heist Life, Ja’king The Divine, Vega7 The Ronin, Eddie Kaine, Big Ghost Ltd (with Jae Skeese), Mickey Diamond all getting released quickly after each other it started the run going from there. 

MICKEY DIAMOND – “BANGKOK ADRENALINE” – 2022

Which works do you consider your best, most appreciated, or most representative of your work? And what are the latest covers you’ve created recently?

It’s hard to actually pick but I will try my best. Every time I paint a new cover it becomes a favourite of mine. I really like the details in the cover I did for Kong The Artisan and Guilty Simpson from last year. Vega7 The Ronin and Ferris Blusa ‘Both Hands Wash The Face’ is a favourite of mine and seems to be a fan favourite as well. That one gets mentioned a lot. The work I’ve done with Action Figure since last year has been pretty amazing too, he’s on one of the best runs in the underground right now and I’ve painted the covers for most of his drops including a Christmas themed cover which we just announced today actually. They are definitely some of my favourites I’ve done and the fans in the underground really like the covers I’ve been doing for him quite a lot. The Big Ghost and Mickey Diamond covers seem to be peoples favourites as well.

GUILTY SIMPSON – “GIANTS OF THE FALL” – 2024

How does your workflow usually work? From the artist’s initial request to the final delivery, what are the stages of your creative process?

I tend to let them tell me when they will need it most of the time and let them know if I can fit it into the schedule. I still have a day job so I have to work around that. So I do the paintings in my free time. I do get quite a lot of requests now, for example I’ve had 52 covers announced this year so far, so I usually write all the covers I’m doing into my notes on my phone and work around them dates. it takes me a few evenings to complete a cover. depending on small details some can take me a little longer. 

How important do you think cover artwork is in a hip-hop album? And how and why has the approach to this art changed in recent years, especially with the advent of streaming on one hand and the return of collecting physical media on the other?

It’s very important in my opinion, I think it always was. I remember I would pick albums myself based on the cover if I hadn’t heard of the musician when I was searching in record shops back in the day. And now with streaming and music being a lot more accessible and more music getting released it’s more important than ever. Because you’ve got to stand out and you need something eye catching. Myself, I only work with musicians I think make good music and I think that has been noticed and people tell me they check out music with my art for that very reason as well, which is the reason I have always had that approach. I always wanted my brand to be trusted for the music I’m painting.

What do you think are the 5 best album covers of all time (not just hip-hop) that have influenced your work or that you consider iconic?

That’s a good question. Had to have a good think about that. Miles Davis ‘Bitches Brew’, Amazing cover. De La Soul ‘3 feet High And Rising’ that cover is iconic and just lives on forever in music. Flatbush Zombies ‘3001: A Laced Odyssey’.Amazing artwork. Organized Konfusion ‘Stress’ again that cover is just so iconic, and Westside Gunn ‘Flygod’ the album cover that got my attention and got me to listen to WSG in the first place and sent me down the underground scene rabbit hole.

Organized Konfusion – “Stress” – 1994

And instead, what are the 5 best rap album covers released in 2025 in your opinion? What characteristics must a rap album cover have today to become iconic or catch the listener’s attention?

I think I might have some of the best covers in 2025. I wont pretend I don’t think that haha so I will purposely pick 5 I wasn’t involved in.

So my favourites covers are UFO Fev & Big Ghost Ltd ‘Albizu’s Revenge’, De La Soul ‘Cabin In The Sky’, Clipse ‘Let God Sort Em Out’ , Ja’king The Divine and Javi Darko “Danse Macabre’, Hitboy And Al ‘Goldfish‘ those are my 5 not including any of mine.

If I was picking 5 of my own I would say, Action Figure 973 ‘DOOM WAS RIGHT’ twogeebs ‘They Hated jesus At First’, Doughnetworkz ‘Dis For The Project (Side B)’ Action Figure 973 x Machacha ‘Most Interesting Man In The World’ and Wulverine WCU alternative vinyl art. I could honestly say 5 more. I have so many personal faves this year. 

I don’t think it has to have anything in particular, Some photo covers can become iconic. You just know, like when I paint them, you just know.  Eye catching, gritty, raw, good subject matter. Hard to put an actual characteristic on it. 

DOUGH NETWORKZ – “DIS FOR THE PROJECT SIDE B” – 2025

Beyond hip-hop album covers, do you work on other types of artistic projects? Are there other genres of music, design fields, or visual arts you’d like to explore or that you’re already involved in?

Honestly i’m already living my dream art wise. I always wanted to be involved in Hip Hop music in some way and I am. I do like some RnB musicians so doing a few covers in that field would be amazing, and I like some bands as well in other genres, so maybe something like that as well. but i listen to hip hop music everyday. Maybe some mainstream artists or the ones between the underground and mainstream, like WSG, Conway, Action Bronson, Roc Marciano, Denzel Curry, Alchemist, working with some of those names would be amazing.

Looking to the future, where is hip-hop cover art heading? Is there still room for traditional illustration in the age of AI and digital graphics?

I think traditional illustration is still the only way. In my opinion. Traditional art or photography. I don’t like to see AI art. I also don’t like seeing people claim AI is their own which I’m seeing more of, you can spot AI art a mile off 9 times out of 10. Don’t get me wrong, there is some good AI art, all depends on what you’re telling it I suppose. But for the most part, a person can create the albums sound a lot more than AI can. And I think the fact artists like myself, only work with people they actually listen to and like, makes it even more important, as you know you can trust the brand. I get why some people drift towards AI as it is a free option. But I would always advise people to take their cover art choices seriously. It’s many peoples first impression of your music before they have even clicked at the end of the day.

ACTION FIGURE 973 & CIRCA97 – “LUCHA LIBRE FOR CHRISTMAS” – 2025