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Pen & Pixel Graphics, Inc. Records

 Collection
Identifier: 2010-017

This collection documents the creative process of Pen & Pixel Graphics, Inc. as it produced album artwork for Houston-area and other American hip hop artists. The collection contains 67 digital files, 13 posters, 9 poster flats, and other material documenting the company, including a catalog and photographs of its staff. It also includes a Geto Boys storyboard, made under the auspices of Rap-a-Lot Records, and two t-shirts.

Dates

  • 1993-2002

Conditions Governing Access

Open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Special Collections owns the physical items in our collections, but copyright normally belongs to the creator of the materials or their heirs. The researcher has full responsibility for determining copyright status, obtaining permission to publish from copyright holders, and abiding by current copyright laws when publishing or displaying copies of Special Collections material in print or electronic form. For more information, consult the appropriate librarian. Reproduction decisions will be made by Special Collections staff on a case-by-case basis.

Extent

4.50 linear feet

90.3 Megabytes

Historical Information

Pen & Pixel Graphics, Inc. was founded in September 1992 by brothers Shawn and Aaron Brauch in Houston, TX. The Brauch brothers got their start in the music business by working for Rap-A-Lot Records in Houston before recognizing that demand for their graphic design work was high enough for them to start their own company.

Pen & Pixel was innovative in its wide use of Photoshop to create CD covers filled with layers of special effects, highly stylized lettering, and plenty of “bling” (flashy jewelry, expensive clothes, luxury cars, and piles of cash). The company became associated mainly with rap and hip hop musicians in the 1990s, working with renowned artists such as Master P and Lil Wayne and record labels such as No Limit Records and Cash Money Records.

In addition to CD covers, Pen & Pixel also produced artwork for posters, logos, and videos.

Technical Requirements

Some digital files can be viewed in the UH Digital Library in the Pen & Pixel digital collection. Digital archival materials can also be accessed in the Special Collections Reading Room. Contact curator Julie Grob (jgrob@uh.edu) for more information.

Digital Collections

Pen & Pixel digital collection

https://digitalcollections.lib.uh.edu/collections/mg74qn10n

Title
Guide to the Pen & Pixel Graphics, Inc. Records
Author
Alison Clemens
Date
2013-08-27
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the University of Houston Libraries Special Collections Repository

Contact:
University of Houston Libraries Special Collections
MD Anderson Library
4333 University Drive
Houston TX 77204-2000 USA
713-743-9750