Duets: The Final Chapter is a rap album released in 2005, 8 years after The Notorious B.I.G. was murdered. The conventions of the rap genre are present, yet they are presented in a more solemn and respectful way than usual.
The message of the cover is that Biggie is finished with the industry and is fed up with all of the controversy surrounding him. This has been done through his tired eyes and his image being made up of, and surrounded by, newspaper stories. The use of the askew crown is telling; as it shows he is still the greatest but his heart isn't in it in the same way anymore. If the crown was upright, it would be more fitting of the arrogant, egotisical figures typical of the rap genre.
The only colour other than black and white used is red, which has connotations of anger and violence. The red leaks into his eye, implying that these stories and the rap game have physically hurt him. The font used is bold and sans serif which is complementary to Biggie's deadpan expression. Similarly to the crown, the text for the album and artist's name are slanted. This continues the theme of dejection and imperfection.
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