Gregory Taylor collaborated with rapper Billyracxx to bring the “Peppe Green” EP to life visually, translating the music’s energy, persona, and internet-era sensibilities into a striking collectible artwork. Taylor’s sculptural and illustrative expertise turned Billy’s ideas into a tangible, memorable experience that blurred the lines between album cover, toy, and art object.
From concept to creation
The centerpiece of the project was a 12-inch translucent green figure modeled after Billyracxx himself, reimagined as a Pepe the Frog character complete with Billy’s tattoos and idiosyncratic flair. Taylor meticulously hand-painted details to ensure the figure captured the rapper’s personality and the playful yet edgy tone of the EP.
“The idea was to make something that pops off the page,” Taylor explains. “It’s vibrant, slightly surreal, and absolutely connected to the music. The figure had to embody Billy’s energy while functioning as a visual anchor for the album.”
A tactile connection to music
By creating a physical figure to feature on the album cover, Taylor provided fans with a layered engagement — not only could they listen to the music, but they could see, touch, and collect a representation of it. The artwork was treated like a comic book panel: dynamic, expressive, and playful, enhancing the listener’s perception of the EP’s narrative.
“Billy’s sound is genre-defying, full of texture and surprises,” Taylor notes. “So I wanted the visual experience to match — bold colors, exaggerated forms, and a sense of motion that draws the viewer in.”
Internet culture meets hip-hop aesthetics
Peppe Green is more than an illustration; it’s a commentary on modern identity and meme culture. The choice of Pepe as a base resonates with internet-era irreverence, while the figure’s craftsmanship elevates it into collector territory. Taylor navigates this balance with care: the work is simultaneously humorous, referential, and sincere.
“Hip-hop, internet culture, and collectibles intersect in this project,” Taylor says. “We’re reflecting the way modern music and art interact online while creating something tangible that fans can own.”
Blurring boundaries
Taylor’s contribution challenges traditional notions of album artwork. The figure functions as sculpture, toy, and album icon, emphasizing that music and visual art are inseparable in Billyracxx’s universe. Fans and collectors alike have praised the multidimensional approach, noting how it adds a playful yet sophisticated layer to the EP experience.
Artistic significance
In Peppe Green, Taylor demonstrates how a sculptor’s hand can enhance narrative storytelling in music. His attention to detail — from posture and expression to translucency and painted nuances — ensures that the figure is not just an accessory but a central storytelling device, aligning seamlessly with Billy’s vision.
“Everything I create is about translating ideas into something people can feel,” Taylor reflects. “This project was about giving fans a physical embodiment of a sound, a persona, and a story — all in one piece.”
Through Peppe Green, Gregory Taylor proves that contemporary album art is not merely decorative; it is a fully integrated extension of an artist’s identity, blending music, collectible culture, and visual storytelling in a way that resonates across multiple sensory dimensions.
