Iconic Album Covers Designed by Artists
The album cover is like the face of the music — it’s the first thing you see and sets the vibe for what you’re about to hear. A good album cover grabs your attention and makes you curious about the tunes inside. It’s not just about looking cool; it’s a way for the artist to show what their music is all about. Think of it as the album’s signature style that fans can recognize. The cover also gives a hint about the music’s mood and vibe. Whether it’s bold and colorful or mysterious and dark, it tells you what kind of journey you might be in for. Plus, a cool album cover isn’t just for looks; it’s part of the whole experience, especially for folks who collect physical albums. It’s like turning the music into a piece of art you can hold. Now, let’s look into the most iconic album covers that were designed by well known artists.
MBDTF — George Condo
Ye’s “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy”, designed by George Condo, an uncanny collaboration between the two made one of the most iconic album covers of the 2010s.
The two met up at Condo’s studio in New York and listened to the album, after which Condo created up to nine paintings, when one of them ultimately got picked depicting a naked woman on top of a man. In order for the album to sell at all though they had to censor the image.
Luv is Rage 2 — Virgil Abloh
The album cover for Lil Uzi Vert’s debut studio album, “Luv is Rage 2,” by Virgil Abloh, features Off-White-branded tape running across it. Abloh, in an interview with Fader, revealed that he was asked to creatively direct Lil Uzi Vert’s project in the final hours. He emphasized his design aesthetic, which involves showcasing the creative process, aiming to inspire a whole generation of kids to see themselves in the work and pursue their own creative endeavors.
Graduation — Takashi Murakami
Ye’s “Graduation” marked a turning point in his already successful career. Fresh off the acclaimed “Late Registration,” Ye, a Grammy-winning artist, enlisted the talents of Japanese artist Takashi Murakami to revamp his image. Murakami, a cultural icon in contemporary art, infused the album with vibrant and bold artwork, matching the grandeur of Kanye’s stadium-sized hip-hop tracks. The collaboration catapulted Kanye’s “Dropout Bear” mascot from a shy symbol to a vivid and surreal representation of superstardom. “Graduation” became a symbol of Kanye’s larger-than-life presence in both music and culture.
The New Abnormal — Basquiat
The Strokes incorporated “Bird on Money”, Basquiat’s piece, into their 2020 comeback album, “The New Abnormal.” The original artwork draws inspiration from jazz icon Charlie Parker, portraying him as a ‘yardbird,’ a nod to the musician’s nickname. Julian Casablancas, the lead singer of The Strokes, mentioned that the Grammy-nominated album’s title alludes to a sort of ‘threat to your reality’ — a concept that could similarly apply to the disorienting essence of Basquiat’s painting in this context.
