Controversial Album Covers

Musicians stir the spot with shocking artwork.

The Rundown, Game's Jesus Piece - Despite his name, it's difficult to discern when Game is playing and when he isn't. He's one of rap's biggest provocateurs and most effective trolls, after all. So it was hard to know what to make of the controversial cover to his new album, Jesus Piece. The image, which blended a seeming gang member with a saint, suggests a deep exploration of the lines between good and evil, between religion and real life.  Because Game's never been one for album-length statements, it was easy to think the only one here was "any publicity is good publicity." Which way did Game end up going? A concept or just a product? And more importantly: Does it sound good? Check out this track-by-track rundown of Game's Jesus Piece to find our answers to these questions and more. — Alex Gale    (Photo: Interscope Records)
Kanye West, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy - The cover of Kanye West's 2010 opus My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy was a bizarre illustration by artist George Condo featuring a scowling Kanye West holding a bottle while being straddled by a naked, armless, winged female creature of some sort. West tweeted that some retailers had banned the cover, but a Wal-Mart spokesperson insisted that wasn't true. Later, a New Yorker article reported that Kanye had specifically sought an image that would be banned. Either way, alternate covers with tamer artwork were released as well. (Photo: Roc-A-Fella Records) 
Prince, Lovesexy - Prince's 1988 album Lovesexy showed a nude Purple One surrounded by phallic flowers. Some retailers refused to stock the album, or wrapped it in black packaging — ironic, as the LP was a last-minute replacement for Prince's never-released Black Album, which featured an all-black cover. (Photo: Warner Bros Records)
Ice-T - Home Invasion (March 23, 1993) - Ice-T ended his relationship with Sire Records over the Home Invasion cover, which showed a young white boy in headphones listening to rap music and surrounded by menacing black figures. After the label insisted on a change, T got out of his deal and took the album over to Priority Records, where it was released with album art as originally conceived.The Coup, Party Music - This album from The Coup featured the Bay Area conscious-rap vets blowing up the World Trade Center, and was coincidentally set to be dropped in early September 2001. After 9/11, the album was postponed to November, when it was released with less incendiary artwork. (Photo: Tommy Boy Records)

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Kanye West, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy - The cover of Kanye West's 2010 opus My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy was a bizarre illustration by artist George Condo featuring a scowling Kanye West holding a bottle while being straddled by a naked, armless, winged female creature of some sort. West tweeted that some retailers had banned the cover, but a Wal-Mart spokesperson insisted that wasn't true. Later, a New Yorker article reported that Kanye had specifically sought an image that would be banned. Either way, alternate covers with tamer artwork were released as well. (Photo: Roc-A-Fella Records) 

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