Sexy Album Covers

The racy album artwork of Rihanna, Beyoncé, Usher and more.

Rihanna, Talk That Talk (2011) - The pop star releases a new album what seems like every six months. This new record, available in mid-November, features two covers, both close-ups of Rih Rih, one with her blowing smoke and this one with the wagging tongue. She looks a little scary, perhaps like a man-eater.(Photo: Def Jam Records)

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Rihanna, Talk That Talk (2011) - The pop star releases a new album what seems like every six months. This new record, available in mid-November, features two covers, both close-ups of Rih Rih, one with her blowing smoke and this one with the wagging tongue. She looks a little scary, perhaps like a man-eater.(Photo: Def Jam Records)

Ohio Players, Honey (1975)  - This 1975 release fell right in line with the soul band’s racy album covers. The golden woman feeding herself from a glowing jar of honey needs no explanation, the image is dripping with sex appeal.(Photo: Mercury Records)

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Ohio Players, Honey (1975)  - This 1975 release fell right in line with the soul band’s racy album covers. The golden woman feeding herself from a glowing jar of honey needs no explanation, the image is dripping with sex appeal.(Photo: Mercury Records)

Janet Jackson: janet. - It’s no secret that Janet Jackson does a lot of things well: dancing, singing and always giving face. Let’s call this one eyebrows on “vintage fleek.” Her self-titled album debuted in '93 and was the beginning of Janet’s creative control of her artistry. It’s been 21 years since she gave us this iconic album and the eyebrow gods are forever grateful.(Photo: Virgin Records)

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Janet Jackson, Janet (1994) - Like that D’Angelo video where one ponders what’s going on just below the screen, Janet Jackson’s racy 1994 album cover for the self-titled Janet album shows the singer topless with ex-hubby Rene Elizondo’s hands acting as fig leaves for her breasts. One word: Hot!(Photo: Virgin Records)

Lil Kim, Hardcore - When she dropped her debut album, Hardcore, in 1996, Lil Kim shook things up. She was a strong female rapper with equal parts sexuality and lyricism, and surely capable of making a hit. Kim hasn't dropped an album in almost 10 years, though, and what she has put out often suggests her skills have diminished over time. Trying to peg a sequel onto this celebrated debut wouldn't help anyone. (Photo: Courtesy of Big Beat Records)

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Lil Kim, Hardcore (1996) - This image of hip hop’s Queen Bee straddling a bear-skin rug is surprisingly demure compared to the promotional photos for her 1996 debut, Hardcore, featuring a squatting Kim in a leopard bikini and fur coat. This record and the image she created would be the start of status as a fashion icon and hip hop’s nasty girl.(Photo: Undeas/Big Beat 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)

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Prince, Lovesexy (1988) - Still the sexiest man alive even though he’s turned his life over to the man upstairs, Prince in 1988 was the master of pushing the envelope. Like here, on the cover of his album Lovesexy, totally nude, totally androgenous, totally lovely and sexy.(Photo: Paisley Park/Warner Bros.)

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Seal, Seal (1994)  - Simple and elegant, a beautiful Black man in black grease paint on an all white canvas — Seal at his peak on the cover of his eponymous 1994 album.(Photo: Sire Records)

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Seal, Seal (1994)  - Simple and elegant, a beautiful Black man in black grease paint on an all white canvas — Seal at his peak on the cover of his eponymous 1994 album.(Photo: Sire Records)

Beyoncé, Dangerously in Love - After leading Destiny's Child to the top of the charts, Beyoncé emerged as a fully-formed superstar on her cocksure 2003 bow, backed by swaggering crowd-movers ("Crazy in Love") and attagirl anthems ("Me, Myself and I").

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Beyoncé, Dangerously in Love (2003)  - Bey’s solo debut hit the streets in 2003 and showed off her amazing physique in a heavy Swarovski crystal top, with her bronzed skin aglow and her hair windswept. She was always a standout, but this was the moment that a star was born.(Photo: Columbia Records)

Photo By (Photo: Courtesy Columbia Records)

Sade, Love Deluxe (1992) - Does this woman age? Sade still the “hottest chick in the game” looks like a sculpted work of art on the cover of her 1992 album Love Deluxe. It’s been nearly 10 years and she still looks amazing.(Photo: Epic Records)

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Sade, Love Deluxe (1992) - Does this woman age? Sade still the “hottest chick in the game” looks like a sculpted work of art on the cover of her 1992 album Love Deluxe. It’s been nearly 10 years and she still looks amazing.(Photo: Epic Records)

D'Angelo, Voodoo - We don't know what's up with D'Angelo's decade-in-the-making comeback, but in the meantime this will do: His classic 2000 sophomore album, Voodoo is being reissued on vinyl for the first time. The new edition includes more artwork and beefed-up liner notes featuring interviews with ?uestlove, Alan Leeds and more. (Photo: EMI Records)

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D'Angelo, Voodoo (2000)  - The last album the R&B crooner recorded in 2000 before going off the grid showcased the sculpted abs, corn-rowed locks and parted full lips that made D’Angelo every woman’s fantasy. Oh, and the record wasn’t too bad either.(Photo: Cheeba Sound/Virgin Records)

Usher, Confessions Part 2 (2004) - Confession-era Usher had abs of steel, the man could do push-ups while in a handstand. This album ushered the child star into manhood as his lyrical content as well as his physique showed maturation.(Photo: Arista Records)

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Usher, Confessions Part 2 (2004) - Confession-era Usher had abs of steel, the man could do push-ups while in a handstand. This album ushered the child star into manhood as his lyrical content as well as his physique showed maturation.(Photo: Arista Records)

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Mariah Carey, Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel (2009) - Mimi loves all things flirty and this triple dose of the eight-octave diva on her 12th studio album in nothing but a white tank definitely sends out a sexy signal.(Photo: Island Records)

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Mariah Carey, Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel (2009) - Mimi loves all things flirty and this triple dose of the eight-octave diva on her 12th studio album in nothing but a white tank definitely sends out a sexy signal.(Photo: Island Records)

Vanity 6, Nasty Girl (1982)  - Prince’s original ingénue, Vanity drove everyone wild with her 1982 classic “Nasty Girl.” The Canadian-born singer quickly fizzled but every teenage boy in the '80s had a copy of this record hanging on their bedroom wall.(Photo: Warner Bros.)

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Vanity 6, Nasty Girl (1982)  - Prince’s original ingénue, Vanity drove everyone wild with her 1982 classic “Nasty Girl.” The Canadian-born singer quickly fizzled but every teenage boy in the '80s had a copy of this record hanging on their bedroom wall.(Photo: Warner Bros.)