The Top 10 Kanye West Magazine Covers

Yeezy has been running things for over a decade.

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Kanye West's Magazine Covers - Stop the presses—Kanye West’s been killing magazine covers for almost a decade now. Yesterday, his newest triumph was unveiled: The August/September issue of Complex, which features a striking, and bound to be controversial, image of Yeezy and his G.O.O.D. Music soldiers in the shape of a crucifix. With the label’s feverishly anticipated Cruel Summer album just around the corner, it’s perfect timing, and the latest in a long series of eye-catching Kanye covers. Read on to see just some of our favorites. (Photo: Courtesy of Complex Magazine)

The Source, April 2004 - One of Kanye’s first solo covers was this colorful cover of The Source, released in the run-up to his 2004 debut, The College Dropout. (Photo: Courtesy of The Source Magazine)

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The Source, April 2004 - One of Kanye’s first solo covers was this colorful cover of The Source, released in the run-up to his 2004 debut, The College Dropout. (Photo: Courtesy of The Source Magazine)

XXL, October 2004 - XXL gave Kanye one of his first big looks when guest editor Dave Chappelle tapped his favorite rappers, Yeezy, dead prez, Common and Talib Kweli, to pose together crew deep on the cover of the October 2004 issue.(Photo: Courtesy of XXL Magazine)

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XXL, October 2004 - XXL gave Kanye one of his first big looks when guest editor Dave Chappelle tapped his favorite rappers, Yeezy, dead prez, Common and Talib Kweli, to pose together crew deep on the cover of the October 2004 issue.(Photo: Courtesy of XXL Magazine)

TIME, August 29, 2005 - TIME was one of the first mainstream magazines to give Kanye cover love back in 2005, calling him "the smartest man in pop music." (Photo: Courtesy of Time Magazine)

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TIME, August 29, 2005 - TIME was one of the first mainstream magazines to give Kanye cover love back in 2005, calling him "the smartest man in pop music." (Photo: Courtesy of Time Magazine)

The Passion - Before there was Yeezus, there was this, likely inspired by the success of Kanye West's 2004 hit "Jesus Walks."(Photo: Rolling Stone Magazine, February 2006)

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Rolling Stone, February 2006 - Kanye’s Complex cover isn’t the first time he used religious imagery on a magazine cover. Back in 2006, Yeezy caused an uproar when he appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone wearing a crown of thorns. (Photo: Courtesy of Rolling Stone Magazine)

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50 Cent Vs. Kanye West - Once upon a time, 50 Cent challenged Kanye West to a "who can sell more" contest, promising to quit the rap game if he did not out pace 'Ye when they dropped their albums on the same day in 2007. It was a battle for the ages, even landing the cover of Rolling Stone. Both rappers were at significant heights in their careers. Ultimately, however, numbers don't lie. First week of sales had 'Ye nearly platinum with some 957,000 copies of his Graduation pushed. 50 had about 300,000 less with Curtis. The Winner: Kanye West(Photo: Rolling Stone Magazine)

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Rolling Stone, August 2007 - With Yeezy and another rap titan, 50 Cent, releasing albums on the same day, Rolling Stone had the two square off on this memorable 2007 cover.(Photo: Courtesy of RollingStone Magazine)

GQ, December 2007 - GQ named a dapper-looking 'Ye as one of its Men of the Year (along with Lil Wayne) back in 2007. (Photo: Courtesy of GQ Magazine)

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GQ, December 2007 - GQ named a dapper-looking 'Ye as one of its Men of the Year (along with Lil Wayne) back in 2007. (Photo: Courtesy of GQ Magazine)

The Fader, December 2008 - Kanye showed off his space-age, 808s and Heartbreak–era swag on the December 2008 cover of The Fader.(Photo: Courtesy of Fader Magazine)

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The Fader, December 2008 - Kanye showed off his space-age, 808s and Heartbreak–era swag on the December 2008 cover of The Fader.(Photo: Courtesy of Fader Magazine)

VIBE, February 2009 - "I am rap," Kanye boldly told naysayers on the cover of Vibe three years ago. (Photo: Courtesy of VIBE Magazine)

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VIBE, February 2009 - "I am rap," Kanye boldly told naysayers on the cover of Vibe three years ago. (Photo: Courtesy of VIBE Magazine)

XXL, October 2010 - Kanye turned the tables as guest editor of the October 2010 issue of XXL, featuring this mirror image cover, in-depth G.O.O.D. Music coverage and an essay from an increasingly press-shy Yeezy.

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XXL, October 2010 - Kanye turned the tables as guest editor of the October 2010 issue of XXL, featuring this mirror image cover, in-depth G.O.O.D. Music coverage and an essay from an increasingly press-shy Yeezy.

Complex, December/January 2011 - Yeezy has covered Complex several times before, most recently in 2011, when this simple photo was accompanied by an in-depth, fly-on-the-wall look at the making of Kanye's last solo album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.(Photo: Courtesy of Complex Magazine)

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Complex, December/January 2011 - Yeezy has covered Complex several times before, most recently in 2011, when this simple photo was accompanied by an in-depth, fly-on-the-wall look at the making of Kanye's last solo album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.(Photo: Courtesy of Complex Magazine)