…An Album By Its Cover: Superconductor

Andy Allo‘s album, Superconductor, will be released on November 20th and so, in the meantime, here is my analysis of the album cover. The triangle either within or interlocking with a circle symbol is a common image in alchemy and many religions. The symbol has numerous meanings including spiritual sight, higher knowledge, the unity of […]

…An Album By Its Cover: Fear of a Black Planet

As we near yet another doomsday date in December and with yet another revelation of the fears of seeing Black people talk to each other via the release of Obama’s speech at Hampton University right before the debates, here is a post about the album cover for Public Enemy’s 1990 album, Fear of a Black […]

…An Album By Its Cover: The Roots’ Rising Down

Via Lostinurbanism and Karnado Fear of Negro rule was still evident in 1900. Rising Down, the eighth studio album of The Roots was released on April 29, 2008. Above is the original drawing used the for the cover, “The Vampire that Hovers Over North Carolina,” a cartoon by Norman E. Jennette, which was published in […]

…An Album By Its Cover: Herbie Hancock

Herbie Hancock is an innovative jazz musicians, but he also knows how to pick great album covers. Also, here is an article placing Hancock in a futurist context. Thrust (1974), Cover by Robert Springett Magic Windows (1981), Cover by David Ross Head Hunters (1973), Cover by Victor Moscoso The Solid Steel Interview (2002) Future Shock […]

… An Album by Its Cover: Erykah Badu

“Honey” Erykah Badu is known for her distinct album covers and her video for her song “Honey” (one of my favorite songs) highlights her affinity for album covers. Go to Soul Bounce to see the list of all the albums she referenced. Her recent album covers for New Amerykah and New Amerykah Part Two: Return […]

…An Album By Its Cover

This is another segment on my blog covering album artwork and their allusions and meanings. Today’s post is about the controversial rapper Lil B‘s latest album cover for “I’m Gay (I’m Happy).” The artist, Uncle Grumpy, based his artwork for the album off of Marvin Gaye’s 1970 album, “I Want You.” Called the “Sugar Shack” […]