Drake's album art for Nothing Was The Same sparked some of the most intense and hilarious conversations about a single record's cover art since... well, probably since the last Drake record. The Canadian rapper simply has a knack for picking imagery that will tantalize, provoke and enrage his many fans—and detractors.

Beyond the memes, the jokes and the question of whether or not Drake was paying tribute to Biggie, the Nothing Was The Same cover also tapped into a tradition that's been an essential part of hip-hop since its beginning: graphic art. Visual art, particularly graffiti, has always been an integral part of hip-hop, and as the music has evolved, so has the art work, with many performers crafting striking images that pay tribute to the past while pushing the form forward.

From violent cartoons of samurai sword wielding warriors to desolate sci-fi landscapes to Japanese inspired fantasies, rap album covers have always had a larger than life sensibility that fits with the larger than life narratives found on the records. In honor of Drake's controversial cover choice, we selected 20 great rap album covers that use graphic art in a cartoon-like manner. Check it out—nothing will be the same when you finish.

Just-Ice Back To The Old School
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Artist: Just-Ice
Album: Back To The Old School
Year: 1986

Schooly D Schooly D
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Artist: Schooly D
Album: Schooly D
Year: 1986

N.W.A. 100 Miles And Runnin
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Artist: N.W.A.
Album: 100 Miles And Runnin'
Year: 1990

The Pharcyde- Bizarre Ride II The Pharcyde
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Artist: Pharcyde
Album: Bizzare Ryde II The Pharcyde
Year: 1992

Snoop Dogg - Doggystyle - Front
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Artist: Snoop Dogg
Album: Doggystyle
Year: 1993

Organized Konfusion - Stress The Extinction Agenda
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Artist: Organized Konfusion
Album: Stress: The Extinction Agenda
Year: 1994

liquid-swords-marquee
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Artist: GZA
Album: Liquid Swords
Year: 1995

outkast_atliens
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Artist: OutKast
Album: ATLiens
Year: 1996

Company Flow Funcrusher Plus
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Artist: Company Flow
Album: Funcrusher Plus
Year: 1997

Camp Lo - Uptown Saturday Night
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Artist: Camp Lo
Album: Uptown Saturday Night
Year: 1997

mos_def_blackstar
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Artist: Black Star
Album: Mos Def And Talib Kweli Are Black Star
Year: 1998

Operation+Doomsday+MF+Doom
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Artist: MF Doom
Album: Operation: Doomsday
Year: 1999

Ludacris - Word Of Mouf
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Artist: Ludacris
Album: Word Of Mouf 
Year: 2001

clipse_lord_willin
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Artist: Clipse
Album: Lord Willin
Year: 2002

50-cent-massacre
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Artist: 50 Cent
Album: The Massacre
Year: 2005

kanye_graduation
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Artist: Kanye West
Album: Graduation
Year: 2007

T.I. - Paper Trail
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Artist: T.I.
Album: Paper Trail
Year: 2008

Curren$y Pilot Talk
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Artist: Curren$y
Album: Pilot Talk
Year: 2010 

Killer Mike - R.A.P. Music
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Artist: Killer Mike
Album: R.A.P. Music
Year: 2012

Big_Boi_VLADR album-cover
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Artist: Big Boi 
Album: Vicious Lies And Dangerous Rumors
Year: 2012

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