Kanye West’s New Album Cover Banned

 •  XXL Magazine  •  by XXL Staff  •  67 Comments

The revolution will not be televised, but it might be tweeted. Earlier this evening (October 17), Kanye West announced via his Twitter account that the powers that be did not approve the proposed album cover for My Beautiful Twisted Fantasy. Around 5pm he tweeted, “Yoooo they banned my album cover!!!!! Ima tweet it in a few…”

True to his word, Kanye released a twitpic of the controversial cover, which features an all red backdrop with a distorted portrait of a nude Black male being straddled in a sexual position by a naked angel-like White female dead center. [see below] “Banned in the USA!!!,” Kanye tweeted. “They don’t want me chilling on the couch with my phoenix!”

He explained further in a later tweet, that, “in the 70s album covers had actual nudity… It’s so funny that people forget that… Everything has been so commercialized now.” —Anslem Samuel

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  • John Cochran

    Ye trippin,that shit ugly. Aint no way Def Jam putiin that in stores. He’s right though, Go digging in your parents old record collection, you’ll see some crazy shit. Dudes in a band laying on rose pedals with no shirts on and shit.

    • Anonymous

      Fuck tat devil ass nigga son real talk b

      • fucc you

        SHUT UP DUMB ASS LIL BITCH

  • 89

    bahahahaahahahaa

  • Chrissy Corey

    That Shit Sucks.I think i drew that shit in the 4th grade

  • REPUBLICAN

    OF COURSE, we TRIED TO RUIN YOU BECAUSE THE WHITE GIRL IS CLEAN AS SNOW. SHE SUCK THE WORLD OFF BUT WE THINK SO ANYWAY. CAN’T FIGHT RACISM KANYE. JUST CHANGE THE COVER. I STOLE YOUR ENTIRE RACE AND DESTROYED THE INDIANS. BUT I CALL YOU A SAVAGE FOR STEALING THE SPOTLIGHT FROM BECKY. CAN YOU SAY MEDIA CONTROL. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAA!

    • democrat

      publicity stunt

  • Mario

    I think it’s hilarious but hopefully he goes with a seriously sick ass cover and blows our minds again with the music.

  • Mario

    hilarious hopefully he keeps it serious though and picks a sick ass cover on some “POWER” type shit.

  • nathan

    “When keeping it real goes wrong” lol Kanye is a creative genius but hes tripping if he ever thought they’d give that a pass.Come on Ye we know you can come with something much sicker than that,you’ve been hanging in other countries too long my dude.

  • Kanye West

    My name is Kanye west, and i am a freemason. i play patty cake with the devil.. please keep supporting me so i can not onlybrainwash you, but also ur children with negative bs.. thanks.. one luv.. ye

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  • Fireforreal

    He should just put the dropout bear on the front some how. That lil nigga is dope. What did Ye think ? if they wouldn’t let him get away with the title good ass job why would they let him use a cartoon gettin some for the cover ?

  • teedy

    i like it

  • Anonymous

    This shit is devilish, come on son. Hell aint cool son. You guidin these busters into worshipin that devilish shit son when u comin out wit jesus walks in your past come on son. I guess niggas gonna know when they see God in afterlife and tells u worshipin the devil will send u to hell. What happened to that real rap where niggas talk about tryin to reach God but get caught up in the streets on some g shit. This devil shit is weak

    • Anonymous

      Word rite!!! thats real shit my dude

  • ^^^^^^

    Name= 1986

  • simminggirl

    Meet single, rich cougars on

    Matchriches (dot come)

    that is the top one club for mixed lo-ve. Come to check out !!!

  • Big Slab

    This is some shit. Let the cover stay. Fuck the RIAA and PMRC need to leave the artist’s vision and product alone and let them put their shit out. They are so fucking out of touch with the artists and fans. All they care about are these fucking old people and these parents who write angry fucking letters. They have no real idea about art or creativity or what the artists feel in their soul. They are hurting themselves and pissing the artists+fans off. They don’t give a fuck. Will this shit ever change?

    • Dinero

      ^^^^^
      at least someone c’s that this is art….

  • http://www.bboycult.com Don mcCaine

    1. Shouts 2 Anslem, puttin’ that weekend work in…it’s all love fam, not hatred…

    2. “in the 70s album covers had actual nudity… It’s so funny that people forget that… Everything has been so commercialized now.”

    ^ truth.org…see Ohio Players…

    Earth, Wind, & Wire have been talking nothing but black empowerment for years…and have a lot of “illuminated” album covers…1st Nas with ‘Untitled’…then this type of style…10 year old kids getting signed to do child labor @ Def Jam…horrid state the game is…

    • http://twitter.com/Jamal7Mile Jamal7Mile

      Yo $yk,

      I was just about to say that cover ain’t got nothing on The Ohio Players! Shout out to #DigginInTheCrates.

      • http://www.bboycult.com Don mcCaine

        Word J7M.

        These cats forgot that Public Enemy had way more offensive covers than this.

        Most of them don’t see the REAL offense in this flick.

        Cats wanna see Taylor, but overlook ‘Ye was with Amber Rose.

        And GTFOH with that callin’ someone to tell the next man to quell his freedom of expression, and be a “house n^gga” and go with the flow. How you sound yo?

  • Pharo

    TYPICAL STUPID BLACK PPL WANT TO CALL EVERYONE DEVIL AND FREEMANSON.. SHUT THE FUCK UP!
    .
    .
    THIS COVER IS DOPE.
    .
    .
    KANYE IS TRYING TO PISS OFF AS MANY WHITE PPL AS HE CAN.
    .
    .
    YOU HAVE TO BE AN IDIOT TO THINK KANYE WEST IS NOT GONNA TRY SOMETHING CRAZY.

    .
    .
    I LIKE IT….KEEP IT JUST COVER UP THE NIPPLE.

  • http://j-mace.deviantart.com Shawty J

    The’s a pretty ugly cover, I’m not tripping on the fact that it got banned.

  • http://j-mace.deviantart.com Shawty J

    That’s a pretty ugly cover, I’m not tripping on the fact that it was banned.

  • that nigga

    He should use the images from that POWER video.

  • Sha

    Is it me or am I the only person that gets this?

    THE TAYLOR SWIFT SITUATION IS MESSIN’ WITH KANYE, BIG TIME!!!!

    It seems as though Kanye can’t get his mind off of this situation. This is obviously a dig at her and “white people” and how they attacked him over this.

    From a business perspective? This is a totally stupid-kick-in-the-ass cover. I wouldn’t put it out either. Seeing as how most of his fans are white.

    Jigga needs to get at Kanye fast. Someone needs to tell him that the general public is tired of the Taylor Swift cry-baby stuff. I can’t even believe he released this cover for the public’s opinion on his twitter.

    Doesn’t Kanye have Black Panther in his blood line? Most artists that shared that blood line (Tupac) had an abundance of intelligence. At the minimum, they were consistent in their messages. But Kanye is all over the place. On The College Drop Out he seemed to want to rep for the misrepresentation of The Black Man in society. Even with his “George Bush hates Black People” comment he was consistent. But now? Why is it that he dated Amber Rose? Why is it that every Good Music free release has had the cover of some White girl on it? Why no sisters? Can we say tremendous identity crisis?

    Face it Kanye. This was a dumb assed move. You need counseling. You are killin’ the world with the realest hip-hop ever heard in a long time. But your mind is twisted. It’s a good thing you turned down Oprah for an appearance. If I was Jigga I would be worried you might pull a Tom Cruise on her sofa.

    • Ar-kkk-ansas

      Yo, sha my nigg could not have said it better myself…The Taylor Swift situation is sending him for a loop, it’s a wonder if this guy gets any sleep at all!!! leave that ish alone Kanye,you about to damage your fan base!!!

  • http://yahoo.com Kanye

    Damn Ye, you got a point though…..I collect records myself so when I go to my local record stores I’ve seen some crazy ass stuff from the 60′s and 70′s…..buttass models hair or no hair…not to be so technical about it …..But that cover is as ugly as Pablo Picasso’s Guernica pianting…..but regardless of what you want to say its art and it relevent.

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  • Big Sean

    Gay

  • Pusha T

    This is mad gay

  • Common

    SMH

  • Anonymous

    that shit is gangsta as fuck

    what do niggas want? the same generic ass album cover that everyone has where its just a picture of their face?

    faggots

  • http://whatsnxet.blogspot.com Ethan

    I would like to find out more about how this was “banned” and how that word is defined in this situation. To me, banned means some official, third-party (like the government) prohibits the use or distribution of something. This sounds like something that came from inside (the label). Controversial cover art is often used, and all they do is cover it somehow in the stores. I am sure Kanye is saying it was “banned” when really Def Jam was just like “this will hurt sales” and decided not to use it. Look at John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s “Two Virgins”.

  • Moneychamp

    I’ve got all Ye’s albums. If the new album has an ugly ass cover like this one I’ll be downloading it. I don’t want that crap in my collection. Doggystyle is a classic cover. Try something like that.

    • Dinero

      I like Doggystyle cover but this a fuccin painting… That u could not even afford to have drawn… Go read a book and educated urself… This art…

  • Dinero

    All u dumb asses don’t know about art, and I bet my whole pay checcs for tha next 10 years that none of u can draw that… Stop fuccin hate’n… But then again, niggas dont like art… They spit out weak ass raps and think they’re rappers… U mutha fuccas too dumb to appreciate watt he is doin… He wanted a masterpiece for his masterpiece… and its a daring paintin… I love it…. U squares are in tha box… Prolly never been out tha country either….

  • antb26

    you are so right… i wonder when these stupid fucks going to wake up!!! Hes literally putting da shit in yall face… Im glad i was in line when god gave out common sence!

  • yoprince

    man this is horse shit. artists should be able to put out whatever they want. this isn’t China.

  • KLETEWOOD

    Kanye went from backpack rap to futuristic “glowing lights” rap to Louis Vuitton….now he on some 70′s rap with an Artsy feel?? What??. Art Rap.

  • M. Baby!

    I don’t see what’s so wrong with the cover. Just like he said, back in the day u had an actual women laying there almost half naked and their wasn’t a problem. They just wanna control everything u do but call u an artist. U can paint a picture of a naked lady, sell it for millions, and its considered art but why can’t this album cover be considered art. If he was white, they wouldn’t ban this cover at all. This is bullshit….but we can have fags kissing each other and stuff on MTV and stuff….c’mon man. I hope he decides not to change the cover. Just put the Parental Advisory over the lady’s stuff and call it a day.

    • Dinero

      Eminem can put acid pills on tha Slim Shady LP which is worse than some naked chic.. Btw I love tha Slim LP… But yea, if he was white it would be alright… He dont make music for Walmart buyers… At tha end of tha day this is art and different… I commend him….

  • Kanye West

    Check out my youtube stuff.. search “Kanye West power video freemason” …. guess the truth always comes out.. pray for me i need my soul back.. thanks and by the way I luv white people they make me rich

  • http://www.myspace.com/slotchmusic ms_spittuh

    ..this is art..wtf is wrong with some of y’all?

  • King Joffy Joe

    Kanye knows EXACTLY what he’s doing. Lol at these comments. And fuck censorship.

  • Anonymous

    Drunk ass teddy bear

  • Anonymous

    This is freaky shit,,,, that bitch underarm has a face,,,, that Teddy bear is drunk,,,,,, her ass is a dalmation. WTF.

  • LZ

    yo no bullshit Ye on another level period that pic is so unreal u ain’t looking at it w/ an open mind the white girl got wings on everyone think mose white girls r innocent n the dalmation tail u know them dogs have the worst attitdue for any dog n she should have the devil face on cuz when the brother get drunk they know we want that white ass c the black dude got a bottle in his hand n that bottle make him like the devil n do anything thats not right open your minds ppl closed minded fools

  • nosnhor

    KANYE WEST LOVES FISHDICKS…….HE IS A GAY FISH DAMNIT…..WHY DONT YOU ALL UNDERSTAND THAT!!!!!HE IS A FUCKING GAY FISH…!~!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nz77ATFVhs Smooth Operateur

    Kanye is trying to bring back some real artistry into hiphop (which seems almost impossible since a few years) through a major label but they still want that bullshit…

    He seems to have the world at his knees so I guess he should deinitely drop his album independently and not making any compromise. If someone like him makes compromise, what message does it send to underground artists trying to make it without selling out?

  • Derek

    Firstly, No one is going to say no to Kanye. Secondly, this is publicity. Thirdly, if he was really passionate about this he would have just released the album himself which he could easily do. Quit with the capitalist motivations Kanye and get real. If you wanna be Picasso, Lennon, or Mozart then you gotta get over the money shit.

  • Petey

    Everyone needs to leave him alone.
    There’s nothing wrong with the cover.
    Ya’ll ever think the cover could be a self-representing picture?…
    Deal with it people there are more pressing issues out there…

  • live from Hawaii

    fuck Kanye West. that Illuminati scum. don’t forget he offered is own mother as a blood sacrifice in order to join the hip-hop $40 million club. listen to professor Griff the minister of intelligence.

    support real music.
    peace

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  • Orthniel

    That is fucking bull shit! He even knows that “Kanye”. To say the truth Kanye you are a good artist and i mean good but that simply portrays EVIL and the saying or rather the GOSSIP would true Your doings man are SATANIC. Money is nothing! People die and live it all people what do people live to remember you of?

    Comments reserved!!!!!!

  • live from Hawaii

    jay-z, kanye, diddy, all are illuminati scum.
    wake up people!!! these “artists”, what are they selling you? unoriginal tracks, dumbed down lyrics, sex, drugs, and murder. for what? wake up and realize, there are forces in the world that control everything, and they want the general population to be preoccupied with trivial matters that they can never change. keeping you all stupid and fighting with each other. east coast/west coast. republican/democrat. black/white. whatever keeps the people from organizing, unifying, and standing up the these globalist elite. we, the PEOPLE, have the power!!!
    listen to music with a message. no more bitches and hoes, or how much bling they got.
    to quote can-i-bus, “your body armor wont protect you from your karma.”
    live right. do right. speak right.

    oh, and if anyone looks at me through a roccafella diamond, ill stab your fuckin eyeball out.

    support real music
    peace

    • bayboi44

      all the truth.. these cats are selling there souls for material wishes fast cars an bit*&%^.. in the words of PAC.. its embarrasing that this is what the urban culture got manipulated into.. once again we became slaves to the government.. sweet..

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  • Kid Kryst

    When his mom past his mind went with her.He’s trying to hard to show people that he’s a free mason.(He’s a new school Weirdo)

  • Satan

    sweet,well done kanye.just like i told you to.here have a biscuit

  • Anonymous

    lol this shit funny and ye the best rapper

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