Rammellzee’s ‘Beat-Bop’ and even made an appearance in Blondie’s ‘Rapture’ video. Basquiat’s impact in and connection to the music industry and particularly the world of hip-hop is well documented among other things, he created the record cover for K-Rob Vs. It shouldn’t be too surprising, then, that they decided to use a 1981 painting by the late neo-expressionist artist Jean-Michel Basquiat, titled Bird on Money and originally made in tribute to Charlie Parker, as the album’s cover artwork. With their sixth studio album and first full-length effort in seven years, The Strokes leaned into their more experimental tendencies, embracing a more playful, even improvisational approach to songwriting with help from producer Rick Rubin. Shot by German photographer Daniel Sannwald, who has previously collaborated with the likes of Travis Scott, Stormzy, and Rihanna, the picture is as powerful as it is visually striking, showcasing Sannwald’s visionary approach while also capturing the strength, ambition, and complexity that are so integral to the artistic vision that Taylor lays out on the 23-track LP.

Drawing inspiration from Grace Jones and flaunting a hi-top haircut resembling that of her husband Iman Shumpert, Teyana Taylor digs into her African roots while looking to the future on the beautiful cover artwork for her debut album.

The darkness album covers