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Kanye West has done it again!
The self-proclaimed "Louis Vuitton Don," who is never shy of the limelight, was back in the news over the weekend for his thought-provoking, controversial Nov. 22 album cover, 'My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy.'
West's artistic watercolor artwork may have raised red flags among U.S. retailers and has reportedly been banned in the states.
"They banned my album cover...banned in the USA!!!" he tweeted on Sunday night. "They don't want me chilling on the couch with my phoenix!"
"In all honesty ... I really don't be thinking about Wal-Mart when I make my music or album covers," he ranted. "I wanna sell albums but not at the expense of my true creativity."
Contrary to West's tweets, a rep from Universal Music Group (Island Def Jam's parent company) revealed to the Los Angeles Times that the Grammy Award winner was strongly urged to use an alternative cover adding, "If he wanted to do it, the label would stand behind him."
The label rep also raised the question about whether giant retailers such as Best Buy and Wal-Mart would stock their shelves with an album containing nudity on its packaging. If retailers opt to boycott 'Dark Twisted Fantasy,' the end result could be damaging for the chart topper.
West went on to validate his decision. "In the 70s album covers had actual nudity," he continued on the social media platform. "It's so funny that people forget that. Everything has been so commercialized now."
"So Nirvana can have a naked human being on their cover but I can't have a painting of a monster with no arms and a polka dot tail and wings?"
Does he have a point?
Black Music Notes Oct. 18
10/18/10: Kanye West
After premiering his break out film, 'Runaway,' at London's British Academy of Film and Television Arts screening room less than two week's ago, Kanye West is ready to debut the 35 minute clip on television and online. On Oct. 23 at 8PM, West will simultaneous broadcast the video on MTV, BET, MTV2 and live stream on MTV.com, BET.com and VH1.com. Following the film's simulcast, Kanye will take part in a live Q&A session from MTV headquarters in Times Square. 'My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy' is due out on Nov. 22.
9/15/10: Willow Smith
Last month Willow Smith burst onto the music scene with her breakout single, 'Whip My Hair,' in addition to announcing her new label deal with Jay-Z's Roc Nation. Now the 9-year-old is ready to release her debut video on Oct. 18 via BET's '106 & Park.' Fans can get a sneak peek of the video over on People.com.
9/15/10: Wayman Tisdale
Following his untimely death in 2009, former NBA star turned Jazz musician Wayman Tisdale will release his latest project aptly titled, 'The Fonk Record.' Tisdale's posthumous 11-track album captures the multi-talented guitarist laying his own funky vocals alongside the likes of George Clinton, George Duke and Ollie Woodson. 'The Fonk Record' hits stores Oct. 26.
9/15/10: Buddy Guy and B.B. King
Roll Hall of Fame inductees Buddy Guy and B.B. King recently completed shooting the video for their historic duet, 'Stay Around A Little Longer.' The clip, which is the lead single from Guy's forthcoming 11th album 'Living Proof,' is expected to premiere on AOL Music on Oct. 18. 'Living Proof' hits stores and digital retailers on Oct. 26.
9/15/10: Keri Hilson / Nicki Minaj
In celebration of today's troops across the globe VH1 has decided to put a unique spin on their 'Divas' franchise by partnering with the USO to bring the event to American troops and their families. 'VH1 Divas Salute The Troops' will feature R&B songstress Keri Hilson and Nicki Minaj among others performing in front of thousands of men and women in uniform at MCAS Miramar in San Diego. The Dec. 5 event will broadcast internationally courtesy of the Armed Forces Network.
10/13/10: Andy Warhol/ Biggie Smalls
This weekend the Apollo Theater will present another installment in its acclaimed Salon Series with Gordon Voidwell's 'Who Killed Andy Warhol?/Who Shot Biggie Smalls?' The musical performance combines video, sound, costume and choreography to showcase pop culture from 1960s visual artist Andy Warhol to 1990s rap legend Biggie Smalls. The intimate event takes place Oct. 15 and 16th on the Apollo's third-floor Soundstage.
10/13/10: Steel Pulse
Grammy Award-winning UK reggae band, Steel Pulse has signed on to perform at the 14th Annual World Creole Music Festival. The event, which takes place in Dominica on Oct. 29 – 31, gives the band a break from recording their forthcoming album, set to hit stores before the end of this year. Since their establishment in 1975 the popular band has performed alongside the likes of Stevie Wonder, Sting, Bob Dylan and Bob Marley & the Wailers among others.
10/13/10: N.E.R.D.
Despite a few setbacks N.E.R.D. frontman, Pharrell Williams declares that the album's sound will be more conscious once it's released on Nov. 2. The dynamic trio recently revealed to Billboard that they wanted to align themselves with what "society is feeling" for the album's sound. "We thought why not make a timeless album that's kind of a time capsule, so 10 years from now people look at that album and go, 'I remember that era,'" Williams said. "I just wanted to make some good music that would affect people in a good way."
10/13/10: Dionne Warwick
International music legend Dionne Warwick will be honored at the 'Historic Celebrations Gala and Dance' benefit taking place on Oct. 16 at the City College of New York. The New York City benefit will recognize Warwick's illustrious career with the 'Lena Horne Style & Elegance Award.'
10/13/10: Phillip Bailey
Earth Wind & Fire member Phillip Bailey is following in the footsteps of fellow R&B crooner R. Kelly. Bailey is gearing up for the release of his upcoming solo album, 'Love is Real' by releasing the album's title track in three installments. "I wanted to do something outside of the mold of the traditional broadcast music video," he said. "No lip-synching. No dialogue. Just strong visuals attached to my music." The 'Love is Real' EP is available on iTunes.
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Comments: (86)
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By: J Maxwell on 10/18/2010 6:01PM
The Nirvana album he was likely referring to is the iconic Nerermind, not In Utero, which you pictured. Nevermind has a naked male baby on the cover, swimming after a dollar bill on a fish hook. (it was lampooned by Weird Al on the "Off the Deep End" album, with Al in the pool chasing a doughnut on a hook)
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By: ARNEADER on 10/18/2010 11:58PM
KANYE NEEDS TO BE BANNED!
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By: Joy on 10/20/2010 7:12PM
J,
He is correct on the album cover. The UK version of the album cover is the nude version of a female angel as pictured in the article. However, on the US album cover the nude angel is in a small picture in the lower left hand corner.
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By: John Lindsay on 10/27/2010 3:17AM
What the hell is wrong with Kanye?!
This is a pretty stupid cover.
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By: Whitey on 10/19/2010 4:38PM
Like all black people trying to get the white prize.
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By: coldt7 on 10/18/2010 7:04PM
Yeah most people voted to have it banned in America because, it shows a black man with a white woman.Had it been the other way around, it wouldn't even had been a problem.
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By: '30-ot-Six on 10/20/2010 4:00PM
Tell it like it is.
However, don't censor. We all count on our freedom of expression, even if some abuse it or lack good taste.
This album evoked controversy for a reason. When it's a black man doing a white chick, everyone freaks out because it's a long-held white male fear; if it's a white man doing a black chick, it's business as usual. As long as it's a white male in the power position, right-wing America has no problem with it.
It's not the sex nor content that bothers me at all--it's Kanye's attention whoring that does. He'll do anything for the hot spot light, and it is obvious.
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By: blkadonis7 on 10/20/2010 11:32PM
SLAVE!
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By: 100% Negro on 10/22/2010 5:37AM
pretty much.
Perhaps Kanye needs stop being pretentious and see that it's racial more than anything else.
Same issue was made when Jamie Lee Curtis posed with Bo Jackson on the cover of a television guide (not TV Guide) cover in the late '80s.
As for people "forgetting" about whatever nudity he was talking about, what a bunch of BS, it was partial and some of those people were most likely not alive or old enough
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By: truth serum on 10/23/2010 12:14AM
coldt7 said it best. just some more race based bs
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