Kanye West is pop culture's ultimate villian these days, but he is hardly the first to challenge the sense and sensibility of mainstream culture. The news today that the album artwork for his upcoming album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, has been "banned" just makes him the latest in a long line of artists who album art pushed the limits.
1. The Coup - Party Music
Though it was later proved to be a coincidence, this shot of conscious Bay Area hip-hop act The Coup blowing up the World Trade Center happened to drop right around the time of 9/11. Needless to say, folks were not amused.
2. Janes Addiction - Ritual de lo Habitual
Actually the second Jane's Addiction album art to be "banned" following their debut major label release, Nothing's Shocking, which similar to Ritual, featured orignal sculpture art by band leader Perry Farrell. The group responded by issuing a clean version of the album art with the First Amdendment printed on white replace the paper machet Ménage à Trois of the original.
3. Roxy Music - Country Life
Even in the swinging '70s, the nipples and bush apparent on the cover of Roxy Music's Country Life was a clear candidate for controversy. The original U.S. release removed the lingere clad ladies from in front of the foliage.
Read the full list and see the offending album art @ URB.com