Kanye West’s latest album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, which is due to be released next month, has ruffled the feathers of execs at mega-chain store Wal-Mart. In particular, the album’s cover art doesn’t pass muster and has been deemed too controversial to be placed on store shelves.
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| On the cover of Kanye West’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy a painting of a naked human phoenix sits on the lap on a naked beer chugging Kanye West. Wal-Mart has refused to stock the album on its shelves unless the cover is changed. |
The cover features a painting of a naked man (West) being straddled by a humanized naked female phoenix (the mythical Greek bird).
It’s unclear whether his record label (Def Jam) will force him to change the cover art. In the meantime West came out swinging over the weekend, posting his thoughts on the situation on Twitter, telling fans he’s not willing abandon his “true creativity” for album sales. “In all honesty… I really don’t be thinking about Wal-Mart (sic) when I make my music or album covers. I wanna sell albums but not at the expense of my true creativity.
“I know that cover just blew yall minds (sic)…I wish yall could see how hard I’m smiling right now!!!”
He also sited the works of other artist who used nudity in there album cover to illustrate his confusion at Wal-Marts decision, “Yoooo they banned my album cover! Banned in the USA! They don’t want me chilling on the couch with my phoenix!
“In the 70s album covers had actual nudity… It’s so funny that people forget that… Everything has been so commercialised now… “
