Throughout history, Black women have given us some amazing music, and many of those great songs have come in the most beautiful packaging – iconic album covers which showcase museum-worthy artwork.
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If you thought album art was a relic of the past, think again. Artists still use it to convey the overall theme of their work and get their fans talking. Because there was no way we could choose just one favorite, we rounded up some of our favorite covers of all time. From Donna Summer to Grace Jones and Queen Bey, here are just a few of the artists who have dropped album art we love.
“They Say I’m Different” by Betty Davis
Funky, straightforward and oh so cool, Betty Davis was a legend before her time. With tracks like “Your Mama Wants You Back” and “He Was A Big Freak,” her second studio album, 1974’s “They Say I’m Different,” had a fitting title.
The cover photo, taken by photographer Mel Dixon, features Davis in an Afrofuturistic bodysuit, funky blue leather boots, and her hair in a perfectly styled afro.
“Island Life” by Grace Jones
Grace Jones in known for her creative album covers. Have you seen “Nightclubbing?” But one of our favorites is 1985s “Island Life.”
The image of Jones standing in a perfect arabesque wearing little more than a leg warmer and a teeny tiny bandeau top while holding a microphone was created by artist and photographer Jean-Paul Goude out of a series of shots he cut together. The result was a gorgeous shot of Jones in a pose that looks nearly impossible for the average human to achieve.
“My picture tried to look at how a flexed foot could make a classical arabesque more interesting – beautiful and grotesque at the same time, just like Grace,” he wrote in his book, “Jungle Fever.”
“The Boss” by Diana Ross
In May 1979, Diana Ross blessed fans with her tenth studio album, “The Boss.” The dance-heavy album featured songs written and produced by the dynamic duo, Nick Ashford and Valerie Simpson. The cover photo was a huge departure from her glam shots with The Supremes, and features the beautiful disco diva in a top with a plunging neckline.
“janet.” by Janet Jackson
Although the cover art art is simple, Janet Jackson was trying to make a statement with her 1993 album “janet.” No longer the Jackson’s little sister, she used this album to fully embrace her sexuality, with a cover shoot
“Rennaisance” by Beyoncé
Beyoncé has had many iconic album covers, but one of our personal favorites is “Renaissance,” her 2022 house-inspired album in which she’s featured wearing next to nothing, while sitting on top of a translucent horse
Some say the photo was inspired by a 19th century painting by John Collier called “Lady Godiva,” while others speculate that the idea came from an iconic photo of Bianca Jagger on a white horse at Studio 54. But for Beyoncé, the album was all about freedom.
“Creating this album allowed me a place to dream and to find escape during a scary time for the world. It allowed me to feel free and adventurous in a time when little else was moving. My intention was to create a safe place, a place without judgment. A place to be free of perfectionism and overthinking. A place to scream, release, feel freedom. It was a beautiful journey of exploration,” Queen Bey wrote in a June 2022 Instagram post announcing the album’s release.
“SOS” by SZA
If SZA’s image alone on a diving board for her “SOS” album cover looks familiar, it’s because it draws inspiration from an iconic photo of Princess Diana. The “Kill Bill” singer says she was looking to convey loneliness for the cover of this emotionally-charged album, a feeling she believes Princess Di’s picture captured perfectly.
“I just loved how isolated she felt, and that was what I wanted to convey the most,” she told Hot 97 in an interview.
“Anti” by Rihanna
The cover art for Rihanna’s album “Anti” was created by Israeli-born artist Roy Nachum. It features a young RiRi with a gold crown over her eyes. Surrounded by red paint, the image, which is covered in Braille, shows her holding a single black balloon.
“I wanted to do something that opened people’s eyes and let people think,” he told Vanity Fair. “On the other side, it’s an opportunity [for] people who cannot see [to] experience visual art as well.”
“A Seat at the Table” by Solange
When it comes to creative album art, the Knowles sisters have it on lock. Bey’s sis Solange’s album “A Seat at the Table” featured a stunning closeup of the singer. According to Solange the inspo for the photograph comes from an unlikely place – an iconic painting by Leonardo da Vinci.
“I wanted to nod to the Mona Lisa and the stateliness, the sternness that that image has. And I wanted to put these waves in my hair, and to really set the waves, you have to put these clips in,” she told Bey in an sit-down for Interview magazine about the album. “It was really important to capture that transition, to show the vulnerability and the imperfection of the transition — those clips signify just that, you know? Holding it down until you can get to the other side. I wanted to capture that.”
“Four Seasons of Love” by Donna Summer
No one did disco like Donna Summer, and one of her most stunning album cover shots was for 1976’s “Four Seasons of Love.” A gorgeous Summer is serving disco goddess fabulousness, posing in a white halter dress on top of a moon. It doesn’t get much sexier than this one.
“La Diva” by Aretha Franklin
Aretha Franklin has so many great albums to choose from, but 1979’s “La Diva” has our favorite cover photo. The Queen of Soul is stunning in a low-cut halter dress and coordinating flower in her hair. And she gets extra credit for a great pair of cowboy boots!
“Adventures in Paradise” by Minnie Riperton
To say that the cover of Minnie Riperton’s 1975 album “Adventures in Paradise” is daring would be a huge understatement. The singer, known for her insane high notes is wearing a beautiful white outfit accessorized by a crown of baby’s breath and an actual lion.
In a 1979 interview, Riperton said she wanted to create something striking with the cover. Luckily, she came out of the photoshoot without a scratch.
“The Album” by Teyana Taylor
Teyana Taylor made our list of cover art favorites for The Album.” From the gorgeous gold statement jewelry to the high-top afro, we can’t help but think she was channelling Grace Jones during this photo shoot.
“Love Deluxe” by Sade
Every Sade album cover is amazing, but we have a special place in our hearts for 1992’s “Love Deluxe,” which features a simply stunning shot of the “Cherish the Day” artist by photographer Albert Watson.
“Dirty Computer” by Janelle Monae
From the beaded veil to the painted planet behind her head, we love the futuristic vibe of Janelle Monae’s “Dirty Computer” cover art.
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