Black Twitter Reminded Us of the #BestBlackBlackAlbumCovers That Changed Music History
"What's your favorite album?" might be a good first-date question. Everyone loves to talk about music. But a question like "What's your favorite album cover?" usually means something a little different. It's an image so burned into someone's head that it produces the sound of their favorite album.
On Wednesday night, people on Twitter shared their favorite album covers by black artists with the hashtag #BestBlackAlbumCovers.
The tweets ranged from older covers by classic artists to covers released in 2015.
Some of the older entries included Louis Armstrong's compilation album C'est si bon (1991), Isaac Hayes' Black Moses (1971), Diana Ross' eponymous debut (1970) and various album covers from 1970s disco queen Donna Summer.
@SonofBaldwin Have always loved this rare unsmiling Louis Armstrong on C'est Si Bon. #BestBlackAlbumCovers pic.twitter.com/4d5xFqdVwr
@SonofBaldwin got me started! #BestBlackAlbumCovers BLACK MOSES! pic.twitter.com/0C2gED6vQr
The Boss giving us 95 lb Oliver Twist chic... #BestBlackAlbumCovers pic.twitter.com/rSIGaJe3yx
BestBlackAlbumCovers Donna Summer! pic.twitter.com/6H4sjujx3T
The 1980s had quite a few entries, as well, including Grace Jones' Island Life (1985), De La Soul's 3 Feet High and Rising (1989) and Prince's Parade (1986).
BestBlackAlbumCovers pic.twitter.com/pUSX1RRnH9
They made a statement with this one. Nobody else in the game would've done this. #BestBlackAlbumCovers pic.twitter.com/vqf1mgTF4h
@SonofBaldwin #BestBlackAlbumCovers Prince and the Revolution - Parade pic.twitter.com/bODzep7GTE
Several classic hip-hop albums came up, as well. Queen Latifah's All Hail the Queen (1989), Outkast's ATLiens (1996), Common's One Day It'll All Make Sense (1997), Kanye West's The College Dropout (2004), Nas' Illmatic (1994) and Nas' 2008 untitled album all received mentions.
Still blows my mind that pro-Blackness was that cool. #BestBlackAlbumCovers pic.twitter.com/vLfUW50ugL
Outkast let us all know they were going in a different direction in hip hop with this one. #BestBlackAlbumCovers pic.twitter.com/1fnq9kOcE5
And Common's opus, IMO. #BestBlackAlbumCovers pic.twitter.com/xvxA3QloFo
BestBlackAlbumCovers THE COLLEGE DROPOUT by Kanye West pic.twitter.com/rCPw1mdhh5
This must already have been posted, but just in case: Nas, "Illmatic." Great composite image. #BestBlackAlbumCovers pic.twitter.com/Lph67pbVUy
BestBlackAlbumCovers This had the country and industry in an uproar pic.twitter.com/k79He41XUZ
One person definitely dominated the night: Janet Jackson. Her albums Control (1986), Janet. (1993) and The Velvet Rope (1997) all got multiple mentions.
BestBlackAlbumCovers Control pic.twitter.com/N6JrLzLZGc
Still want my hair like this tbh. I was in love with this cover as a teenager. #BestBlackAlbumCovers pic.twitter.com/4z9ag6RrQi
BestBlackAlbumCovers THE VELVET ROPE by #JanetJackson pic.twitter.com/oMXqF3NefC
At least one album cover trend — "the lean" — got a shoutout.
That lean. #BestBlackAlbumCovers pic.twitter.com/G1Wb93mJ7S
People also tried to predict what would be the next classic black album cover. The best guess may have been Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp a Butterfly (2015).
We appreciate this nw bt I dont think we REALLY understand how big this'll still b in 10+ yrs #BestBlackAlbumCovers pic.twitter.com/XmMquMsUjj