Kanye West Wanted 'My Dark Twisted Fantasy' Album Cover To Get Banned, Says Painter

It was all an act: Kanye West complained in October that the cover of his new album, 'My Dark Twisted Fantasy,' was banned (something that was publicly made never official), but it turns out, the controversy was exactly what he wanted.

West's album's controversial cover art, which featured a painting of West having sex with a phoenix and drinking, was painted by artist George Condo, who told The New Yorker that West specifically ordered controversy.

Having seen Condon's paintings, Kanye selected the painter to do the artwork, and as Condo explains it, he wanted, "something that will be banned."

In October, West angrily tweeted about the "banning," saying:

In the 70s album covers had actual nudity... It's so funny that people forget that... Everything has been so commercialized now.

I know that cover just blew yall minds ... I wish yall could see how hard I'm smiling right now!!!
In all honesty ... I really don't be thinking about Wal-Mart when I make my music or album covers #Kanyeshrug!

I wanna sell albums but not at the expense of my true creativity.

So Nirvana can have a naked human being on they cover but I can't have a PAINTING of a monster with no arms and a polka dot tail and wings.

Comments

[GuitarTabsForBeginners]

01:17 AM on 01/13/2011

Yeah, yeah, controversy; personal artistic integrity; shock value; experimentation through delving into the darker recesses of the creative mind.

Yes, but what about the MUSIC??

[inyourdreams]

06:05 PM on 01/11/2011

Why exactly is his reaction a sham? He asked for something that "could be banned" which could be interpreted to mean "outrageous, out there, not typical, etc." They are words to encourage an artist to go over and beyond their creativity (if possible). Have you ever commissioned anything before? Have you ever tried to tell someone your vision and have them represent it in some fashion?

Just because he used those words to describe his vision, doesn't mean that he can't be surprised that it did get banned. They aren't mutually exclusive. So this "artist" relating this story is ingnorant at best (presuming he really believes that an recording artist wants limited exposure for their albums) or has an ego bigger than Kanye's as he thinks that his words about his clients should be listened to and given credence.

[aksudntpron]

03:40 PM on 01/11/2011

Please Kanye, spare us, you're not shocking, not interesting, not uplifting...you're angry, nominal, average and boring. Please go away... Thank you!

[jtthomas240]

01:45 PM on 01/26/2011

I'd hardly call him average. Or does the average man nowadays make millions selling popular music?

[Beachside Cali]

01:10 PM on 01/11/2011

Kanye looks great in this picture....I am now interested in Kanye products...this made me go and buy his album after seeing this. I like the ethnic looking Kanye. He is keeping it real!

[GoBlueinNYC]

11:18 AM on 01/11/2011

You know America is finished when losers like this are famous.

[kKirstenc]

11:14 AM on 01/11/2011

I'm not saying this to be a d1ck, but is this an artist who regularly appears on Regretsy? The style looks VERY similar to one that the artist who is well known there for the "SAY WHAT" meme does...

[PM Gaffney]

08:50 AM on 01/11/2011

He wanted attention...just like our buddy Jared.

[Sunny California]

07:17 AM on 01/11/2011

This says a lot about America when something like this can get banned. I wouldn't consider it artistic, but come on people.

[littlebrowngirl]

07:16 AM on 01/11/2011

The album is amazing. The cover art was a non story. Not sure why anyone took the bait on that one.

[Todd Beaucoudray]

06:47 AM on 01/11/2011

Pathetic.

[whatsthatsound]

06:42 AM on 01/11/2011

This silly person courts controversy like the Westboro Bap tist Church.

[Jarret Boisvert]

05:14 AM on 01/11/2011

For me, it comes down to the question: Should an artist's talents be kept separate from how they act?
Personally, I don't give a rat's behind what the artist is like, if it's something I enjoy listening to, or looking at (if it was a visual art), I'm going to continue to do so.

[Someone Out There]

04:32 AM on 01/11/2011

The only thing I really hate about Kanye West is that he made Taylor Swift a household name.

[Sunny California]

07:13 AM on 01/11/2011

I have to agree. Taylor Swift should be thanking Kanye.

[Bonez1]

09:24 AM on 01/11/2011

ty for saying that...although she may have talent, she isn't that great and yes, West did make her a household name grrr...i agree with you on that!
whatever happened to Taylor plagiarizing Saving Jane song...media must like her since they really didn't report it at all! Listen to SJ-girl next door to TS-you belong to me...same song and lyrics...

i actually heard SJ interviewed on the radio since SJ is from central Ohio and she says she would not sue TS, instead she wants to do some songs together and make her money and fame last forever than sue TS...boy is Swift ever lucky!

[Andrew FingerlickingGree]

04:19 AM on 01/11/2011

Great album..... don't get whats so twisted about the cover.

[Tai Sheppard]

04:18 AM on 01/11/2011

Why is this even an article on HP? Who really gives a crap anyway?

Seriously ... start a poll and see how many people really give 2 craps about this guy or his album cover.

[Truthseeker55]

03:59 PM on 01/12/2011

Yet you took time out of your busy schedule to comment on this.