2 album covers in our archive
Beastie Boys is featured in Behind the Covers' archive with 2 album covers from the 1980s. Released across Capitol Records and Def Jam Recordings labels, the artwork sits in the hip-hop tradition. Each cover is documented in our archive with design notes covering photography, iconic, street photography, documentary, minimalist, typography. Below you'll find the full story behind each Beastie Boys cover — designers, photographers, label history, and the visual choices that defined the release.
The iconic panoramic street corner shot was captured by Jeremy Shatan but credited to Nathanial Hornblower, Adam Yauch's pseudonym. The fictional Paul's Boutique sign was hung over Lee's Sportswear for the shoot.
The Beastie Boys' debut features a deliberately generic black background with simple white text, designed by World B. Omes as an anti-cover statement that perfectly captured hip-hop's raw, no-frills aesthetic in 1986.
