2 cover stories in our archive
Behind the Covers' archive includes 2 album covers documented under the "logo design" design theme, spanning the 1990s, 2010s. These covers sit within the hip-hop tradition and feature work by Run the Jewels, Wu-Tang Clan. Each entry below includes the cover artwork, the designers and photographers behind it, and a short story about the visual choices that defined the release.
The golden fist and gun logo that became hip-hop's most recognizable symbol was hand-drawn by underground comic artist Nick Gazin in his cramped Brooklyn apartment. What started as a quick sketch became an iconic emblem that fans tattoo on their bodies and spray-paint on walls worldwide.
The stark yellow cover featuring the Wu-Tang 'W' logo became one of hip-hop's most recognizable symbols, despite being created on a shoestring budget. The minimalist design perfectly captured the raw, underground aesthetic that would define East Coast hip-hop.