Wal-Mart has never seen the allegedly “banned” cover artwork for rapper Kanye West’s new album. The rapper sent a Twitter message on Monday saying the record’s cover art had been banned in the U.S. He also said that he didn’t want to be “thinking about Wal-Mart” when he creates music or album covers. But if the people at Wal-Mart banned his artwork, it’s news to them. According to MTV.com, the retailer issued a statement that read, quote, “We did not reject the cover artwork and it was never presented to us to view.” Wal-Mart also says they are excited to carry the rapper’s new album when it arrives on November 22nd. The store’s standard practice is to carry an edited parental advisory version of any album deemed explicit.
The “Los Angeles Times” quotes a source close to West who says the rapper was strongly urged to reconsider his album art. The cover to “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy” was reportedly set to feature a George Condo painting showing a nude, feminized winged creature straddling a twisted image of a naked man. The insider also says West’s label would stand behind him if he chooses to run with the artist’s painting as his album cover.
