Beastie Boys - Licensed To Ill artwork by Steve Byram

Link: Beastie Boys
Link: Steve Byram

Steve Byram's customised 747 illustration for the breakthrough 1986 album by the Beastie Boys seemingly captured a sense of ambition. However the punchline - via the continuation of the image on the album's reverse - humorously typified the kind of chaos and irreverence that was quickly associated with the trio.

As the tributes to Adam 'MCA' Yauch demonstrate, the Beastie Boys clearly outgrew the associations with juvenile acts of destruction while also creating an impressive and varied body of work. Still, this album - and its sleeve - serve as a reminder of a pivotal point in music history.


*** Update ***


From Manuel Sepulveda a.k.a. Optigram:

"Just thought I'd let you know that the idea for the cover was by Rick Rubin and he asked Steve Byram (art director at CBS) to commission it. The artwork is actually by illustrator David Gamboli, aka World B Omes. The Beastie's logo was designed by Stacey Drummond."

JJ DOOM logo by Steve Powers

Link: Lex Records
Link: Steve Powers


Man behind the metal mask DOOM (né MF DOOM) has teamed up with, rapper, Jneiro Janel a new project titled JJ DOOM. The pair's hip hop collaboration culminates in, album, Key to the Kuffs that comes on Lex Records in May. [A taster may be found on 21st February when the twosome DJ together for a Boiler Room session.]

Meantime there's a logo created by Steve Powers: a renowned artist that first gained attention for his graffiti in Philadelphia under the ESPO pseudonym. Previously he also provided the artwork for Tommy Guerrero's Soul Food Taqueria long-player that was issued by Mo Wax back in 2003.

Neil Landstrumm - Bambaataa Eats His Breakfast by Remote Location

Link: Planet Mu
Link: Remote Location

Just listening to Neil Landstrumm's 2009 album, Bambaataa Eats His Breakfast - complete with its warped ice cream van-like melodies and heavy bass - and thought that the artwork by Remote Location needed a post. Commissioned by the always interesting Planet Mu label, it takes its influence from the title and features a head-dress of the type once sported by the electro and hip hop visionary and, presumably, what the Universal Zulu Nation figure usually has instead of Rice Krispies (croissants, it seems). Photography by Sam Robinson.

The Stepkids - 'Shadows On Behalf' vinyl by Jeff Jank

Link: Stones Throw

Another great package from art director Jeff Jank for the Stones Throw label. The Stepkids' 'Shadows On Behalf' 12" is limited to 1,000 copies and comes with a print-free embossed sleeve and marbled translucent vinyl. The music's great too.

Hip Hop logos by Eric Haze

Link: Eric Haze

Some seminal hip hop iconography here courtesy of Eric Haze: a NYC graffiti artist whose work also includes marques for LL Cool J and Stussy plus the tidying-up of Chuck D's original Tippex and Xerox-made Public Enemy logo.