Skip to main content
Become a MusicRadar VIP - it's free
- Join our community
SampleRadar
Access over 90,000 royalty-free samples
The MusicRadar app
Full access and custom feeds
MusicRadar Newsletters
The latest music and gear news inboxed
Earn Member Badges
Climb the MusicRadar charts
Coming soon: VIP-only Giveaways
Win pro-grade music gear and more
Join the conversation
Connect with other musicians and fans
BECOME A MUSICRADAR VIP
For the quickest way to join, enter your email below. We’ll send a confirmation email and sign you up to MusicRadar newsletters with the latest music news, gear reviews, tutorials and exclusive offers.
By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
FIND OUT ABOUT OUR MAGAZINE
Want to subscribe to the magazine? Click the button below to find out more information.
Find out more
Get VIP Access Quick

Become a MusicRadar VIP for quick access. Enter your email below and we'll send confirmation, and sign you up to our newsletter.

By submitting your information, you confirm you are aged 16 or over, have read our Privacy Policy and agree to the Terms & Conditions. Geographical rules apply.

Welcome to Become a MusicRadar VIP !
Hi ,

Your membership journey starts here.

Keep exploring and earning more as a member.

MY ACCOUNT

Earn your first badge
Start reading to unlock your first badge
Keep earning badges
Explore ways to get more involved as a member.
Hot music news

Hot music news

The latest news from the hottest artists.

Explore
Make better music

Make better music

Explore tutorials, tips and guides for creating music.

Explore

Your membership perks

Start exploring exclusive deals, expert advice and more

Explore now

Get the MusicRadar Newsletter

Get the latest music news, gear reviews, deals and tutorials delivered straight to your inbox.

Sign up here

Sign Out
MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
UK EditionUK US EditionUS AU EditionAustralia SG EditionSingapore
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Artist news
  • Guitars
  • Software & Apps
  • Controllers
  • Buying Guides
  • Drums
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Guitar Amps
  • Music Gear Reviews
  • Synths
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • About us
More
  • Styles' sonic secret
  • I'm Still Standing
  • Stevie Wonder’s '70s synth guru
  • 95k+ free music samples
  1. Artists
  2. Singles And Albums

The worst album covers ever #2: hip-hop

News
By Joe Bosso
Published 27 May 2009

The second in our continuing series of cover art lameness. This week... Hip-hop!

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Luke - I Got Shit On My Mind

Luke - I Got Shit On My Mind

Let's be honest: ridiculing any musical genre that calls Vanilla Ice one of its own is akin to shooting fish in a barrel.

On the other hand, have you ever tried shooting fish in a barrel? Fun for hours!

Recently, MusicRadar kicked off a series called The Worst Album Covers Ever, with our inaugural feature harpooning the lamest and most ludicrous cover art that heavy metal ever spewed forth.

And because we're equal opportunity hecklers, we now turn our cringing, disbelieving (OK, bursting-out-laughing) faces to the world of hip-hop, which has no shortage of album cover wretchedness.

At its best, hip-hop is a vital, challenging, creative musical force in which social commentary is delivered as poetry over beats and instrumentation that rock the body and the senses.

These albums don't do that. Well, they might but you wouldn't know it from their covers.

Enough talk (except for a quick 'WARNING! Some of these are verging on the NSFW but only if you work in a place of worship with a public-facing computer or something').

Hip-hop? We love you man, but sometimes a man's gotta shoot a fish, you know?

Page 1 of 23
Page 1 of 23
Big Bear - Doin Thangs

Big Bear - Doin Thangs

Page 2 of 23
Page 2 of 23
Hell Rell - Just For The Hell Of It

Hell Rell - Just For The Hell Of It

Page 3 of 23
Page 3 of 23
Vanilla Ice - To The Extreme

Vanilla Ice - To The Extreme

Page 4 of 23
Page 4 of 23
Devastatin' Dave (The Turntable Slave) - Zip Zap Rap

Devastatin' Dave (The Turntable Slave) - Zip Zap Rap

Page 5 of 23
Page 5 of 23
Pooh-Man (MC Pooh) - Funky As I Wanna Be

Pooh-Man (MC Pooh) - Funky As I Wanna Be

Page 6 of 23
Page 6 of 23
Geto Boys - We Can't Be Stopped

Geto Boys - We Can't Be Stopped

Page 7 of 23
Page 7 of 23
Tony Tee - Time To Get Physical

Tony Tee - Time To Get Physical

Page 8 of 23
Page 8 of 23
Vanilla Ice - Cool As Ice soundtrack

Vanilla Ice - Cool As Ice soundtrack

Page 9 of 23
Page 9 of 23
The Rappin' Mathematician - Volume 1

The Rappin' Mathematician - Volume 1

Page 10 of 23
Page 10 of 23
Iceberg - Gangsta Rap

Iceberg - Gangsta Rap

Page 11 of 23
Page 11 of 23
Hammer - Too Legit To Quit

Hammer - Too Legit To Quit

Page 12 of 23
Page 12 of 23
Black Jesus - T.G.S.N.T.

Black Jesus - T.G.S.N.T.

Page 13 of 23
Page 13 of 23
Sumthin' Terrible - U 2tupid

Sumthin' Terrible - U 2tupid

Page 14 of 23
Page 14 of 23
he 2 Live Crew - As Nasty As They Wanna Be

he 2 Live Crew - As Nasty As They Wanna Be

Page 15 of 23
Page 15 of 23
Spank Rock and Benny Blanco are... Bangers & Cash

Spank Rock and Benny Blanco are... Bangers & Cash

Page 16 of 23
Page 16 of 23
Suitcase Sam - Rappin' In The Country With Suitcase Sam

Suitcase Sam - Rappin' In The Country With Suitcase Sam

Page 17 of 23
Page 17 of 23
Vanilla Ice - Extremely Live

Vanilla Ice - Extremely Live

Page 18 of 23
Page 18 of 23
New Recruits - Torpedo Alert

New Recruits - Torpedo Alert

Page 19 of 23
Page 19 of 23
Indo G Presents... Christmas N' Memphis (Christmas Will Never Be The Same)

Indo G Presents... Christmas N' Memphis (Christmas Will Never Be The Same)

Page 20 of 23
Page 20 of 23
Lupe Fiasco - Food And Liquor

Lupe Fiasco - Food And Liquor

Page 21 of 23
Page 21 of 23
Insane Clown Posse - Amazing Jeckel Brothers

Insane Clown Posse - Amazing Jeckel Brothers

Page 22 of 23
Page 22 of 23
Lil' Flip - The Leprechaun

Lil' Flip - The Leprechaun

Liked this? Now read: The worst album covers ever #1: heavy metal

Connect with MusicRadar: via Twitter, Facebook and YouTube

Get MusicRadar straight to your inbox: Sign up for the free weekly newsletter

Page 23 of 23
Page 23 of 23
Joe Bosso
Joe Bosso

Joe is a freelance journalist who has, over the past few decades, interviewed hundreds of guitarists for Guitar World, Guitar Player, MusicRadar and Classic Rock. He is also a former editor of Guitar World, contributing writer for Guitar Aficionado and VP of A&R for Island Records. He’s an enthusiastic guitarist, but he’s nowhere near the likes of the people he interviews. Surprisingly, his skills are more suited to the drums. If you need a drummer for your Beatles tribute band, look him up.

Latest in Singles And Albums
Singer Stevie Nicks poses for a portrait in circa 1974.
Singles And Albums “I’m like, OK, I’m going to write a fantastic song”: Stevie Nicks talks about what inspired her to write Landslide
 
 
American singer, songwriter, and actress, Mariah Carey, at a Chanel lunch and fashion show
Singers & Songwriters “My answer is… not yet”: Mariah Carey’s grunge album still seems no nearer to getting released
 
 
Foo Fighters group portrait, London, 1997. L to R: Chris Shiflett, Taylor Hawkins, Dave Grohl
Singles And Albums Foo Fighters finally release lost cover of Gerry Rafferty's Baker Street
 
 
American songwriter and session musician Spooner Oldham during a recording session of Aretha Franklin's studio version of song 'The Weight' which was included in Franklin's album 'This Girl's in Love with You' at Atlantic Studios, New York City, US, January 1969
Singers & Songwriters "We're onto something different here": Legendary session player Spooner Oldham on work with Aretha
 
 
Eloy Casagrande Slipknot white mask blurred image
Singles And Albums "Never punch-ins": Slipknot drummer Eloy Casagrande says new album drum parts are 'done' and 'honest'
 
 
Bryan Adams Lake Ontario
Singles And Albums “This is a song for all the sane people on both shores”: Has Bryan Adams just released the best protest song of 2026?
 
 
Latest in News
Ian Gillan of Deep Purple performs at Unipol Forum of Assago on October 17, 2026
Gigs & Festivals “It’s in the best interest all round”: Deep Purple pull their European tour due to “medical problem”
 
 
Fontaines DC
Artists James Ford tells us about the intensity of working with Fontaines D.C.
 
 
Brian May performs on stage during The Sunflower Jam at Royal Albert Hall on September 16, 2012 in London
Guitarists “If I can’t hear it in my head, I can’t play it”: Brian May on his thoughtful, noodle-free guitar style
 
 
Singer Stevie Nicks poses for a portrait in circa 1974.
Singles And Albums “I’m like, OK, I’m going to write a fantastic song”: Stevie Nicks talks about what inspired her to write Landslide
 
 
Casio CT-FS1
Keyboards & Pianos No practice required: This new Casiotone keyboard makes it impossible to hit a wrong note
 
 
Gary Numan
Artists Bill Nelson tells us about the struggle of making the Gary Numan album he ultimately removed his name from
 
 

MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...