A$AP.Īnd though the actual cover art was designed by Joe Perez, Virgil is credited with coming up with the concept for A$AP's Fashion Killa video. Virgil is also credited as creative director for A$AP Rocky's debut album, Long. The cover is one of Kanye's most iconic to date. Since the album is black with a silhouette of Jay Z it proved a challenge. He decided to make something that looked like a handmade collage with tape and paper cutouts, which led to the clear case with red tape.Īccording to Complex, Virgil described the cover as an 'open casket', marking the death of the physical CD format. This was supposed to be his retirement album so he brought in a group of different producers for each of the songs, Kanye, Pharrell, Rick Rubin and Timbaland help Jay Z create a sonic masterpiece that I still listen to on a regular basis over 15 years later.

The idea came to Virgil after visiting a popular New York City magazine shop.

Without saying anything, this clear album cover said so much. Kanye reportedly went through many designs before landing on this minimalistic cover. LEMONADE revealed JAY-Z’s infidelity, 4:44 was JAY-Z’s apology, and EVERYTHING IS LOVE is. Virgil would go on to receive a Grammy nomination for Best Recording Package for his work. The album completes the trilogy of Beyoncé and JAY-Z’s relationship as told through their albums. According to Complex, Virgil secured designer Riccardo Tisci, Givenchy's then-creative director, to create the cover. On My 1st Song, the emotional closer to The Black Album, Jay-Z pays ode to the art form that took him from Marcy Projects of New York to becoming one of the greatest rappers of all time. This gold album cover was one of Virgil's most famous album designs.

Jay z the black album cover