\n\tAn artist\u2019s album cover is arguably the most critical piece when rolling out a new project. Whether it\u2019s a debut album or a performer\u2019s swan song or anywhere in between, there\u2019s always a special narrative or story attached to the music, because it heightens a listener\u2019s experience when diving in for the first time \u2014 it\u2019s the perfect companion piece.<\/p>\n
\n\tSince its inception over 50 years ago, hip-hop culture has played an integral role in advancing stories through captivating portraits, sketches, and paintings that crystalizes an artist\u2019s identity. Whether it was via childhood snapshots like those that graced Nas\u2019 Illmatic<\/em> or Notorious B.I.G.\u2019s<\/em> Ready to Die covers, or raunchier, eye-popping images like the ones on the front of Lil Kim\u2019s Hardcore<\/em> or Kool Keith\u2019s Sex Style<\/em>, artists took creative swings in the spirit of expressionism. Some covers even caused societal disruption, like those to Ice-T\u2019s Power<\/em> and Public Enemy\u2019s Fear of a Black Planet<\/em>.<\/p>\n \n\tAs time has progressed, album art doesn\u2019t hold the same reverence as it once has. Fewer risks are taken, the emphasis has dwindled, and quite frankly, artists are way more complacent. Still, these 50 covers remain timeless and immortal despite the shift in eras and creativity. They\u2019re not merely icebreakers for casuals who watch Tiny Desk<\/em> performances on weekends \u2014 they\u2019re visual time capsules forever etched in hip-hop history.<\/p>\n \n\tBelow, Billboard\u2019s<\/em> hip-hop braintrust ranked the 50 greatest hip-hop album covers of all-time, spanning from from the genre\u2019s earliest days, to some of the new generation\u2019s most daring stars. Take a look below.<\/p>\n
![\"Billboard](\"https:\/\/i.imgur.com\/2HpFicp.png\")