He continued with an impassioned plea for the glorious days when album artwork seemingly had budgets, creative directors and enough people involved to populate a small village.
Fat Joe was not exactly moved.
“Your right it’s called we ain’t paying 100 k for album covers that the photographer ends up owning the rights for the gig is up beloveds,” he said.
Ouch. And yet, I get it! Back in the day, those photog’s created amazing covers that sold the album. They were paid in full AND oftentimes owned the images.And yet that is not the most interesting part.
What if everybody is arguing about the wrong thing?
The photograph reportedly shows Joe with his late brother, Angel, who passed away unexpectedly on Thanksgiving. I admittedly am not sure which person could be him. The simplicity starts looking less like somebody saved money and more like symbolism. That changes the conversation considerably.
Another artist seemed to understand where Joe might be coming from.
“Ex album artwork creator here; 1 understand and really do wish we could go back to MBDTF and WTT think tank art covers but the simplicity of covers today usually capture a feeling. I think @fatjoe nailed it”
Famed photographer