Like many other people, I found myself searching like crazy to see a picture of the new album cover issued by the great Kanye West. Well, I use the word "great" to describe West for a few reasons. First, he's made it clear that he sees himself as the greatest artist of all time. Second, many of his fans think he's the greatest. Third, he's certainly had the kind of impact on music and culture that only a great artist can produce. Therefore, he certainly fulfills the definition of greatness, at least in my mind. But that doesn't mean I like him.


Great artists are rarely well-behaved, and Kanye is certainly no exception. His music changes at the drop of a hat, with Kanye taking creative risks that sometimes cause many of his fans to jump ship. He's also said some of the most random things in live venues, including his challenge to Taylor Swift during the MTV Music Video Awards. We also can't forget when West disappeared from NBC for years after telling America that President George Bush doesn't care about black people. I applauded when Kanye went after Bush; I shook my head in shame when he attacked Taylor Swift. So, like the rest of you, my perception of Kanye is certainly mixed, which is probably the way he wants it.

West's latest stunt is to release an album cover that clearly couldn't have been screened by the executives responsible for marketing and distributing his record. The cover features a naked white woman on top of a black man, engaging in the act that created all humanity. Personally, I found myself squirming and laughing out loud after seeing the album cover, with this being clear confirmation that Kanye West has lost whatever might have been left of his mind.

Obviously, the album cover is exceedingly sexual, which is saying a lot, given the margin of sexual deviance currently allowed in hip-hop. There is also the racial element of the album, showing us that Kanye loves being the eternal agitator. In spite of the fact that our nation once tried to lie itself into being post-racial, the reality is that many people are still shocked at the sight of a black man making babies with a white woman.

The intriguing nature of Kanye's album cover reminds us of the perpetual conflict between the artist and the company that funds the performer's endeavors. Artists are rewarded for being risky and edgy. They push the envelope, inspiring a slew of emotional reactions in the process. That's what makes men like Kanye so amazing at what they do.

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+BV POLL: What Do You Think About Kanye West's Controversial Album Cover?

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The problem for the commercialized artist is that he is always going to need the corporation that stands behind him. Without some boring executive in a bland blue suit, there is no Kanye West, there is no album tour, there is no distribution of Kanye's album to every record store across America. Most artists, whether rappers, actors or singers, need the corporation to provide money for them to become rich, famous and all that other stuff.

The artist and the company that stands behind him often possess divergent viewpoints. The artist is trying to be superhot, cool, and exciting, while the corporation wants to minimize risk. That's why we don't get to hear cutting-edge music on the radio. Instead, we hear the same stuff that seemed to sell to consumers the previous year. Sure, there might be some mild adjustments here and there, but nothing major. The goal of the corporation is simple: to maximize shareholder wealth. Execs couldn't care less if your album cover makes a meaningful statement, and they certainly don't want it to make a stink.

So, given that Walmart makes its money by being a simple company that embodies typical American values, don't be surprised if the Kanye West album "just happens" to be out of stock when you go buy it. In fact, Walmart has already banned it. The same thing might possibly happen in every other major retail outlet in America. Sadly enough, as strong as Kanye's statement might be, the reality is that we still live in a country that doesn't want to talk much about two things: sex and race. When you mix the two as Kanye has done on his album cover, you're going to get an explosion.


Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition and a Scholarship in Action resident of the Institute for Black Public Policy. To have Dr. Boyce's commentary delivered to your e-mail, please click here.