For most music lovers, the cover art is the visual gateway to their sonic sojourn. Before the first beat drops or word is uttered, that first impression is often the packaging for the album or ...

Album covers were an important part of this experience. And in the world of hip-hop, they have long been used to send messages about culture, politics and the artists’ general worldview.

XXL celebrates 50 years of hip-hop with this feature. When it comes to the essence of an album, oftentimes the cover art is just as captivating as the music. Since the popularization of hip-hop ...