Wired 25: The 25 Coolest Album Covers Of 2012 - Page 7

As the year begins to wind down, it’s time to look back on the best of 2012. Just like the hype for a big album begins with the album’s artwork, that’s the same way we are going to begin our hype for the round of Wired 25′s that will be dropping in the month of December looking back at 2012.

We start it off with some of the funkiest, coolest, cleanest, fitting and all around dopest artwork for mixtapes and albums of 2012. Whether it was a cool concept, cool design, or just something different, we broke them all down and ranked them. Get ready folks, this week’s Wired 25 takes a look at the 25 best album covers of 2012.

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25. Azealia Banks – 1991

Half rapper/half pin-up girl did her thing in 2012. Despite not knocking out a legitimate hit single, she’s been everywhere this year and it all started with this EP.

24. Action Bronson – Blue Chips

With his own big chunky self as a backdrop for the cover, Bam-Bam pays homage one of the best basketball films ever for Blue Chips. 

23. Ab-Soul – controlSYSTEM 

Soul-O’s simple yet complicated album art is sort of like the artist. It’s more than meets the eye, word to the X-Men.

22. Joey Bada$$ – 1999

The Brooklyn-born new comer paid homage to those before him on his tape, 1999. 

21. Dom Kennedy – The Yellow Album 

Dom Kennedy’s laid back vibe is implied on his artwork for The Yellow Album. With a summer-ish hue and a fly whip and fly honeys, Dom keeps it fresh and clean on this shot.

19. DJ Khaled – Kiss The Ring 

DJ Khaled is the king of hype. So much so that the revealing of his album artwork was a drawn out two minute video revelation. Even though the album didn’t have as much staying power, it was hard to hate on this artwork. Even the f**kboys had to kiss the ring.

18. Various Artists – Music From And Inspired By The Motion Picture: The Man With The Iron Fists

Since technically this was a movie poster, this artwork dropped a few spots. However, this artwork could’ve been replaced on a Wu-Tang album and subbed out the stars like Russell Crowe and Batista with Ghostface Killah and Raekwon.

17. Ro Ransom – Ransomnia

Up and coming Harlem rapper, Ro Ransom, captured the essence of team no sleep on Ransomnia. 

16. Trinidad James – Don’t Be S.A.F.E. 

Trinidad James’ album artwork screams out, “is this kid serious?” After watching the video for “All Gold Everything,” it seems that yes, he is.

15. XV – Popular Culture 

Kansas’ own X to the V tapped on the nerves of all 80s and 90s babies on the cover for Popular Culture. 

14. Game – Jesus Piece 

Bad taste? Sacrilegious? Probably. But this artwork made an impact and got people looking forward to Game’s Jesus Piece. 

13. Big K.R.I.T. – Live From The Underground 

Big K.R.I.T. promised to make his major label debut album as true to his mixtapes as possible and he started off with this slick artwork.

12. Meek Mill – Dreamchasers 2 

Meek Mill’s mind is going a mind a minute. It’s no wonder that the avid biker is right at home in this artwork for Dreamchasers 2. 

11. Killer Mike – R.A.P. Music 

Killer Mike has taken rappers to school his entire career. He keeps that tradition going in his artwork for RAP Music. 

10. Big Sean – Detroit

Big Sean explained that for the first time ever, he executed everything he wanted to on Detroit. Even judging by his artwork, it look like the kid knows what he’s doing.

9. Rick Ross – God Forgives, I Don’t 

Rozay took us to church in the most complete album of his career. The bawse’s boastful claims are finally starting to catch up to reality.

8. Wiz Khalifa – O.N.I.F.C. 

One of the most talked about album covers of 2012, Wiz Khalifa’s O.N.I.F.C. touched on everybody’s comfort level in one way or another.

7. Kendrick Lamar – good kid/ m.A.A.d. city  

With danger all around him, Kendrick Lamar rose from the gritty streets of Compton to become a star. His album cover is literally a snapshot of those surroundings.

6. T.I. – Trouble Man: Heavy Is The Head 

T.I. is a bad man. A troubled man. Sounds like a movie tagline, right? This bad a$$ album cover is worth of a feature film. 

5. Action Bronson – Rare Chandeliers 

Action Bronson’s incredible artwork is only a snippet of just how out the box the Queens rapper is. 

4. G.O.O.D. Music – Cruel Summer 

It seems like when Kanye West is helping to design an album cover, you don’t know if you put it in your iPod or hang it on your wall. Sophisticated ignorance.

3. Nas – Life Is Good

Nasir Jones is at his best when he’s brutally honest. When he graced the cover of Life Is Good with his wife’s wedding dress on his lap, there was a collective “oh snap” that was let out from the entire Hip-Hop community.

2. Big Boi – Vicious Lies And Dangerous Rumors

Big Boi’s funky artwork for his latest album looks handmade. Colorful and trippy, Antwan Patton continues in Outkast’s tradition of kick-a$$ artwork.

1. 2 Chainz – Based On A T.R.U. Story

What else did you expect to be on 2 Chainz album cover? The artwork for Based On A T.R.U. Story was one of those things that was so simple, it was brilliant.