Wu-Tang Design Remix Project Pt. 1

May 4, 2009 9:57 AM

Wu Note Records. Covers of Wu-Tang Clan (group and solo) LPs done Blue Note-style by graphic designer Logan Walters. A few more here.
posted by The Card Cheat (22 comments total)

Brought to my attention by a friend.
posted by The Card Cheat at 9:58 AM on May 4, 2009

Blue Note design always tickles my aesthetic in its bathing suit area.
posted by The Whelk at 10:05 AM on May 4, 2009 [2 favorites]

So digging this.
posted by banannafish at 10:11 AM on May 4, 2009

In spite of their spotty output (anyone trying to defend 8 Diagrams in this thread will be punched in the groin) the Wu stand alone in my mind as hiphop's high water mark both lyrically and musically.

They have also represented themselves well visually, and have had some amazing album covers - see the original cover for Only Built 4 Cuban Linx, Return to the 36 Chambers, and the Bill Senkiewicz cover of Bobby Digital. even Ni**a Please has its own unique charm.

I wish he would have re-done the covers of some of the lesser appreciated but still classic wu-albums, like Uncontrolled Substance or No Said Date. Those two, while being great albums, definitely got short changed on their art budgets.

In summation - interesting exercise, but I don't see the need, any more than I see the need to have Pen & Pixel recreate all the Blue Note album covers.
posted by orville sash at 10:35 AM on May 4, 2009

There's a great record of jazzy Wu-Tang covers/interpretations by the El Michels Affair

youtube clips of a couple of the songs: 1 2
posted by stifford at 10:36 AM on May 4, 2009 [1 favorite]

Whoa, I just got sent this on email at the same time as this was posted. Teh interwebs are working well.
posted by ob at 10:44 AM on May 4, 2009

Olly Moss does this sort of stuff better.
posted by the cuban at 10:48 AM on May 4, 2009 [1 favorite]

Hm sucks that the one he put up for Wu Tang Forever is a little crappy. That album was badly in need of a new cover.

Here's hoping Uncontrolled Substance and The W fare better.
posted by Geezum Crowe at 10:51 AM on May 4, 2009

Well done.

The Wu is comin' through / the outcome is critical
posted by joe lisboa at 10:55 AM on May 4, 2009

Yeah the type is just not 100% there on that Wu Tan Forever cover, but cheers for aiming high. I particularly like the Liquid Swords cover.
posted by mike_bling at 11:17 AM on May 4, 2009

As a fan of Blue Note and an appreciator of fine Wu hip-hop, I can say that I heartily approve. And damn the Clan if they don't use these covers for any reissues. They snap.
posted by grubi at 11:34 AM on May 4, 2009 [1 favorite]

see the original cover for Only Built 4 Cuban Linx

I really hate the original cover, actually. I'm surprised you'd bring it up as an example of outstanding cover design. The rest of your examples, though: absolutely. That ODB 36 chambers cover is still one of the best things ever, to my mind.
posted by shmegegge at 11:44 AM on May 4, 2009

I guess, shmegegge, to me the cover of Cuban Linx just resonates with me because it seems to match the music in tone and atmosphere.
posted by orville sash at 11:51 AM on May 4, 2009

Honestly, replacing the best Dirty album cover, but leaving the shitty one without help?

The Enter the 36 and Gravediggaz covers are really good, though. The Tical one is a step up, too, now that I actually look at it.

Just don't mess with any of the rest of the Ghost covers. All of them after Ironman are classic.
posted by paisley henosis at 12:11 PM on May 4, 2009

you know, I love that Ni**a Please album cover. I always thought it was this excellent indicator of just how crazy ODB was, that he'd want a cover like that to his album.

like, "haHAAAAAaaaa, I'm in a mufuggin jumpsuit, wit yellow stripes and shit. and i got my jerry curl weave, like I just jerry curl the shit outta dis fuckin weave. and then it says OL' DIRTY BASTARD, written like shit and light yellow so ya can barely see that shit. and then the motherfucker just says "NI**A PLEASE" on it, like all handwritten. here, i'll write that shit out for ya. here. N**a... How many gs in Nigga? 2? Damn, I thought there was 3 of them shits in there. Fuck it, I'll just scratch it out. And... Please.... there you go. just put that shit on there. no, just put THAT shit... that shit right there in your hand. just put that shit on there. Do I look like I'm fucking kidding?!"
posted by shmegegge at 12:38 PM on May 4, 2009 [6 favorites]

In summation - interesting exercise, but I don't see the need
free advertising for logan walters. it feeds an insatiable hunger of the online public for easily digestible mashups.

any more than I see the need to have Pen & Pixel recreate all the Blue Note album covers.
oh god, pn'p would create blasphemy.
storm thorgerson of hipgnosis (pink floyd, et al.) is about the only person who does albums covers that i would trust with the project.
posted by the aloha at 12:57 PM on May 4, 2009

I don't recall the name of the designer, but some of the original wu-tang cover designs were designed by someone who studied at the Alberta College of Art and Design. I recall being strangely proud of going to ACAD after seeing an ODB cover in one the Alumni Shows.
posted by skullbee at 1:13 PM on May 4, 2009

Oh just wait til this upcoming Wu project comes out.

I don't think we're supposed to talk about it just yet, but it's gonna be awesome.
posted by First Post at 1:31 PM on May 4, 2009

O'l Dirty Saul Bass-tard
posted by joe defroster at 4:14 PM on May 4, 2009 [2 favorites]

O'l Dirty Saul Bass-tard
Big Baby Jesus "Chuco" Valdes
posted by the aloha at 1:05 PM on May 5, 2009

Thanks, shmegegge, for proving how entirely wrong I was.
posted by paisley henosis at 5:49 PM on May 5, 2009

well, at the least I think it's clear we've all learned that design quality is entirely objective and that it's possible to be wrong about what you do and don't like.
posted by shmegegge at 12:44 PM on May 6, 2009