Musicians are no strangers to censorship and controversy. From Igor Stravinsky ’s 1913 premiere of The Rite of Spring to Kendrick Lamar ’s 2016 performance of “ Alright ” at the Grammy Awards , art has always pushed the boundaries of politics and social mores. But with the advent of albums, cassettes, and other means of media distribution came the policing of not only musicians’ work, but the art that accompanies it.

Album covers have always been—and continue to be major sources of lawsuits, public outcry, and even legal action. And with the advent of social media, such controversies are constantly being revisited among both music experts and the court of public opinion. Today, album covers are the subjects of countless op-eds and blog posts, petitions and social media captions, g

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