Damien Hirst and Louise Bourgeois artworks used on Kanye West and Drake album covers

Two major rap album releases this summer feature cover art by renowned contemporary artists. Kanye West's album 'Donda', released August 29, initially used a detail from Louise Bourgeois's 2007 gouache 'Femme' for its cover, but the artwork was replaced shortly after the July 22 launch event in Atlanta. Bourgeois, who died in 2010 at age 98, often explored her relationship with her mother through spider sculptures like 'Maman' (1999). The album is dedicated to West's mother, who died in 2007 at age 58. Meanwhile, Drake's upcoming album 'Certified Lover Boy', expected September 3, features a cover by Damien Hirst depicting twelve pregnant emoji in various skin tones, referencing Hirst's Spot paintings and his sculptures of pregnant women such as 'The Virgin Mother' (2005). Hirst recently entered the NFT market with ten thousand spot works. Drake posted the cover on social media with the caption '1 of 2 by Damien Hirst', hinting at a possible alternative cover. The two rappers have a long-standing rivalry.