Ice Spice‘s Y2K may be one of the most anticipated rap albums of the year, but fans aren’t enthused about its art direction.
The Bronx rap star unveiled the project’s cover on Wednesday (June 5), with the image depicting her flaunting her derrière in front of a street wall with her rap name scribbled over her in graffiti.
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The artwork features other nods to her New York City roots, including a custom subway sign and MetroCard, along with a trash can tagged with the name of her album.
The cover was quickly trashed by fans on social media, with one writing: “Y2K could’ve been a futuristic take. Like how did we miss it. This looks like ghetto sesame street.”
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Another joked: “Maybe putting the title on the trash can wasn’t the best idea…”
Someone else picked out more nuanced flaws with the cover: “nah this is actually making my graphic designer brain hurt so much, the signature is placed so badly and that blend mode choice? LMAO.”
A fourth user offered a more measured assessment, writing: “I’m sorry, it’s way too important of a time for women in hip-hop (probably *the most important time* in the history of the culture) to go out sad when it comes time for album cover art,” lumping in Ice’s cover with the recently-revealed artwork for Megan Thee Stallion‘s upcoming album Megan.
Y2K could’ve been a futuristic take.
Like how did we miss it.
This looks like ghetto sesame street https://t.co/JqEvnOeTVJ— Think Big Bitch (@DomVHarris) June 5, 2024
Maybe putting the title on the trash can wasn't the best idea… https://t.co/1EOUUyt9YU
— Troynelious Q. (@TheArnold_SoM) June 5, 2024
nah this is actually making my graphic designer brain hurt so much, the signature is placed so badly and that blend mode choice? LMAO https://t.co/wKEJHCXvcR
— lynton.psd (@thesalonebwoy) June 5, 2024
I'm sorry, it's way too important of a time for women in hip-hop (probably *the most important time* in the history of the culture) to go out sad when it comes time for album cover art. pic.twitter.com/2aNL7tCFDy
— Dee Phunk (@DeePhunk) June 5, 2024
Ice Spice’s cover (as well as Megan’s) was photographed by the legendary David LaChapelle, who also shot the cover for Travis Scott‘s Astroworld, as well as portraits of 2Pac, Eminem, Kanye West, André 3000 and more.
In addition to releasing a new album on July 26, the “Princess Diana” rapper will also be hitting the road in support of Y2K, and she’s bringing fellow Bronx native Cash Cobain along with her.
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Kicking off in early July in Denmark, the 24-date world tour will first take Ice throughout Europe on a few festival dates. She’ll then head back to the U.S. where she’ll hit major cities such as Philadelphia, New York City, Washington, D.C. and more before wrapping things up in Miami in late August.
Her in-house producer and boyfriend RIOTUSA will also be on the tour as her DJ.
Ice Spice has been in album mode for a while now, releasing a string of singles including “Pretty Girl” with Rema, “Think U the Shit (Fart)” and the Sean Paul-sampling “Gimmie a Light.”
She has also shared some insight into the project, such as crediting her mother with inspiring the nostalgic, turn-of-the-millennium theme.
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“Thankfully, I had my mom, so growing up I’d see her really embody the Y2K aesthetic in its truest form,” she said in an interview with Zane Lowe earlier this year. “It’s duck nails, it’s a tramp stamp. It’s brown lip liner no matter where you go. So thankfully I had her as my inspo growing up. And of course, just like the internet, you feel me? Just like anyone else.”
