Pusha T is striking up controversy with the cover art for his new album Daytona.
On the eve of its release, the G.O.O.D. Music rapper has revealed the artwork for his third solo album, which is an edited photo of Whitney Houston’s Atlanta bathroom from 2006. Drug paraphernalia including a crack pipe, pack of cigarettes, and white powder are spread across the counter.
Kanye West reportedly paid $85,000 to license the photo, which was a last-minute change. “He changed my artwork at 1 a.m. ’cause he wasn’t feeling it,” Pusha told Angie Martinez.
They had already chosen the artwork before Kanye decided to go in another direction. “This what people need to see to go along with this music,” ‘Ye told him.
But Push is happy with the outcome. “I love it. It’s dope,” he said, before adding, “I absolutely did not want to pay for it.”
Set to drop tonight, the 7-track Daytona features appearances from Kanye West (“What Would Meek Do?”) and Rick Ross (“Hard Piano”).
One song in particular, “Infrared,” is already making noise for its rumored Drake diss. “It was written like Nas, but it came from Quentin,” Pusha raps on the song, a reference to alleged Drake ghostwriter Quentin Miller.