Behind Madvillainy's Cover Art with Jeff Jank

You could quite accurately declare, as folks frequently do, that designer Jeff Jank has been instrumental in expanding the expressive range of how indie hip-hop is visually represented. The longtime Art Director at the revered Stones Throw Records, Jank – via his wonderful album and single sleeve art for the likes of Madlib (and his myriad of creative incarnations, including Quasimoto and Yesterday’s New Quintet), J Dilla, Dudley Perkins, et al – has exhibited as much a talent for creatively paying homage to vintage record designs as forging indelibly original ones. Buoyed by a striking image by photographer Eric Coleman, Jeff’s album cover design for Madlib and kindred enigmatic spirit MF Doom’s classic inaugural collab, Madvillain’s Madvillany, is an essential example of one that actually beautifully bridges both categories. We recently caught up with the man known alternately as Funkaho to discuss the making of the LP and its cover – a process which entailed bartering, bong hits, a bomb shelter, and opportunities to perhaps frighten small children. Read more HERE.