JAY-Z & Kanye West Collaborative Album : 'WATCH THE THRONE' Artwork Designed by Riccardo Tisci

After designing the cover for the album's first outing, 'H.A.M', in 2010, Riccardo Tisci chose to create this new artwork to celebrate one of the biggest joint efforts in music history.

To view the Multimedia News Release, please click :

http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/prne/givenchy/50537/

The artwork's bold colours and angular lines are symbols of masculinity for two of the most iconic rap figures of our time. Riccardo Tisci naturally incorporates references to his long time signature codes, from meticulously engineered prints to blurred religious images, the strength of these visuals being to bring his Couture techniques and vision to image printing. Therefore, the 'Watch the Throne' cover seems to be embroidered while the inside artwork looks painted and printed.

Other symbols are featured, such as architecture and layering, raw materials and animal faces, symmetric shapes combined with bold prints or American obsessions, all part of Riccardo Tisci's aesthetics, translated to the music world.

I am honoured to have been asked to be part of this incredible music moment with such amazing artists. I am impressed by the amount of respect they have for music and art. We share the same way of working : like a family.

Riccardo Tisci

By designing the artwork for JAY-Z and Kanye West's first collaborative album, Riccardo Tisci wanted to channel America's most traditional value : respect.

Album release date, exclusively at iTunes : August 8^th 2011

Available at additional physical and digital retailers : August 12^th 2011

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Video: http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/prne/givenchy/50537/