The Best Caribbean Album Covers

How important is it to catch the attentions of someone visually? If you're dealing with human beings at all then it can be VERY important. It can be the reason why women spend so much time getting ready to go places and why both men and women spend hundreds of hours in and hundreds of dollars on, the gym. In music, things can be just as important as when you don't know an artist too well or you're on the fence about buying a particular album, something as simple as the cover can make or break your purchase. Thus, I submit, for your approval, some of the most BEAUTIFUL album covers from the most BEAUTIFUL place on earth.

{note 1: All albums of all types of Caribbean music qualify}

{note 2: Although I do mention the music quite extensively in some cases, albums are ranked COMPLETELY based on the visuals]

#10. Midnite - Rule The Time [I-Grade Records, 2007]

Longtime fans of Midnite and fans who just spend a long time shopping are by now very well familiar with the band’s very clever and creative album covers. It would take the most honest of observers, however, to admit that they, at least from at least from a novice’s perspective, they aren’t exactly the most well drawn but ALWAYS interesting. Rule The Time probably isn’t the best in that regards either, but I’ve always found it to be so interesting because it tells a story in its frame of three world leaders from three different walks of life being ushered through the pearly gates by Black angels, seemingly to face judgment at the hands of His Majesty. ALSO, you’ll notice the angels seeming to block the path with lasers from their eyes, which may or may not be true but, again, in either case, you cannot ignore its powerful imagery.

How Does It Relate To The Music? I suppose on some level there’s some random lyric(s) on Rule The Time which speaks of them, it is a Vaughn Benjamin album after all. However, from a superficial standpoint, nothing stands out obtrusively.

#9. Tiwony - Fly [High Top, 2007]

Less is more? Fly’s cover is just so simple but it’s also RIPE material for people, like me, who like to overanalyze things. Given that the name of the album is Fly, the natural connection is the artist, the WICKED Tiwony, is looking to the skies and as the album itself is devoid of an exact title track, it sort of seems kind of clichéd on the surface. However, upon further examination the one thing which sticks out mostly is, of course, the reflection in the Afrikan born, Guadeloupe bred Roots/Dancehall hybrid’s sunglasses, the Lion of His Majesty. Suggesting, at least to me that he shall enjoy the undoubted ‘high’ of flying (which he does on the back cover) yet do so with keeping his eyes on the truth. And its also interesting that although bright skies do shine here and there throughout, there are NO dark skies in his field of vision and it also seems as if he were looking in the stormy areas, they too would illuminate.

How Does It Relate To The Music? Pretty well actually. Not in terms of, of course, any direct routes or situations but just in general. Tiwony is all over the place on the all too brief Fly but he does fly, he does keep righteousness high and has a FANTASTIC time doing so on the big album.

#8. SamX - Bondyé sel sav [Genesiz, 2007]

Gwada #2. Very interesting. SamX, a member of the well popular French Caribbean group Genesiz, from out of Guadeloupe’s Mortenol District, dropped his debut album, Bondyé sel sav, back in 2007 and before (I figured out who the hell he was) I even got the album I was very intrigued at the cover itself. Life in the District is difficult and grimy, as the artists speak of, but it is HOME. Thus, its interesting that the wonderful colours are used in highlighting SamX and the children, who are seemingly growing up to ‘replace’ him one day and are currently idolizing him. But, not to ignore reality, outside of this ‘bubble’ things are a bit more dark and undefined, suggesting that, although this is definitely home and comfortable, we still have to careful.

How Does It Relate To The Music? Pretty well. While SamX’s style, in and of itself, is anything but comforting and homely (its space age-ish) many of the topics he addresses, as expected, do speak of his life and his home.

#7. Sizzla - Da Real Thing & Da Real Live Thing [VP Records, 2002 & 2005]

You knew he would be here somewhere didn’t you? Bobby Digital & Sizzla have always had a great bit of chemistry as evidenced by the fact that each and every time they have worked together, they have struck absolute gold. The last time the two linked (and isn’t it getting about that time again guys???) the duo produced by far one of the most high profile and BEST albums of Sizzla’s career, Da Real Thing. The cover to the project was so simple but I think the photographer , Anderson Ballentyne (who also did the covers for the Taking Over and Stay Focus albums) had a little more in mind as the simplicity matches the title doesn’t it? Da Real Thing, the simplified and natural Sizzla, just as you used to know him. And with the Live Thing, things are a bit more confusing but still simple with the change of colours and adding of graphics perhaps symbolizing the crowd which Sizzla DESTROYS on the DVD, the highlight of the three years later re-release.

How Does It Relate To The Music? Okay, I guess. Sizzla and I apparently share the same ‘condition’ as, save for the Praise Ye Jah album and the first picture I ever took with my daughter, we both seem to have a hard time smiling, instead going, usually, with the neutral look. On Da Real Thing, he almost appears angry (Rise To The Occasion style) so while the simplicity (and it took me to the second usage of that word to remember the album actually had a tune with the title) (shame on me) does definitely, the angry and puffed up Sizzla doesn’t for the most part. But who in the hell cares? The album was ridiculous!

#6. Soca Gold 2003 [VP Records, 2003]

Camille Marshall where have you gone! I didn’t want to make this list too much of the obvious (which is why I only do it three times) by simply putting the ten most beautiful faces on it, but sometimes you simply cannot help yourself! Soca Gold, even more so than its sister Reggae Gold, almost ALWAYS does an excellent job in choosing cover models and I like to think that because of the music’s inherent exotic nature (no one-drops here dammit) they can take a few more chances with different looks and colours. They didn’t take a very big chance on 2003’s edition as cover beauty Camille Marshall took, in my opinion, the Queen’s crown as the series has EVER seen (and many, including myself trying to figure out exactly which body parts she was showing in the covers on the inside!) (don’t lie!!!).

How Does It Relate To The Music? Shit who cares?

#5. Strictly The Best 33 & 34 [VP Records 2005]

Another of VP’s signature series, and the one which has by far the most creative covers consistently in the business. For me, the height of Strictly The Best’s annual penned cover was in 2005 when they again tapped Christian Cortez (who also did #31 & 32 the previous year) who TOTALLY outdid himself on both covers for StB 33 and 34. His style is very human like and although you’ll probably find something that looks MORE real, I don’t think that was the goal here, instead Cortez really does a great job of conveying MOTION and ATMOSTPHERE to the point where you look at both covers and think, “Damn I wish I was there”.

How Does It Relate To The Music? This isn’t really difficult as its usually VP’s style, regardless of who they hire to draw the covers, to kind of capture the mood of the album. And when, like in 2005, StB was still a double annual series, it was much easier. The odd numbered version featured the hardcore and crazy Dancehall vibes so the art matches that easily. While the even number was always the slower things, Roots, lovers rock and Dancehall and #34 (both the stronger album and stronger art in my opinion) captured that definitely with bodies a little bit closer and spliff well in hand.

#4. Machel Montano - Heavenly Drum [J&W, 2009]

I went back and forth on this one as Machel ‘threatened’ to have me make this a list of fifteen instead of ten as each of his last three could have been eligible for being here. I finally chose his most recent effort Heavenly Drum for a couple of reasons. The first was that, in contrast with the other two (Flame On and Book Of Angels) which were both outstanding, there is just quietly so much going on here and although definitely Flame On’s cover relates better to the music, Heavenly Drum is truly DIVINE (no pun intended). I love the colours and the context of putting Montano in the clouds, kind of angelic like, just as was the case more directly with Book Of Angels, and then the literal adding of the words: Hesus Divine and the drum that is, of course, Heavenly. And wasn’t it a stroke of brilliance to let go of adding the prerequisite ‘HD’ altogether in favour of assuming fans would get that with both the title and ‘Hesus Divine’, yet another Montano alter ego. Also, you’ll definitely be drawn to notice LOVE and a heart emblazoned on Machel’s shirt which, despite what his more controversial actions may suggest, is truly the basis of his hard to understand methodology.

How Does It Relate To The Music? Better than you may think on the surface actually. Machel’s entire years are based on concepts that he and his group come up with. And while, as I mentioned in 2008, he got things lined up perfectly on this with Flame On, Heavenly Drum’s cover is so BROAD to be inclusive to almost anything in my opinion as where Flame On literally had to be BLAZING (and of course it was).

#3. Thayna - Nouveau Depart [Sushiraw, 2008]

I’m in LOVE! With my wife, not Thayna but DAMN! If looks could kill everyone who merely passed by this one in stores would drop in a heap. Thayna’s cover for her debut album, Nouveau Depart, I’m sure has already sold her a few hundred copies on its own! Again, she too works on the simple aspect of herself, and it worked to GREATNESS here in my opinion and, as this was the first time many would be seeing her at all, it was a wonderful visual introduction indeed.

How Does It Relate To The Music? Okay. You can’t really take too much from the cover in all honesty as its simply a (VERY) pretty girl. Thankfully, the music, for the most part, is just as pretty. Making it one big ass pretty affair! Biggup Kaysha and Sushiraw.

#2. Culture Dem Vol. 1 [Lustre Kings Productions, 2002]

The first time I saw this, I think I probably thought it was kind of hilarious looking at certain artists and how well they were drawn (and then looking at others like I Lue and Jah Marcus and thinking “who?”) but all these years later and I still love it. Credited to one ‘JahTerms’, apparently a pretty popular graffiti artist on the west coast US, the cover photo here was so original in that you had never really seen someone like Norris Man painted before had you? For my money, Norris Man, Anthony B and ESPECIALLY Jah Mason were spot on and of course that’s all highlighted by the Holy Trinity, The Prophet, The Priest & The King keeping a steady watch over the vibes. HUGE!

How Does It Relate To The Music? It IS the music!

#1. Alison Hinds - Soca Queen [1720 Entertainment, 2007]

WOW! I’ve never been so corny as to over stand the concept being entranced by someone’s eyes but. . . Damn. When I first saw the cover for Alison Hinds’ forthcoming debut album (as a solo artist), Soca Queen, it took me a couple of minutes to take it all in, simply because my attentions were simply SWIMMING in her eyes! When you break the deathgrip that she has on your focus and spread it around to the rest of the album you notice the very ‘Cleopatra-esque’ feel of Soca Queen’s cover. The straight on angle that Hinds’ head comes in gives the illusion that the blandly coloured background isn’t background at all but instead a piece of her garments. Anchored by just HINT of the headpiece’s middle and just a hint of the necklace she makes you feel like taking a knee and they could have taken the word ‘Soca’ off the cover altogether as Alison Hinds and co. offers up probably the best cover I have ever seen.

How Does It Relate To The Music? Not very well directly. However, of the few women in the game who could undoubtedly wear the title ‘Soca Queen’, Alison Hinds is definitely one and she’s still relatively (if not literally) on top of her game and still well relevant, so whatever visual lauds she is thrown, she has definitely earned it.