Nicki Minaj, Rihanna Release Album Covers

Rihanna’s racy new album cover.
[Image from Rihanna's Instagram]

Intentional or not, competition among the artists is already underway.

Rihanna unveiled the album art for her seventh full-length album, Unapologetic, via Twitter earlier today.

The album cover features Rihanna nude from the waist up, with numerous emotionally charged words covering her body. “Love” covers her face, allowing her troubled expression to peek through. “Side effects” and “victory” label her arms, and “fearless” can be found on her chest.

Rihanna’s midriff bears her latest tattoo: the Egyptian goddess Isis. In clear view on the cover, the tattoo is a tribute to her late grandmother, Clara ‘Dolly’ Braithwaite.

Unapologetic will be released on November 19.

Nicki Minaj has many faces, but only one can be on the cover.
[Image from Nicki Minaj's Twitter]

Within an hour of Rihanna’s announcement, Nicki Minaj revealed the cover of Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded – The Re-Up, also via Twitter.

The re-release of Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded showcases Minaj against a hot pink backdrop. Nothing more than a mature headshot, the simple cover does nothing to set the tone of the album.

Said to be a return of “hard Nicki,” the extended edition drops on November 19.

With both album covers announced alongside each other and both records releasing the same day, I’m callin’ shenanigans.

Are they plotting simultaneous world domination? Is this a test of loyalty- Rihanna’s Navy vs. Nicki’s Barbz?  Let us know what you think in the comments!