"You didn't invent Black and white cover art" - Internet reacts to Maxo Kream seemingly shading Kanye West over Bully album cover

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Kanye West accused of copying Maxo Kream (image via Getty)

Kanye West released a black and white cover art for his upcoming album Bully on October 22. After the rapper unveiled the artwork, Houston rapper, Maxo Kream took to X on October 24 to share side-by-side photos against Kream's original covers, alleging that West copied him.

In the caption, he mentioned,

"Damn Ye (face with monocle emoji) (face with raised eyebrow emoji) Ifykyk."

Kream posted a follow-up video on his Instagram stories showing his massive shoe collection, including Nike's Yeezys. The rapper clarified his statement and said,

"And for the record, Kanye, let me say that I am flattered that you were inspired by my cover I'm inspired by you, too. I f*** with all your Nike s**t - not really your Adidas s**t. You f**k with Don C, too. I f**k with Don C. I did a collab with him for my brand Persona. I do this s**t, too. F**k with me."

Although Kanye West has yet to respond to Kream, rap fans took to X responding to Kream's alleged claims about the new Bully poster,

Fans were quick to comment on Kream's X post in defense of Kanye West, saying,

"Bruh I pretty sure Ye has never heard of you or your music. Also Daido Moriyama is the photographer. He is a legend. You think two legends copied your album cover 🫨🤫🤫🫨" - a fan noted
"Whole generation using ur blueprint right now smh" - another user commented
"The replies so funny bc if the roles was reversed ALL the stans who denying rn would be saying Maxo stole from Ye" - a user pointed out
"Didn't know Maxokream was the first to smile with a grill in a black and white photo." - noted another user

Has Kanye West been copying other's work?

This isn't the first time Kanye West is under the radar for alleged claims of copying from other artists. In 2017, Nike designer Tony Spackman called out Kanye's Yeezy label for plagiarizing his sketches. As a response, Kanye clarified that a new YEEZY employee presented the design to him and fired him.

In 2017, when West launched his new Adidas show line with the #SUPERMOON image campaign for his Yeezy 500 "Supermoon Yellow" kicks, Diet Prada took to Instagram, sharing side-by-side images comparing Kanye's art to a photography artist Rita Minissi. Minissi released a series of photographs where subjects in body positions were either naked or clothed, hugging as an inspiration from the urge of wanting to reconnect with one's body after dealing with personal trauma.

Kanye's campaign starred the Claremont twins and other notable influencers photographed by Eli Russell Linnetz in similar body positions.

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Edited by Priscillah Mueni