Image via Complex Original
This feature is a part of Complex's Futura Week.
There is no denying that music has played a crucial role in the artistic career of graffiti legend Futura. Our cover story, Futura: The Art Of Reinvention, details his relationships with the Clash (in the '80s) and UNKLE (in the '90s), two groups that helped expose his abstract style to new audiences. In addition to providing artwork for bands, Futura also recorded music — including "The Escapades Of Futura2000", with backing by the Clash and a video that featured Fab 5 Freddy, that stands as one of the first songs about graffiti.
At 57, Futura has seen (and listened) to a lot. From his funk fueled high school days to Punk Rock downtown parties, and from De La to Jay-Z, here are the 25 albums that have inspired Futura over his 40 years of painting.
Beastie Boys, Paul's Boutique (1989)
Label: Capitol
Futura: “In loving memory of Adam Yauch.”
The Doors, The Doors (1967)
Label: Elektra
Futura: “The most perverse sexual sound arrangements. I'm a fan.”
Cypress Hill, Cypress Hill (1991)
Label: Ruffhouse/Columbia/SME Records
Futura: “Crazy shout-out to that inspirational sound . . . something for the blunted. Gracias, caballeros.”
Daft Punk, Homework (1997)
Label: Virgin
Futura: “Maybe it's the music . . . but most probably it's Spike Jonze.
Jay-Z, The Black Album (2003)
Label: Roc-A-Fella, Def Jam
Futura: “The return of a legend.”
Traffic, The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys (1971)
Label: Island
Futura: “That crazy album cover and the track 'Light Up Or Leave Me Alone'."
Funkadelic, One Nation Under a Groove (1978)
Label: Warner Bros.
Futura: “Radical poets with beats.”
A Tribe Called Quest,The Low End Theory (1991)
Label: Jive/RCA Records
Futura: “On that smooth . . . Q-Tip.”
Santana, Santana (1969)
Label: Columbia
Futura: “That album cover; and … my name is Leonard. What a debut, Mr. Santana.”
Devo Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! (1978)
Label: Warner Bros.
Futura: “More of that post military craze. I may still know every lyric. I had the greatest time with Mark Mothersbaugh . . . what a genius.”
Jimmy Cliff, The Harder They Come (1972)
Label: Island
Futura: “That summer that Jamaica got put on the map.”
Talking Heads, Remain in Light (1980)
Label: Sire
Futura: “The year that graffiti surfaced and my break wholecar was painted. Thanks to Mr. Seen for the flicks. Also, Mr. Bryne was always very kind to me.”
Curtis Mayfield, Super Fly (1972)
Label: Curtom
Futura: “One of the best Blacksploitation films of the day with Freddie's Dead and that Junkie Chase instrumental. My high school graduation year.Curtis Mayfield was doper than Cowboy Curtis.”
Marvin Gaye, What's Going On (1971)
Label: Tamla
Futura: “Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler). Memories of high school high.”
Wu-Tang Clan, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) (1993)
Label: Loud
Futura: “Shout out to the crew from Shaolin. Thank you for the greatest samples ever. Who doesn't have this one on a top 25?”
De La Soul, 3 Feet High and Rising (1989)
Label: Tommy Boy/Warner Bros. Records
Futura: “The '80s are over. The comedic break from traditional rap.”
Stevie Wonder, Songs in the Key of Life (1976)
Label: Tamla
Futura: “Another classic album from the sound of my exit from the military. That amazing harmonica.”
Al Green, Greatest Hits (1975)
Label: Hi/Right Stuff/EMI
Futura: “The religion . . . look what you've done for me. Probably the most played artist on my playlist.”
Sex Pistols, Never Mind the Bollocks (1977)
Label: Warner Bros.
Futura: “Nobody ever did it better; love the Lydon. Mr. John Joseph. Later came that pil box period... I had the opportunity to work with Public Image Limited on a graphic design that most have never seen.”
The Rolling Stones, Let It Bleed (1969)
Label: London
Futura: “The Discovery Channel . . . of one the greatest band ever.”
Led Zeppelin, Led Zeppelin (1969)
Label: Atlantic
Futura: “I'm still dazed and confused.”
The Clash, Sandinista! (1980)
Label: CBS, Epic
Futura: “Meeting the Clash . . . and yeah; performing on stage with them [laughs.] Nineteen-eighty-one. The era of being on the road, with the boys. What a triple album!”
Pink Floyd, The Dark Side of the Moon (1973)
Label: Harvest / Capitol
Futura: “The soundtrack of my military experience. What's your pleasure? Headphones or quad speakers.”
The Beatles, The White Album (1968)
Label: Apple
Futura: “It was a white album and it's the Beatles . . . who's lyrics change thoughts. I was a Beatle lover since the Ed Sullivan show, hook, line, and sinker.”
Jimi Hendrix, Are You Experienced (1967)
Label: MCA
Futura: “My all time favorite ... musical maestro. It blows my mind that Jimi seems almost forgotten by this generation. Very, very sad.”