Image via Complex Original
Things Fall Apart, the fourth studio album by The Roots, was a sign of the times when it was released in 1999. The artwork for Things Fall Apart reflected the world’s greatest turmoils—famine, violence, discrimination, and fear—through images that came to represent these negative aspects of society from years past.
Five images for five limited edition album covers aligned the LP’s title with the theme of “visual failure in society.” A burned church, a scene from a riot in Brooklyn’s Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood, the hand of murdered mafia boss Giuseppe Masseria, a crying child, and an infant screaming amongst destruction in Shanghai after Japan’s World War II attack are the photos art director Kenny Gravillis and The Roots used to display humanity in its darkest hours.
Gravillis' contribution to Things Fall Apart is just one gem in his treasure chest of a résumé (for The Roots, he also art directed the covers for Undun, How I Got Over, Rising Down, and Game Theory). The art director spent five years at Def Jam's The Drawing Board and then went onto become the creative director of the Black Music Division at MCA Records. Gravillis' impressive credentials include designing Mary J. Blige's albums Share My World and Mary, Common’s Like Water for Chocolate, and art for Babyface, Usher, Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, and Third Eye Blind. Today, he creates promotional materials for movies under his company Gravillis, Inc.
Back when Gravillis was working on the cover for Things Fall Apart in 1999, a new year of prosperity was underway (i.e. the introduction of the euro and Bill Gates' personal wealth exceeded 100 billion), yet there were still major global issues that eerily echoed the disasters of the past (nail bomb explosions in the Brixton area of London, fatal flash floods in Las Vegas).
Had The Roots gone with the original concept for the cover (an illustration of The Roots and Sean “Diddy” Combs jettisoned at the bottom of the ocean), the message and public response would have been undoubtedly much different. Needless to say, the shock value of Things Fall Apart grew The Roots’ reputation for raising public awareness in both their music and on their album covers. Gravillis shared his thoughts on the five covers with us, adding to the narrative of Things Fall Apart on its 15-year anniversary.
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"Things Fall Apart" Art Director Kenny Gravillis Tells the Stories Behind The Roots' 5 Album Covers
Woman Running
Date: 1960s
Photographer: Unknown
Location: Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn
Context: Police chase two black teenagers in Bed-Stuy during a riot. This image came to represent racism and injustice in the era of the Civil Rights Movement.
"This became the main artwork for a few reasons. The cover felt like the urban community could really relate to it. Seeing real fear in the woman's face is very affecting. It feels unflinching and aggressive in its commentary on society. I remember going to Tower Records and seeing it huge; it was just so impactful. I'm not sure that it would work today. I give MCA respect for pushing it out at the time."
Ace in the Hand
Date: April 15, 1931
Photographer: Bettman
Location: Nuova Villa Tammaro, 2715 West 15th Street, Coney Island, Brooklyn
Context: Mob boss Giuseppe "Joe the Boss" Masseria was found dead holding an ace in his hand after he was murdered in a restaurant by Benjamin "Bugsy" Sigel, Vito Genovese, Albert Anastasia, and Joe Adonis.
"The hand holding the ace card shows great irony. It almost looks as if it was placed there. It's amazing that this shot even exists! This cover feels more symbolic than the others. It shows that even if you get the ace, good things don't always follow."
The Church Bombing
Date: Unknown
Photographer: Unknown
Location: Unknown
Context: A fire destroys a church and injures two firemen. One fire fighter can be seen amongst the damage.
"We weren't specifically looking for bombings, but we came across this picture of the church, and it represented one of society's biggest failures. As a country, we have the freedom to worship. This image represents a huge violation of that right. I really love the figure in the rubble and how it's centered under the remaining stained glass and arches. It still has a sense of spirituality, even in the burnt remains."
Baby in the Rubble
Date: Aug. 28, 1937
Photographer: H.S. "Newsreel" Wong
Location: Shanghai's South Railway Station
Context: This image was widely published in newspapers in September and October 1937 and came to represent the result of Japanese warfare in China.
"Even if you are not a parent, this photo captures horrific social disruption. That iconic shot of the baby in the rubble is indicative of abandonment that's still occurring today."
Crying Child
Date: Aug. 1, 1992
Photographer: Peter Turnley
Location: Baidoa, Somalia
Context: This image represents famine that affected Somalians from over a decade of civil war. In December 1992, the United States and other international support poured in with "Operation Restore Hope."
"This was the last cover we picked. It represented hunger in different parts of the world. While it was the most obvious cover, hunger is such a widespread epidemic that we felt like it needed to be included."