Kanye West wanted new album cover 'to be banned'

The artist who designed the cover art for Kanye West's ‘My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy’ album has said that West asked him to create "something that will be banned."

In a profile written about artist George Condo in The New Yorker, journalist Calvin Tomkins explained how the rapper briefed Condo to make something controversial.

"Kanye West asked him to do a painting for the cover of his new album," he wrote. "West said that he had seen paintings by Condo, and wanted to collaborate with him. According to Condo, he also said that he was looking for 'something that will be banned'."

West claimed that the album cover (pictured) had been banned by various retailers when it was released. However, American retailer Walmart, which has banned albums by the likes of Marilyn Manson and Tool in the past over their choice of covers, said it was "excited" to carry West's new album in its stores.

The first single from Kanye West's new collaboration with Jay-Z became available online yesterday, with the album 'Watch The Throne' due out in March.