Controversial rapper Kanye West is accused of using his new album cover to pay tribute to convicted murderer and neo-Nazi Kristian Vikernes – a controversial black metal artist from Norway.
West, 46, released his latest album Vultures on Friday after weeks of scandal surrounding the release's promotion and content.
The album's artwork depicts a black and white blurred landscape with scarecrows sticking out of the ground.
Social media users say the artwork bears striking similarities to the artwork of Vikernes' own band Burzum – who also released grim covers.
Vikernes, a black metal musician and writer known as Varg, was convicted in 1994 of stabbing a rival musician to death in Oslo and burning down several churches.
Controversial rapper Kanye West is accused of using his new album cover to pay tribute to a convicted murderer
Kristian Vikernes, a black metal musician and writer known as Varg, was convicted in 1994 of stabbing a rival musician to death in Oslo and burning down several churches
The artwork of West's album shows a black and white blurred landscape with scarecrows sticking out of the ground – and resembles that of Vikernes' band Burzum
Some on social media wondered where Kanye got his inspiration from
He was released from prison in 2009 and moved to France with his wife and three children, but was arrested again in 2014 and convicted of incitement to racial hatred.
Police had initially arrested him and his wife on suspicion of planning terrorist acts as they had purchased four assault rifles, but these charges were dropped.
In the past, he received a copy of a manifesto by Anders Breivik, the far-right militant who murdered 77 people in 2011.
Breivik killed 77 people in July 2011 in a bomb attack in central Oslo and in a shooting on a nearby island.
He was jailed in 2012 for a maximum term of 21 years.
Breivik's 1,500-page manifesto outlined his planned crusade against the Muslims, who he said were taking over Europe and could only be defeated by a violent civil war.
Commenting on the similarities, an
“I think it's pretty clear that's not why you did this. He has been spreading anti-Semitism for some time now.”
Another said: 'Kanye has sampled songs from that particular album before so I'm not surprised.'
One said: 'I don't really care, I'm just here to listen to music and don't worry about anything anymore.'
Vikernes once received a copy of a manifesto by Anders Breivik (photo), the far-right militant who killed 77 people in 2011
On Tuesday, West wore a black Ku Klux Klan-style hood at an event to promote the album
On Tuesday, West hosted a controversial album listening event, with the star branded a “disgusting human being” by fans after the rapper wore a black Ku Klux Klan-style hood.
The artist donned a cloth head covering with a point at the top during a late-night listening event with collaborator Ty Dolla Sign as they performed their controversial song Vultures, which features vile lyrics about a Jewish woman.
Vultures contains the 'offensive' text: 'How am I anti-Semitic? I just fucked a Jewish motherfucker.”
He was criticized by Jewish organizations who called him “pathetic and sad” for the vile lyrics about a Jewish woman in his latest song.
The lyrics caused an angry reaction among some fans at the time and have now prompted condemnation from the American Jewish Committee, among others.
“It is inexcusable to fan the flames of anti-Semitism and promote this kind of bile among his millions of followers, especially at this fraught and dangerous time for the Jewish community,” spokesman Richard Hirschhaut told TMZ.
He added that the West's choice is not surprising, however, given its past anti-Semitic comments.