Discover Daido Moriyama: The Renowned Japanese Photographer Behind Kanye West’s ‘Bully’ Album Cover

On Wednesday, Kanye West unveiled the cover art for his forthcoming album titled Bully, attributing its creation to the renowned Daido Moriyama, an 86-year-old Japanese photographer acclaimed for his distinctive black and white street and portrait photography.

The striking monochromatic image features a person squinting while displaying a set of teeth adorned with what seems to be titanium grills, reminiscent of Ye’s own dentures, which are reportedly valued at around $850,000.

As reported by Billboard, during a listening event for his collaborative project Vultures at the Wuyuan River Stadium in Haikou, Hainan Province, Kanye premiered one of the new tracks titled Beauty & The Beast.

Earlier this month, music journalist Touré shared insights with TMZ about Kanye’s “upper-class homeless”lifestyle while in Tokyo, where he is said to be recording his new album from a single hotel room.

A source close to Kanye allegedly told Touré that producing music in Japan is more convenient for him compared to Los Angeles, where he often faces relentless paparazzi. The source expressed:

“In Japan, people notice him, but they tend to keep their distance and show respect. It’s rare for anyone to approach him for a photo, allowing him to move about quite freely without security.”

While Kanye West has not yet revealed a specific release date for his solo album, the avant-garde cover created by Daido Moriyama has certainly grabbed attention across social media platforms.

Exploring Daido Moriyama’s Photographic Style for Kanye’s Bully Cover

Italian media outlet Outpump shared Kanye’s album cover on Instagram, identifying the image as an homage to the Japanese practice known as ‘Ohaguro’. This tradition signified the transition to adulthood, marked by the dyeing of teeth with a black liquid made from iron filings and vinegar, largely practiced by married women.

Daido Moriyama, who was born in Osaka, initially pursued photography by moving to Tokyo in 1961. There, he worked with VIVO, a photography group, while serving as an assistant under the illustrious Eikoh Hosoe. Moriyama transitioned to freelancing and started capturing images independently in 1964, often at the US Navy base located in Yokosuka.

In 1967, Moriyama was honored with the New Artist Award by the Japan Photo-Critics Association. His involvement with Provoke magazine fueled his fascination with unconventional aesthetics in photography, often favoring images that are blurred, grainy, or out of focus.

Moriyama’s distinctive approach centers around black and white photography fused with grain, aiming to evoke an emotional response. His works often reflect the fractured social landscapes resulting from World War II, with industrialization and urbanization being prominent themes in his earlier projects.

Inspired by Andy Warhol’s silkscreen techniques, Moriyama has adeptly integrated elements of this style into his own artistic vision.

Over his illustrious career, Daido Moriyama has received numerous accolades, including the Photographer of the Year Award in 1983 from the Photographic Society of Japan, the Mainichi Art Award in 2003, the Cultural Award from the Deutsche Gesellschaft for Photography in 2004, the ICP Infinity Award in 2012, the Chevalier honor from the Order of Arts and Letters in 2018, and The Asahi Prize in 2020.

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