No, it’s not #ThrowbackThursday—but we’re willing to call it #WayBackWednesday, because we’re knee-deep in nostalgia after seeing a series of artworks immortalizing some of our faves as 1980s icons (h/t Hot New Hip Hop).
To some, these may just be cute reimaginings, but for those of us *cough* who were there the first time, the accuracy is pretty stunning—after all, this was the era of Black Beat and Right On! (with those epic pull-out posters!), not to mention the emergence of Prince, MTV and BET. And now, subsequent generations can relive the ridiculousness awesomeness of the era, thanks to Colombian-born illustrator Fulaleo (full name: Fulvio Alejandro Obregon).
In a series coined “The 2080’s: The Past Is Future,” the currently Melbourne-based Fulaleo recasts entertainers like Rihanna, Drake, Kendrick Lamar, Migos and more in the images of Run-DMC, Madonna, Lionel Richie and many more of our ‘80s chartoppers on vintage-looking album covers. The results are hilarious—with maybe the slightest hint of occasional shade?
Don’t believe me? Check out Rih’s Madonna-inspired “Bye Music, Hi Makeup” cover, which winks at her much-delayed release of new music while nodding at her growing beauty empire. (I’m down with her including an autographed Fenty Beauty palette with her next release, though—and that “Like a Virgin”-era hair is a good look for the chameleon-like star.)
Migos as DMC (with a side of Guy)? I hate to play favorites, but DMC will always have my heart ... and we’ll see if Migos has the same iconic status three decades from now. (And because there’s no such thing as too much gold and Kangols, Childish Gambino gets the treatment, too.)
And then, there are a few talents who have already proven their style to be timeless—or rather, already borrowed from bygone eras. Exhibits A and B: Cardi B and Bruno Mars, each of whom has already given us variations on peak ‘80s excellence—a point Fulaleo makes clear with Bruno’s “Born in the Wrong Decade” album title. (I mean, have we not already seen the “Please Me” singer rocking a not-so-Oates-worthy stache, as of late?)
And we all know Cardi dresses like this on any typical Tuesday.
Our faves? A trio of gents known for wearing their emotions on their sleeves—especially Drake giving us Lionel Richie-meets-Philip Michael Thomas on Miami Vice vibes, while Kendrick Lamar serves a bit of Teddy Pendergrass realness.
Plus, the sight of The Weeknd going emo in a Jheri curl kind of sent us over the edge.
Feeling nostalgic for the days you taped posters of Debarge and New Edition—and later, BBD—all on your bedroom walls? You’re in luck: Fulaleo offers prints from $60-$80—including a classic 12 x 12” almost-LP size.