5 Shocking Facts About The Lana Del Rey 'Boob Vinyl' Cover Controversy

The world of vinyl collecting is no stranger to controversy, but few recent releases have generated as much shock, speculation, and immediate scarcity as the rumored "boob vinyl" variant for Lana Del Rey's ninth studio album, Did You Know That There's a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd (DYKTTATUOB). As of late 2025, this specific, highly-sensationalized cover art remains one of the most elusive and talked-about pieces of modern music memorabilia, primarily because the artist herself intervened to stop its widespread release.

This deep dive explores the complete, verified details behind the controversial album art, Lana Del Rey's own surprising reasoning for pulling the plug, and the astronomical value of the few copies that may have slipped into the wild, cementing its status as a legendary, nearly-mythical collector's item in the 'Lana-verse.' The story is a perfect storm of artistic expression, viral marketing, and a last-minute creative pivot that drastically changed the collector's landscape for the album.

The Artist and The Album: Lana Del Rey's Profile & DYKTTATUOB Context

Elizabeth Woolridge Grant, known professionally as Lana Del Rey, is an American singer-songwriter celebrated for her cinematic, melancholy style and themes of tragic romance, glamour, and Americana. Her music often incorporates vintage pop culture references and a distinctive, ethereal vocal delivery.

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• Full Name: Elizabeth Woolridge Grant
• Born: June 21, 1985 (Age 40 as of 2025)
• Birthplace: New York City, New York, U.S.
• Genres: Baroque Pop, Dream Pop, Sadcore, Trip Hop, Indie Pop
• Years Active: 2005–present
• Key Albums: Born to Die (2012), Ultraviolence (2014), Norman Fucking Rockwell! (2019), Did You Know That There's a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd (2023)
• Accolades: Multiple Grammy Award nominations, Brit Awards, and MTV Europe Music Awards.

The album in question, Did You Know That There's a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd (DYKTTATUOB), released in March 2023, is her ninth studio album. It was critically acclaimed for its introspective lyrics, complex arrangements, and features from artists like Father John Misty and Jon Batiste. The album's marketing campaign was notable for its sheer number of vinyl variants, each with unique colorways and, crucially, different cover art.

1. The Controversial Cover Was a Planned Variant for DYKTTATUOB

When Lana Del Rey first announced her new album, Did You Know That There's a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd, it was revealed that she would be releasing the album with an unprecedented number of collectible vinyl variants. While this is common practice in the modern music industry, Lana took it a step further by offering several completely different cover photos, each serving as a unique collector's item. The official variants included a standard black vinyl, a white vinyl, a dark pink, a pink, and a green vinyl, along with a special Coachella limited edition.

The "boob vinyl" was intended to be one of these official variants. The image, which quickly went viral, featured a man holding Lana Del Rey's bare breast in what appeared to be a raw, intimate, and perhaps provocative moment. This particular image immediately polarized fans and the media, sparking intense debate across social media platforms like TikTok and Reddit. While some praised it as a bold artistic statement consistent with her themes of vulnerability and sexuality, others found it gratuitous or distracting.

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2. Lana Del Rey Herself Scrapped the 'Boob Cover'

In a surprising move that cemented the cover's legendary status, Lana Del Rey made the executive decision to scrap the controversial artwork before its mass production and release. Reports from fan communities and industry insiders indicate that the artist felt the provocative nature of the cover would overshadow the album's deep, introspective message.

A widely circulated statement suggested that she believed the image would "distract from the album's message." This move is highly significant because it demonstrates Lana's control over her artistic narrative and her prioritization of the music's meaning over viral shock value. By pulling the cover, she instantly transformed it from a mass-produced variant into a piece of music folklore—a cover that was meant to be, but ultimately wasn't. This action is the primary reason for its extreme scarcity today.

3. The Image Was Used on Other Official Merchandise

While the controversial image was removed from the official vinyl lineup, it did not disappear entirely from the album's promotional cycle. To the surprise of many, the artwork was reportedly used on a limited run of official merchandise, including hoodies and shirts.

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This decision created a fascinating paradox: the image was deemed too distracting for the *art* of the album (the vinyl cover) but acceptable for the *merchandise*. This move suggests that the image was intended to be a part of the overall aesthetic, but its placement on the primary album cover—the focal point of the release—was the line Lana was unwilling to cross. Consequently, the merchandise featuring this image also became highly sought-after collector's items, though not as rare as the vinyl itself.

4. The 'Nude BOOB LP' Has Surfaced on Resale Markets

The biggest question for collectors remains: did any copies of the "boob vinyl" actually make it out into the public? The answer appears to be a resounding yes, though in extremely limited numbers, likely due to a handful of test pressings or copies that were shipped before the official cancellation. These rare copies are often referred to by collectors as the "Nude BOOB LP."

Evidence of its existence and shocking value can be found in auction archives. A record from July 2023 shows a sale of a "Lana Del Rey Did You Know That There's A Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd Nude BOOB LP" for a final price of $99.99 (USD). While this price point may seem low for a legendary rarity, it's important to note that the true, verified 'scrapped' copies are expected to fetch significantly higher prices on specialized collector sites, potentially reaching into the thousands, once they are definitively proven to be authentic, official pressings rather than bootlegs or fan-made covers. The scarcity is so high that many in the community still debate the authenticity of any copy that surfaces.

5. The Controversy Echoes Her History of Provocative Imagery

The "boob vinyl" controversy is not an isolated incident but rather fits into a long-established pattern of Lana Del Rey using provocative, candid, and often self-directed imagery to challenge public perceptions and express themes of sexuality, power, and vulnerability. Her career has been punctuated by images that blur the line between art and exploitation, particularly in early photoshoots and music videos.

For instance, an earlier photoshoot for GQ Magazine also featured a man clutching her bare breast, creating a visual parallel to the later vinyl cover controversy. The DYKTTATUOB cover, therefore, was a continuation of her artistic exploration of these themes. However, by ultimately removing it, Lana Del Rey sent a powerful message: while she is willing to explore provocative themes, the final artistic product must serve the integrity of the work, not merely generate tabloid headlines or controversy. This makes the scrapped vinyl cover a fascinating piece of her creative evolution and a highly valuable historical footnote for any serious collector of modern music artifacts.