# Dave Halili

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**Dave Halili** (born April 30, 1968) is a contemporary American fine arts illustrator, [graffiti writer](/source/Graffiti) and [graphic designer](/source/Graphic_design) of album cover paintings, posters, logos, T-shirts along with other forms of [representational](/source/Representation_(arts)) merchandise. His best-known works are album covers for [Body Count](/source/Body_Count_(band)) (*[Body Count](/source/Body_Count_(album))*, *[Born Dead](/source/Born_Dead)*), [Ice-T](/source/Ice-T) (*[Home Invasion](/source/Home_Invasion_(album))*, *[VI - Return of the Real](/source/VI_-_Return_of_the_Real)*), The Skeletones (*Skeletones Red*) and [Moon Ska Records](/source/Moon_Ska_Records) compilation *California Ska-Quake*. An array of collaborations in the [Hollywood](/source/Cinema_of_the_United_States) [entertainment](/source/Show_business) industry and [indie music](/source/Independent_music) scene have garnered him a [Diamond record plaque](/source/Music_recording_sales_certification), three Platinum awards, three Gold records and two Gold Europe plaques certified and registered by the [RIAA](/source/RIAA).[1]

## Career

Halili has also worked with [N.W.A](/source/N.W.A), [No Doubt](/source/No_Doubt), [Gwen Stefani](/source/Gwen_Stefani), [Kurtis Blow](/source/Kurtis_Blow), [Donald D](/source/Donald_D), [King Tee](/source/King_Tee), [Stone Temple Pilots](/source/Stone_Temple_Pilots), [Everlast](/source/Everlast_(musician)), [Monie Love](/source/Monie_Love), [Ednaswap](/source/Ednaswap), [Fishbone](/source/Fishbone) /[Angelo Moore](/source/Angelo_Moore), [Autolux](/source/Autolux), [Carla Azar](/source/Carla_Azar), [Gripsta](/source/Gripsta), [Keith Sweat](/source/Keith_Sweat), [Afrika Islam](/source/Afrika_Islam), [DJ Evil E](/source/Evil_E), [Prince Whipper Whip](/source/Prince_Whipper_Whip), [Grandmaster Caz](/source/Grandmaster_Caz), [D-Roc the Executioner](/source/D-Roc_the_Executioner), [Tim Story](/source/Tim_Story) & T.D.F., [Hijack](/source/Hijack_(group)), [Lord Finesse](/source/Lord_Finesse), [Dance Hall Crashers](/source/Dance_Hall_Crashers), [The Toasters](/source/The_Toasters), [Royal Crown Revue](/source/Royal_Crown_Revue), [Hepcat](/source/Hepcat_(band)), [Let's Go Bowling](/source/Let's_Go_Bowling), [Robert "Bucket" Hingley](/source/Robert_%22Bucket%22_Hingley), [Reel Big Fish](/source/Reel_Big_Fish), DJ Yutaka, [DJ Honda](/source/DJ_Honda) and [Zebrahead](/source/Zebrahead).[2]

### *Body Count* album cover

Halili's artwork on the cover of *Body Count* came to [symbolize](/source/Symbolism_(arts)) the band's song "[Cop Killer](/source/Cop_Killer_(song))", which was widely criticized by the authorities, and raised questions about the boundaries between artistic freedom and [censorship](/source/Censorship).[3][4][2][5][6] This controversy, together with an executive clash over Halili's proposed montage for the jacket of *[Home Invasion](/source/Home_Invasion_(album))*, forced Ice-T to leave [Warner Bros. Records](/source/Warner_Bros._Records).[7] On March 23, 1993, Ice-T released the album with Halili's original illustration, produced by his own record label [Records](/source/Ice-T).[8]

## Personal life

Halili resides and works in [Orange County](/source/Orange_County,_California), California, where he runs a studio and [screen printing](/source/Screen_printing) workshop named Halili-Style Graphics & More.[9]

Halili is a lifetime member of the [Universal Zulu Nation](/source/Universal_Zulu_Nation) and the Los Angeles-based Rhyme $yndicate. A friendship between Halili and TV producer Michael G. Moye led to a business arrangement where Halili designed and manufactured media publicity products for [Fox](/source/Fox_Broadcasting_Company)'s first prime-time TV sitcom Married... with Children.[5]

## Art style and impact

Dave Halili is known for his graffiti street art style, which makes his work stand out from other street artists. His art often incorporates elements of social realism and street art, reflecting real-life issues and urban culture, giving his pieces a gritty, authentic feel that resonates with viewers.[10] His bold and provocative themes, such as police brutality and social justice, have made a significant cultural impact, particularly within the hip hop and urban art communities. Halili's work has been featured in various media, contributing to important cultural conversations.[11]

## References

1. ["Artist Credits: Dave Halili"](http://www.artistdirect.com/artist/credits/dave-halili/877171). ARTIST Direct Music. Retrieved November 9, 2011.

1. Hamashige, Hope (January 16, 1995). ["The Artist and the Bad Rap: Brea designer took heat for cover work on Ice-T album with infamous song 'Cop Killer'"](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-01-16-fi-20689-story.html). *[Los Angeles Times](/source/Los_Angeles_Times)*

1. ["News On This Day - April 30 Illustrator"](http://www.rockwell-center.org/news/april-30/). Rockwell Center for American Visual Studies. Apr 30, 2013. Retrieved November 1, 2013.

1. Sherry, James & Neil Aldis (2006). *Heavy Metal Thunder: Kick-Ass Cover Art from Kick-Ass Albums*. Chronicle Books.

1. Hamashige, Hope (January 30, 1995). ["The Short, Graphic Career of David Halili: Controversy over an Ice-T rap album he designed hasn't hurt"](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-01-30-fi-26140-story.html). *Los Angeles Times*

1. Marrow, Tracy (February 1, 1994). [*The Ice Opinion: Who Gives a Fuck?*](https://archive.org/details/iceopinionwhogiv00icet). Heidi Siegmund (ed.). St Martins Press. ISBN 9780312104863.

1. Rule, Sheila (January 29, 1993). ["Ice-T and Warner Are Parting Company"](https://www.nytimes.com/1993/01/29/arts/ice-t-and-warner-are-parting-company.html?src=pm). *[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)*

1. Pareles, John (March 29, 1993). ["Ice-T's Latest Gangster-Rap Caper Finds Him Alone and on His Own"](https://www.nytimes.com/1993/03/29/arts/critic-s-notebook-ice-t-s-latest-gangster-rap-caper-finds-him-alone-his-own.html). *The New York Times*

1. ["Halili Style Graphics"](http://www.manta.com/c/mmd9kpv/halili-style-graphics). Manta. Retrieved November 9, 2011.

1. Hamashige, Hope (1995-01-30). ["SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ENTERPRISE : The Short, Graphic Career of David Halili : Artist: Controversy over an Ice-T rap album he designed hasn't hurt. At 26, he earns six figures."](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-01-30-fi-26140-story.html). *Los Angeles Times*. Retrieved 2024-12-13.

1. Hart, Sam (2021-07-07). ["Visual Artist Dave Halili Talks About His Work On BODY COUNT'S Iconic Debut Release"](https://metalinjection.net/editorials/back-in-the-day/visual-artist-dave-halili-talks-about-his-work-on-body-counts-debut-release-the-iconic-cop-killer-cover-art). *Metal Injection*. Retrieved 2024-12-13.

## External links

- [Smithsonian National Museum of American History](https://www.si.edu/object/nmah_1299630/)
- [Norman Rockwell Museum](http://www.rockwell-center.org/news/april-30/)
- [Artist Discogs Profile](http://www.discogs.com/artist/Dave+Halili)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Dave Halili](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dave_Halili) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dave_Halili?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.