# Black Flag with Raymond Pettibon – Slip It In

> item at the Museum of Modern Art; CD by Black Flag, cover designed by Raymond Pettibon

**Wikidata**: [Q111010339](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q111010339)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/black-flag-with-raymond-pettibon-slip-it-in

## Summary
*Black Flag with Raymond Pettibon – Slip It In* is a compact disc (CD) album by the American punk band Black Flag, featuring cover art designed by artist Raymond Pettibon. Released in 1984, this physical media item is part of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) collection, representing a fusion of underground music and visual art from the hardcore punk scene. The CD exemplifies the transition from analog to digital music formats in the 1980s.

## Key Facts
- **Title**: *Slip It In*
- **Artist**: Black Flag (musical group)
- **Cover Art Designer**: Raymond Pettibon (visual artist)
- **Format**: Compact disc (CD), digital optical disc data storage
- **Inception/Release Year**: 1984
- **Storage Capacity**: Standard CD (700 MB)
- **Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) Work ID**: 191023
- **MoMA Inventory Number**: 1089.2014.33
- **Instance of**: Compact disc, audio release format, physical media
- **Collection**: Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)
- **Related Entities**:
  - **Compact disc**: Invented in 1979 by Philips and Sony; replaced vinyl records and cassette tapes.
  - **Black Flag**: Pioneering American hardcore punk band active in the 1980s.
  - **Raymond Pettibon**: Artist known for his work in the punk and underground art scenes, often collaborating with Black Flag.
- **Exemplar of**: *Slip It In* (album)
- **Storage Type**: Optical disc, machine-readable medium

## FAQs

### Q: What is *Slip It In* by Black Flag?
A: *Slip It In* is a 1984 studio album by the American punk band Black Flag, released on compact disc (CD). It is notable for its raw, aggressive hardcore punk sound and its inclusion in the Museum of Modern Art’s collection as a cultural artifact.

### Q: Who designed the cover art for *Slip It In*?
A: The cover art for *Slip It In* was designed by Raymond Pettibon, an artist closely associated with the Southern California punk scene. Pettibon frequently collaborated with Black Flag, creating iconic visuals that complemented the band’s music.

### Q: Why is this CD in the Museum of Modern Art?
A: The CD *Slip It In* is part of MoMA’s collection due to its cultural significance as a representation of 1980s punk rock and its intersection with visual art. The museum recognizes it as an important artifact of underground music and graphic design history.

### Q: What format is *Slip It In* released on?
A: *Slip It In* was released on compact disc (CD), a digital optical disc format introduced in 1979. The CD format was designed to replace vinyl records and cassette tapes, offering higher sound quality and durability.

### Q: How does *Slip It In* relate to the compact disc’s history?
A: *Slip It In* is an example of the early adoption of the compact disc format for music distribution. Released in 1984, it reflects the transition from analog to digital media, showcasing how punk bands embraced new technology while maintaining their DIY ethos.

### Q: What is the significance of Raymond Pettibon’s involvement with Black Flag?
A: Raymond Pettibon’s collaboration with Black Flag extended beyond album art; his work became synonymous with the band’s visual identity. His raw, provocative illustrations helped define the aesthetic of the Southern California punk scene and influenced underground art and music culture.

### Q: What is the storage capacity of the *Slip It In* CD?
A: As a standard compact disc, *Slip It In* has a storage capacity of up to 700 megabytes (MB), which translates to approximately 80 minutes of audio. This capacity was typical for CDs released in the 1980s.

### Q: Is *Slip It In* part of any larger collection or archive?
A: Yes, *Slip It In* is cataloged in the Museum of Modern Art’s collection under inventory number 1089.2014.33. It is recognized as a cultural and artistic artifact, not just a music release.

## Why It Matters
*Black Flag with Raymond Pettibon – Slip It In* holds significance on multiple levels. As a musical release, it represents the raw energy and DIY spirit of 1980s hardcore punk, a genre that challenged mainstream music norms. The album’s inclusion in the Museum of Modern Art underscores its cultural impact, bridging the gap between underground music and high art. Raymond Pettibon’s cover art further elevates its status, as his work is celebrated in both the punk and contemporary art worlds.

The CD format itself was revolutionary, offering a digital alternative to vinyl and cassettes. *Slip It In* exemplifies how punk bands leveraged new technology to distribute their music while maintaining artistic control. Its presence in MoMA’s collection highlights the museum’s recognition of punk as a legitimate cultural movement, deserving of preservation alongside other artistic mediums.

## Notable For
- **Firsts**: One of the earliest punk albums released on compact disc, reflecting the genre’s embrace of digital technology.
- **Cultural Fusion**: Combines underground music with visual art, representing the intersection of punk rock and contemporary art.
- **MoMA Recognition**: Part of the Museum of Modern Art’s permanent collection, validating its significance as a cultural artifact.
- **Artist Collaboration**: Features cover art by Raymond Pettibon, a key figure in the Southern California punk and art scenes.
- **Historical Context**: Documents the transition from analog to digital music formats in the 1980s, capturing a pivotal moment in media history.
- **DIY Ethos**: Embodies the punk movement’s rejection of mainstream conventions, both musically and visually.

## Body

### **Album Overview**
*Slip It In* is the sixth studio album by Black Flag, released in 1984. The album is known for its aggressive, fast-paced hardcore punk sound, characterized by distorted guitars, shouted vocals, and politically charged lyrics. It continues the band’s tradition of blending raw musical intensity with provocative themes, a hallmark of their work in the 1980s.

### **Compact Disc Format**
The album was released on compact disc (CD), a format introduced in 1979 by Philips and Sony. The CD was designed to replace vinyl records and cassette tapes, offering superior sound quality, durability, and random access to tracks. *Slip It In* is an example of how punk bands adopted this new technology, despite the genre’s general skepticism toward mainstream trends.

- **Technical Specifications**:
  - **Storage Capacity**: 700 MB (standard for CDs).
  - **Audio Encoding**: Pulse Code Modulation (PCM) at 16-bit resolution and 44.1 kHz sampling rate.
  - **Physical Dimensions**: 120mm diameter, 1.2mm thickness, with a spiral track of microscopic pits encoding binary data.
  - **Error Correction**: Uses advanced error correction to ensure data integrity, a feature that set CDs apart from analog formats.

### **Raymond Pettibon’s Cover Art**
Raymond Pettibon, the brother of Black Flag’s founding member Greg Ginn, designed the cover art for *Slip It In*. Pettibon’s work is characterized by its raw, hand-drawn style, often incorporating text and imagery that reflect the anarchic spirit of punk. His cover for *Slip It In* is no exception, featuring his signature blend of dark humor, social commentary, and underground aesthetics.

- **Artistic Influence**:
  - Pettibon’s art was integral to Black Flag’s visual identity, appearing on album covers, flyers, and merchandise.
  - His work transcended the punk scene, gaining recognition in the contemporary art world. Today, his pieces are exhibited in galleries and museums, including MoMA.
  - The collaboration between Pettibon and Black Flag exemplifies the DIY ethos of punk, where music and art were often created outside traditional institutions.

### **Museum of Modern Art Collection**
The CD *Slip It In* is cataloged in the Museum of Modern Art under inventory number 1089.2014.33. Its inclusion in MoMA’s collection reflects the museum’s broader mission to preserve and exhibit artifacts of modern culture, including music, design, and visual art.

- **MoMA’s Role**:
  - The museum recognizes *Slip It In* as a significant cultural object, representing the intersection of punk music, visual art, and media technology.
  - MoMA’s collection of CDs and other physical media highlights the evolution of music distribution and its impact on culture.
  - The album’s presence in the collection underscores the legitimacy of punk as an art form, deserving of the same recognition as other musical genres.

### **Cultural Impact of *Slip It In***
*Slip It In* is more than just a music album; it is a cultural artifact that encapsulates the spirit of 1980s punk rock. The album’s raw sound and provocative themes resonated with a generation of listeners disillusioned with mainstream society. Its release on CD also reflects the broader shift toward digital media, a transition that would redefine how music was consumed and distributed.

- **Punk as a Movement**:
  - Black Flag was a central figure in the American hardcore punk scene, which emerged in the late 1970s and early 1980s as a response to political and social disillusionment.
  - The band’s music and Pettibon’s art challenged conventional norms, advocating for individuality, rebellion, and artistic freedom.
  - *Slip It In* exemplifies this ethos, blending aggressive music with visually striking art to create a cohesive statement of punk ideology.

- **Digital Media Transition**:
  - The release of *Slip It In* on CD marks a pivotal moment in the history of music media. While vinyl records remained popular among punk fans, the CD format offered a new way to distribute music with greater fidelity and convenience.
  - The album’s inclusion in MoMA’s collection highlights the cultural significance of this transition, preserving a snapshot of how technology and art intersected in the 1980s.

### **Legacy and Influence**
*Slip It In* and its associated artifacts (the CD, cover art, and MoMA cataloging) have left a lasting legacy in both music and art. The album remains a touchstone for punk fans, while Pettibon’s work continues to influence contemporary artists. The CD format, though now largely obsolete, played a crucial role in the digital revolution of music.

- **Influence on Music**:
  - Black Flag’s music inspired countless punk and alternative bands, shaping the sound and ethos of underground music.
  - The band’s DIY approach to recording and distribution set a precedent for independent artists, demonstrating that success could be achieved outside major record labels.

- **Influence on Art**:
  - Raymond Pettibon’s work bridged the gap between punk and contemporary art, proving that underground visuals could hold their own in galleries and museums.
  - His collaboration with Black Flag demonstrated the power of art and music to amplify each other, creating a unified cultural statement.

- **Influence on Media**:
  - The compact disc format, as exemplified by *Slip It In*, paved the way for subsequent digital media, including DVDs, Blu-rays, and digital downloads.
  - The album’s presence in MoMA’s collection ensures that its cultural significance will be preserved for future generations, serving as a reminder of punk’s enduring impact.