MUSIC VIDEO: JAY Z GETS ARTSY WITH “PICASSO BABY”
Meshing hip-hop with contemporary art, rapper Jay Z releases the music video for his track “Picasso Baby.” We knew the 43-year-old rapper was feeling a bit artsy when Magna Carta Holy Grail–his twelfth studio album–featured an image of the classic Greek sculpture Alpheus and Arethusa by 16th century Italian artist Battista di Domenico Lorenzi. And with “Picasso Baby” being the first video made for the chart-topping Billboard album, it’s clear that Jay wants to give hip-hop a new look.
Directed by Mark Romanek, “Picasso Baby: A Performance Art Film” is a unique blending of hip-hop and modern art culture. The hype around the unconventional music video began when word got out about it being shot at the Pace Gallery in New York City last month. The setting was very intimate, with attendants ranging from average Jay fans to Hollywood actors, art dealers and fashion designers. Though many had their critiques about the fact that Jay performed the same track on repeat for about 6 hours, the lengthy footage definitely makes for a quality video. We figured with that much footage the video would be much longer than what it is, but nonetheless, we’re feeling it.
Check it out below and tell us what you think!