Picasso Baby: Art History?

Did Jay-Z break down the walls of years of 'white' cube supremacy in the Western art world in just six hours at Pace Gallery yesterday afternoon?

Jay-Z performing Picasso Baby with Marina Abramovic

After a social media explosion with curious commentators wanting to know who was who (namely performance artist, Marina Abramovic) at the music mogul's live Picasso Baby performance, Jerry Saltz, senior art critic from New York Magazine, writes a moment to moment account from his experience of the afternoon's rap-turous event in New York City that was witnessed by art world heavyweights, gallery directors and even Pablo Picasso's granddaughter. Having performed his latest hit to the gallery's electric audience on repeat for six hours, this was a little bit of history in the making. Time will tell however, amongst the art establishment, whether it was a little bit of history worthy of repeating. 

i looked up who the old white woman was in the jayz vine. now i understand that it's art. i love it
— Michael Hale (@dogboner) July 10, 2013

Here is a look at the art bombs Jay-Z drops in a lyrical mash-up of global cultural references in new single, Picasso Baby, from his latest album Magna Carta Holy Grail:

'Picasso Baby'

I just want a Picasso, in my casa
No, my castle
I'm a hassa, no I'm an asshole
I'm never satisfied, can't knock my hustle
I wanna Rothko, no I wanna brothel
No, I want a wife that fuck me like a prostitute
Let's make love on a million, in a dirty hotel
With the fan on the ceiling, all for the love of drug dealing
Marble Floors, gold Ceilings
Oh what a feeling - fuck it I want a billion
Jeff Koons balloons, I just wanna blow up
Condos in my condos, I wanna row of
Christie's with my missy, live at the MoMA
Bacons and turkey bacons, smell the aroma

Oh what a feeling
Picasso Baby, Ca Picasso baby
Ca ca ca Picasso Baby, Ca ca ca Picasso baby
Oh what a feeling

It ain't hard to tell
I'm the new Jean Michel
Surrounded by Warhols
My whole team ball
Twin Bugattis outside the Art Basel
I just wanna live life colossal
Leonardo Da Vinci flows
Riccardo Tisci Givenchy clothes
See me thrown at the Met
Vogue'ing on these niggas
Champagne on my breath, Yes
House like the Louvre or the Tate Modern
Because I be going ape at the auction
Oh what a feeling
Aw fuck it I want a trillion
Sleeping every night next to Mona Lisa
The modern day version
With better features
Yellow Basquiat in my kitchen corner
Go ahead lean on that shit Blue
You own it

I never stuck my cock in the fox's box but
Damned if I didn't open Pandora's box
They try to slander your man
On CNN and Fox
My Miranda don't stand a chance, with cops
Even my old fans like old man just stop
I could if I would but I can't
I'm hot, and you blow
I'm still the man to watch, Hublot
On my left hand or not
Soon I step out the booth
The cameras pops niggas is cool with it
Till the canons pop
Now my hand on the bible
On the stand got your man in a jam, again
Got my hands in cuffs
I'm like god damn enough
I put down the cans and they ran amok
My hairpin
Piece skin rupture spleens
Cracks rips go through cribs and other things
No sympathy for the king huh
Niggas even talk about your baby crazy
Eventually the pendulum swings
Don't forget America this how you made me
Come through with 'Ye mask on
Spray everything like SAMO
Though I won't scratch the Lambo
What's it gonna to take
For me to go
For y'all to see
I'm the modern day Pablo
Picasso baby

Oh what a feeling
Picasso Baby, Ca Picasso baby
Ca ca ca Picasso Baby, Ca ca ca Picasso baby
Oh what a feeling

Image & video courtesy of @cedar