EXCLUSIVE: Inside Jay-Z's Basquiat & Warhol Gig
It was going to take something special for Jay-Z to dust off his mic, and the chance to perform at the opening of a new exhibit showcasing the work of Andy Warhol and Jean-Michel Basquiat proved to be it. And, as it happens, Highsnobiety was in attendance.
Over the last few years, the rap veteran has been keeping a fairly low-profile both on and off the stage, with a brief cameo at the 2023 Grammys a recent highlight.
However, the Louis Vuitton Foundation managed to get Jay back on stage on April 14 for “Basquiat x Warhol. Painting Four Hands,” an exhibition giving viewers a glimpse into the artists’ creative relationship and the work they created as a result.
Warhol and Basquiat also shared a close friendship, depicted in Michael Dayton Hermann’s 2019 book Warhol on Basquiat: The Iconic Relationship Told in Andy Warhol’s Words and Pictures. “Painting Four Hands” will spotlight personal photos of the artists alongside their work. The show will also exhibit works from other artistic icons of ‘80s New York including Keith Haring, Futura 2000, and Kenny Scharf.
You can bet that Jay-Z’s admiration for Basquiat informed his decision to return to the stage. Hov’s reverence for the artist is clear: He’s made several references to Basquiat in his songs, and even owns a rare original Basquiat painting. The late artist also seems to have informed Jay-Z’s style – many internet users draw comparisons of his free form locs to Basquiat’s ‘do.
Hova’s celebratory concert took place at the Louis Vuitton Foundation in Paris this Friday, April 14th.
As Jay-Z once rapped in “Ain’t I”: “I got Warhols on my halls walls, I got Basquiats in the lobby of my spot.”
