Check in: Picasso baby!

• Engels
• Secundair onderwijs

Check in: Picasso baby!

Ex. 1

 Watch Jay Z’s video ‘Picasso Baby’ and answer 

the questions. 

Take notes. 

Use a pencil or a piece of scrap paper.

Afterwards, discuss the answers in your team.

a Jay Z equates rap concerts to performance art. Explain why.

b Describe in your own words what Jay Z does in the video.

c Do you think Jay Z merits his place in the museum as an artist? Why (not)? (personal answer)

d Describe the people present at the venue. What kind of people are they? Give a few examples.

e Why did Jay Z invite them to make this video?

f Explain the title ‘Picasso Baby’. How do you interpret the song’s title?

g  Look up the lyrics of the song. What is the song about? 

h Is rap performance art in your view? Why (not)? (personal answer)

a Jay Z equates rap concerts to performance art. Explain why.

a Jay Z equates rap concerts to performance art. Explain why.

Concerts are pretty much performance art, but the venues change. As the venues

are different, so are the performances. 

b Describe in your own words what Jay Z does in the video.

b Describe in your own words what Jay Z does in the video.

He performs his rap song and interacts with the spectators, to create a unique kind

of energy, to make each performance of the song a unique performance.

c Do you think Jay Z merits his place in the museum as an artist? Why (not)? (personal answer)

d Describe the people present at the venue. What kind of people are they? Give a few examples.

d Describe the people present at the venue. What kind of people are they? Give a few examples.

There are different kinds of people of different ages and backgrounds: 

- famous people: e.g. actors like  Adam Driver

- unknown writers or artists

- gallery owners, art sales people

- students, children

e Why did Jay Z invite them to make this video?

e Why did Jay Z invite them to make this video?

To prove the artistic value of a rap song and to create a unique interaction while performing it. He wants to break down the boundaries between different forms of art and shoot an interesting video for the song.

f Explain the title ‘Picasso Baby’. How do you interpret the song’s title?

f Explain the title ‘Picasso Baby’. How do you interpret the song’s title?

‘I’m the modern-day Pablo.’ He compares the creativity and the emotions in his rap to some of the greatest artists of all time, including Pablo Picasso. He puts rap on the same level as fine art.

g  Look up the lyrics of the song. What is the song about? 

I just want a Picasso, in my casa

No, my castle

I'm a hassa, no I'm a 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 Picasso Baby, Ca ca Picasso baby

Oh what a feeling

Picasso Baby, Ca Picasso baby

Ca ca Picasso Baby, Ca ca Picasso baby

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 throning at the Met

Vogueing 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

Oh what a feeling

Picasso Baby, Ca Picasso baby

Ca ca Picasso Baby, Ca ca Picasso baby

Oh what a feeling

Picasso Baby, Ca Picasso baby

Ca ca Picasso Baby, Ca ca Picasso baby

I never stuck my cock in the fox's box but

Damned if I ain't open Pandora's box

They try to slander your man

On CNN and Fox

My Mirandas 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 cuff

I'm like god damn enough

I put down the cans and they ran amok

My hairpin pierce skin, ruptures spleens

Cracks ribs, 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 the 'Ye mask on

Spray everything like SAMO

I won't scratch the Lambo

What's it gon take

For me to go

For you to see

I'm the modern day Pablo

Picasso baby

g  Look up the lyrics of the song. What is the song about? 

It is a lyrical shout-out to art, with references to the Mona Lisa, Mark Rothko, Francis Bacon, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Jeff Koons and Andy Warhol. (left to right)

h Is rap performance art in your view? Why (not)? (personal answer)

Which forms of art
do you know?

Have your ever tried to express yourself through art?

Yes, I have!

No, I haven't.

If you were to express yourself in art, which art form would you choose?

architecture

motion picture

painting

calligraphy

dance

drawing and/or printmaking

literature

theatre

sculpture

photography

Ex. 3

How do visual art and verbal art differ? Explain.

Ex. 3

How do visual art and verbal art differ? Explain.

The medium differs. If not recorded or written, verbal art  (.e.g. songs) is fleeting, whereas visual art is permanent. Visual art (e.g. paintings) is more universal, because there are no language boundaries.