Jay-Z gives 6-hour performance of "Picasso Baby" on loop

After releasing "Magna Carta Holy Grail," Hova hustled to Pace Gallery for a show likely to boost his business

Published July 10, 2013 11:30PM (EDT)

 Jay-Z films video for "Picasso Baby" at Pace Gallery in NYC  (Instagram)
Jay-Z films video for "Picasso Baby" at Pace Gallery in NYC (Instagram)

Jay-Z likes expensive art, and he wants it in his house, which he makes clear, once again, on "Picasso Baby," the second track of his 12th album "Magna Carta, Holy Grail," released yesterday, July 9. He raps,

"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..."

To film the video for "Picasso Baby," Jay-Z followed the lead of the National, also popular musicians closely associated with Brooklyn, and took to NYC's Pace Gallery, where he sang (or, perhaps more likely, lip-synced) the song on-repeat for six hours. The performance, though intended as secret, quickly leaked onto social media, with streaming tweets and vines and Instagram pics capturing Hova's almost hush-hush "live art" show.

Moving about the sparse space in a white-and-black (and gold, obviously) ensemble, Jay-Z rapped before a list of select fans including (from weirdest to least surprising) artist Marina Abramovic, "Girls" actor Adam Driver and Judd Apatow.


By Theresa Fisher

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Jay-z Magna Carta Holy Grail Pace Gallery Performance Art Video Vine