A year and a half ago I posted a few thoughts on Basquiat and hip-hop (see here and here). Today, The New York Times has a little article on the subject, following Swizz Beatz’s Basquiat collecting splurge, and Jay-Z’s 2001 Most Kingz, a song which not only name drops Basquiat, but is named after the phrase “MOST YOUNG KINGS GET THEIR HEADS CUT OFF” in Basquiat’s mangificant 1982 homage to Charlie Parker, Charles The First. Where Basquiat seemed to be comparing be-bop musician Parker’s hard life, racist treatment, and genius, to his own, the hip-hop musician Jay-Z seems to be comparing his time at the top, and those who want to “build me up, break me down to build me up again” to Basquiat’s.  

“…that ain’t even half what they might do,
don’t believe me, ask Micheal”

Anyway, the article, by Andrew Boryga, is on page E9 of the September 1^st New York Times, and is available online: “Hip-Hop Finds an Artist to Believe In”.

Full Most Kingz lyrics  and interview with Jay Z about it.