The musicians and collaborators Jay-Z and Kanye West are having a musical fash-off, their albums making frequent references to designers from Gucci to Comme des Garçons, with, most recently, Tom Ford getting a song to himself...
Who? The musicians and collaborators Jay-Z and Kanye West are having a musical fash-off.
What? When the pair collaborated on Watch The Throne (released August 8 2011), the lyrics were loaded with plenty of brand references. Gucci, Louie [Louis Vuitton], Maison Martin Margiela in "Niggas in Paris"; Hermès in "Otis"; Christian Louboutin in "That's My Bitch"; Dries Van Noten and Gucci in "Murder to Excellence"; Manolo Blahnik in "Illest Motherfucker Alive" and Comme des Garçons in "H.A.M.". One wonders if Rei Kawakubo has heard the track, perhaps it's even played out in her Tokyo design studio? Earlier this year, West released his sixth studio album Yeezus, and there were plenty more fashion name checks: Alexander Wang in "New Slave", Christian Louboutin in "Send it Up" and high street brand Forever 21 in "Bound 2".
Why? For his latest album Magna Carta Holy Grail, released earlier this month, Jay-Z steps it up a notch, making a long list of designer references (perhaps one of the few times Fila will stand next to Hermès) and dedicating an entire song to Texan-born designer Tom Ford. Ford said he was "completely flattered" by the dedication. "Who wouldn't want a Jay-Z song named after them?" The album has also received approval from Courtney Love who agreed to the use of Nirvana lyrics and the Very Reverend June Osborne who allowed the artwork to be displayed next to the original magna carta, an Angevin charter originally issued in 1215.
The 43-year-old rapper also makes countless art references – from Picasso and Rothko to key institutions – and last week, he performed with acclaimed artist Marina Abramović at the Pace Gallery in Chelsea. He offered up his own interpretation of Abramović's iconic performances, rapping "Picasso Baby" for 6 hours to an audience including the late artist's granddaughter Diana Widmaier Picasso and George Condo. It was a surreal yet clever pairing; compelling and modern, serving as a brilliant asset for social networks, despite there being signs forbidding the use of mobile phones. Co-producer of the event Roselee Goldberg said, "Both performances, Marina’s and Jay-Z’s, encourage you to look somebody in the eye, which we don’t do enough of, and it’s daring to do that". Abramović, who has recently collaborated with Antony Hegarty said, "I love his music, because it’s social issues, it’s political, and really goes to everybody’s heart. It’s so good. It’s like a volcano".
Jay-Z's Magna Carta Holy Grail is out now. Watch our exclusive Marina Abramović interview here.
Text by Laura Bradley
