Jay-Z 'Magna Carta Holy Grail': Art Critic Blasts Jay-Z's 'Picasso Baby' Stunt, Changes Mind Upon Seeing Jigga's Flow In Person

Until recently, rap has very rarely been made with snlooty art critics in mind. Jerry Saltz underlined this fact when he bashed Jigga for his "Picasso Baby" art gallery stunt/ music video. Saltz claimed that HOV was a biter, copping performance artist Marina Abramovic's style. However, he changed his tune once he was confronted with Jay's performance in-the-flesh.

Via Vulture:

It really grew when I was asked by one of the producers if I wanted to be in the performance with Jay-Z. Huh? I'm a critic - I like to watch. I'm not usually in the art. Turns out that Jay-Z was going to perform the song to one person each time. OMG! Exactly like Marina's MoMA staring marathon: performer facing subject inside a large roped-off rectangle. I got sick to my stomach. One of the most creative forces of the last decades, trying to mimic another performer? And an artist? I texted my wife to say, "This thing just took a real turn for the worse." 

This, right here, is why the art world can be terrible sometimes. Comparing Abramovic's "The Artist Is Present" (wherein Marina sat in an art gallery and stared at people across from her for 700+ hours) to Jay-Z rapping to your face is patently ridiculous. For one, I know Marina is a "performance artist" but Jay is actually, you know, performing. 

"Yeah, having one of the greatest rappers of all time perform specifically for me was cool and all, but it has nothing on the time this famous performance artist sat and stared at some people." Ugh.

However, I must give Saltz credit. Once he came face-to-face with Jigga, he changed his tune.(As a  matter of fact, it kinda sounds like Saltz is crushing on Jay).

And then boom! The music started and he said, "I just want a Picasso, in my casa," and I replied "Picasso is great." He nodded. At Rothko I said, "Him too." He nodded again. Then his line about wanting to make love on a bed covered with a million dollars, and I said, "No." He laughed. Wow, I was getting to be an art critic to Jay-Z. 

He started dancing. So did I, or at any rate what passes for an older balding Jewish man trying to bust some moves. When he got to Koons, I said, "Yes, even though he really is annoying." At George Condo I went, "Eh, okay." I gave a big no to Art Basel; at Christie's I said, "I hate auctions." By then, somehow, he'd taken me around my waist, and we were strutting around the room. My hands were ice cold. I was shaking. My reactions were shot. The entire time were together, there was no doubt in my mind that he was controlling me, taking my energy and giving it back, manipulating the space around us. I felt like my internal ship was on fire and useless. I loved it. And him. And this.

Maybe I was smitten by fame. I stayed for just about the whole six hours, and all I can say is that I don't think I saw one instance where Jay-Z was not totally there, in the moment, working the energy. 

What do you think of Saltz' 'Picasso Baby' critique?