JAY Z, KAYNE WEST, PHARRELL: THE LESSON OF ART HISTORY

When thinking about the most famous mainstream black artists nowadays, one think is striking. Their
growing association with the art world. It's not a coincidence. If years ago, the most important thing in Hip Hop culture was «street cred» the new way to make it big among mainstream black artists is now «art history cred». Jay -Z sang in a New York art gallery, Pharrell discuss art with Jeff Koons, buy top Keith Haring works and have now an exhibition in Paris, while Kayne West was previously associated with Takashi Murakami who designed many of his records. Let's hope Eminem will soon follow the exemple of GM, Ford and Chrysler and help the Detroit Art Institute keep its major art collection as the city attempt to recover from bankruptcy.