Abstract
This article explores the contexts and cultural significance of the hip-hop musician Jay Z's performance inside an art gallery in New York on July 10, 2013, when he sung his rap song “Picasso Baby” repeatedly for the duration of six hours. Focusing on three themes crucial to his work—sound art, liveness, and the negotiation of the musician's identity—I evaluate how sound sculpted the performance space and generated an exchange of energies between artist and audience. I investigate the role of liveness in the performance and how the artist's presence magnified his proximity and intimacy with the spectators. A symbolic analysis of the work concludes with an argument that Jay Z's piece was the poetic and political performance of his artistry and stardom.
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