By: Lil Uzi Vert

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The highly beloved and versatile artist Kid Cudi has dropped yet another single entitled, “JFKPSA.“ Featuring JFK speaking on the track while Cudi is on the guitar, as well as the whole production of the song. Although this is the second single he’s released within the span of the last two weeks next to “Confused” (which is as equally dope), it isn’t that either of the singles will be on his upcoming project. What we can tell you (aside from acknowledging Cudi looking strikingly similar to Jean-Michel Basquiat) is that from whatever he decides to do next, whether it’s on a psychedelic wave or not, it’ll be innovative and more than worth the listen.

The post Kid Cudi Randomly Drops Yet Another Highly Appreciated Single appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

We’ve always heard hip-hop artists referencing high-end culture, NBA players, expensive alcoholic bottles and the list goes on. But recently the late Jean-Michel Basquiat has been name dropped by hip-hop luminaries like Jay-Z, Kanye West and Rick Ross in the last two years, bringing attention to the 27-year-old’s story and work to a new generation.

The New York Times has uncovered the story behind Basquiat’s connection with hip-hop, working with Fab 5 Freddy, toying with the process of “Beat-Bop” and coming into the public eye with Swizz Beatz’s admiration of his SAMO tags. An interesting bit of history is the rumor behind “Beat-Bop,” a track supposedly made after a rift between Basquiat and rapper Rammellzee, which proved to be more about experimentation as stated by Fab 5 Freddy.

Read the article here, and see if you can catch Jay-Z’s bars about Basquiat in “Most Kingz” featuring Chris Martin of Coldplay and produced by Green Lantern.

The post The New York Times on Hip-Hop & Basquiat appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

These are just a few of Mr. Talented’s works, all of which are inspired by artists ranging from rappers Andre 3000 and Kanye West to fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld to pioneering street artist Jean-Michel Basquiat.

“Mr. West” Bow-tie

“Basquiat” Bow-tie

“Andre 3000” Bow-tie

Along with the bow-tie designer’s online store, MrTalented.com boasts a blog of personal meditations, art, music, and fashion. Today Mr. Talented writes,

Have we forgotten who we are? Race is a concept to separate Us, We are all the same. We live in the same Universe, We abide by the same rules of gravity but We still find it difficult to understand the true meaning of life. Unfortunately, I will be criticized by those who do not understand Me, but I truly believe that the formula for knowledge is learning from a different perspective. I hope you understand soon.

This sort of consciousness paired with Mr. Talented’s hybridity of the high and low in art creates an aesthetic that questions not only conventional barriers in the creative world but also how race, in today’s era, is relevant, or irrelevant, to those barriers.

via MrTalented.com

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First famous for his art and then famous for being famous, Jean-Michel Basquiat is a legend. And nowadays, every legend deserves their own movie.

Here’s where Tamra Davis comes in. Davis who was a friend of Basquiat’s filmed an interview in 1985, where their mutual friend Becky Johnson asked questions and Basquiat subtly and brilliantly answered. The footage from that interview has never been shown publicly before, but now over 20 years after his death, Davis has put together a movie surrounding that interview. Besides for the actual interview footage, the movie includes commentary from close friends of Basquiat like Julian Schnabel, Fab 5 Freddy, Annina Nosei and Suzanne Mallouk giving us details on the artists remarkable, yet short life. The Radiant Child allows us a glimpse into Basquiat’s brilliant mind, but leaves us saddened that a man who was so innovative and  possessed such talent couldn’t stick around for longer.

Basquiat began his career as a graffiti artist and later became a neo-expressionist painter with Andy Warhol as one of his top admirers. On August 12, 1988 Basquiat died of heroin overdose in New York City.

Jean-Michel Basquiat will forever be remembered.

The Radiant Child is in theaters now.

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