How To Sound Like an Art History Expert (With Jay-Z Lyrics)

Rap meets art history.

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Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

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Jay-Z plans to drop his new album Magna Carta Holy Grail on July 4th, which he describes as a "duality." The title plays on this theme, pairing a historical document with a biblical story. I too have always been a fan of combining what seems irrelevant but actually makes an awesome pair. That's why I came up with Beyonce Art History, a blog that pairs Beyonce lyrics with works of art. 

This time, I decided to let Queen Bey's husband get in on the game with a set of memes. Find out How To Sound Like an Art History Expert (With Jay-Z Lyrics). 

Written by Leigh Silver (leigh_silver).

RELATED: The 100 Best Jay-Z Songs
RELATED: The 100 Best Jay-Z Songs
RELATED: We Tumblforya: Beyonce Art History 

I Just Wanna Love You

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"I Just Wanna Love You" meets Bacchus by Caravaggio (c. 1595)

Lyric "I'm a hustler baby/I just want you to know"

Bacchus, the god of wine and ecstasy, probably was a pretty big hustler. 

art via

Otis

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"Otis" meets In The Car by Roy Lichtenstein (1963)

Lyric "I invented swag/Poppin' bottles puttin' supermodels in the cab"

With a fur coat and fast car, this Lichtenstein couple has plenty of swag. 

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December 4th

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"December 4th" meets Black on Marroon by Mark Rothko (1959)

Lyric "Maybe you'll love me when I fade to black"

We do love this Rothko color field painting. 

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Empire State of Mind

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"Empire State of Mind" meets New York by Fernand Leger (c. 1940)

Lyric "Now you're in New York/These streets will make you feel brand new"

This probably wasn't the cityscape Jay-Z had in mind when he wrote "Empire State of Mind"

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Can I Live

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"Can I Live" meets Tartines by Claes Oldenburg (1694)

Lyric "My shit is butter for the bread they wanna toast me"

It's not real toast, but Jay-Z's lyrics make this combination delicious. 

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Takeover

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"Takeover" meets Group of Dancers by Edgar Degas ()c. 1900

Lyric "When I was pushing weight, back in '88/You was a ballerina, I got pictures, I seen ya"

Although Jay-Z meant "ballerina" as an insult, Degas would most definately disagree. 

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Public Service Announcement

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"Public Service Announcement" meets Portrait of a Woman Wearing a Gold Chain by Rembrandt van Rijn (1634)

Lyric "Got the hottest chick in the game wearing my chain"

Well, she's got a chain. 

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Brooklyn We Go Hard

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"Brookyln (Go Hard)" meets Henry VIII by Hans Holbein the Younger (1540)

Lyric "I pity the fool with jewels like Mr. T/With no history"

King Henry has jewels and history. 

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Run This Town

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"Run This Town" meets Black on Black by Ellsworth Kelly (1951)

Lyric "Black cards, black cars, all black everything"

We feel like Kelly would agree with Jay-Z's sentiment. 

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Money Cash Hoes

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"Money, Cash, Hoes" meets The Turkish Bath by Ingres (1862)

Lyric "Money, cash, hoes"

This painting has one out of three. 

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