After Jean-Michel Basquiat

This Basquiat Beat Bop record is accompanied by a limited edition double-sided fold out poster.

• After Jean Michel Basquiat (American, 1960-1988).
• Published in 2005.
• Printed Basquiat signature on reverse.
• Offset lithograph on vinyl record jacket.

"Music, and jazz in particular, was crucial to Basquiat’s work. His art offered a vibrant visual counterpart to the emphasis on improvisation, non-linear structure and sampling in jazz. Basquiat’s paintings frequently celebrated his favourite jazz heroes, such as Charlie Parker, in much the same way that he paid artistic tribute to famous athletes, boxers and other personal icons, many of whom struggled to gain the recognition of their white counterparts.

Equally key for Basquiat was hip-hop, the emergence of which paralleled Basquiat’s own artistic rise. In 1981, he made a cameo appearance as a DJ in the video for Blondie's chart-topping single, Rapture — the first rap video ever broadcast on MTV. He also produced a legendary hip-hop record, Beat Bop, a rap battle between MCs K-Rob and Rammellzee, illustrated with Basquiat’s own art. With original copies extremely rare, it has become one of the most sought-after rap records ever made." (Source: Christie's May 2017). Beat Bop was also exhibited as part of Basquiat retrospective Boom For Real at the Barbican in London.