Thread by @seanbeauford

Jay-Z lyrics as Kerry James Marshall paintings. A thread.

“And I still remain a artiste through this all
If you force my hand I'll be forced to draw”

Kerry James Marshall, Scipio Moorhead, Portrait of Himself, 1776, 2007

“I was conceived by Gloria Carter and Adnis Reeves
Who made love under the sycamore tree
Which makes me a more sicker MC”

KJM, They Know That I Know, 1992

“My homey Strict told me, Dude finish your breakfast"

KJM, Untitled (Two Eggs Over Medium, Sausage, Hash Browns, Whole Wheat Toast), 2017

“Boat docked in front of Hermes picking cotton
Silk and fleeces, lay on my Jesus
Oh my God, I hope y’all don’t get seasick

Because this water drown my family, this water mixed my blood
This water tells my story, this water knows it all”

KJM, Voyager, 1992

“Call Larry Gagoisian, you belong in museums
You belong in vintage clothes crushing the whole building”

KJM, Untitled (Gallery), 2016

“Survive the droughts, I wish you well”

KJM, Vignette (Wishing Well), 2010

“My first time in the ocean went exactly as you’d expect”

KJM, Untitled, 2008

“Niggas is crazy, baby, don't forget that boy told you
Get that dirt off your shoulder”

KJM, Untitled (Bathers), 2017

“Take a look in the mirror, be proud of yourself”

KJM, Untitled (Mirror Girl), 2014

“My little cuz never got to see his seventh year
And I'm so used to pain, that I ain't even shed a tear”

KJM, The Lost Boys, 1993

“Birth of a Nation, Nat Turner style”

KJM, Portrait of Nat Turner with the Head of his Master, 2011

“I'll line you all up with one finger wave
Make niggas weave, niggas is out here fake
Laced front to the back, don't front
Y'all gonna make me wig, I'ma give y'all what you want”

KJM, De Style, 1993

Sweet king Martin, sweet queen Coretta
Sweet brother Malcolm, sweet queen Betty
Sweet Mother Mary, sweet father Joseph
Sweet Jesus, we made it in America
Sweet Baby Jesus, oh sweet baby Jesus
I pledge allegiance to my Grandma

KJM, Souvenir II, 1997

“Half these broads ain’t got nothing on Willona
Don’t make me bring Thelma in it
Bring Halle, bring Penelope and Salma in it
Back to my Beyoncés”

KJM, Black Goddess of the Silver Screen, 1991

“I’ll be damned if I drink some Belvedere while Puff got Ciroc”

KJM, Buy Black, 2012

“Got my feet up on your sofa, man”

KJM, Untitled (Sofa Girl), 2014

“You don't need this shit anyway, chill with me on the beach”

KJM, Untitled, 2008

“Nice move, maestro, you can queue the wedding march
I'm done, I tried to run but cupid hit me dead in heart”

KJM, Untitled (Club Couple), 2014

“I pray God understand us
I pledge allegiance to all the scramblers
This is the Star Spangled Banner”

KJM, Bang, 1994

“Power to the people, when you see me, see you”

KJM, The Academy, 2012

“We tried to hide in the hills
We watched the sky turn peach
Summer’s light like, summer’s night”

KJM, Untitled (Vignette), 2012

“Black queen, you rescued us”

KJM, Untitled (Beauty Queen), 2014

The kings Kerry James Marshall and Jay-Z connect. Thankful for them always pushing the culture forward.

Give Kerry his 💐

Shout out to their queens Cheryl and Beyoncé 🙏🏽