Wealth And Poverty Juxtaposed Like A Basquiat For “Your Juneteenth Playlist”

Jean-Michel Basquiat’s art focused on social commentary. Wealth juxtaposed to poverty, and integration to segregation,  an obfuscation of emotions that convey what it may have felt like hearing General Gordon Granger’s proclamation on June 19th, 1865. The proclamation that the war had been won, slavery has ended. But did it really? Such news arrived a little late. It had been over 2 years after President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, the president had already been assassinated by the time the General paid Texas a visit.

June 1982 Basquiat’s “Untitled” masterpiece would be seen to the public for essentially the last time. The figurative painting from the resourceful Neo Expressionist artist would remain hidden from the world until recently making history as the highest auctioned artwork in America.  $110, 487, 500 is the winning bid Japanese E-commerce entrepreneur and music enthusiast Yusaku Maezawa placed for his 2nd Basquiat masterpiece. Mr. Maezawa intends to loan the piece to institutions and exhibitions around the world freely visible to the public to once again appreciate. Time endured gashes like hectic strokes of acrylic before reaching this poignant point where a Japanese can appreciate the work made by a black man in the United States of America.

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A post shared by 前澤友作 Yusaku Maezawa (MZ) (@yusaku2020)

Act Won – The Roots

AMERIKKKAN IDOL – Joey Bada$$

Televised Sylvan LaCue ft. Rayana Jay

Comatose Marcellus Juvann

untitled 04 | 08.14.2014. – Kendrick Lamar

You Grew Up – Oddisee

blkswn – Smino

Ville Mentality – J. Cole

Basquiat on the Draw  –Skyzoo, Apollo Brown, Conway, Westside Gun

One in the Same – Skyzoo, Apollo Brown, Patty Crash

After Tomorrow – Kim ft. Nicolina

Deja Vu – Lecrae

Artwork: Jean-Michel Basquiat’s “Untitled”