Jay Z purchases Jean-Michel Basquiat painting for $4.5 million

Jay Z has made his love of art no secret recently, naming a song “Picasso Baby” and teaming up with Marina Abramović for its video. Now, he’s decided to post his money where his mouth is (quite literally).

A painting by late Manhattan artist Jean-Michel Basquiat called “Mecca” recently sold at auction for $4.5 million, with the New York Post now reporting the rapper to be its initially-anonymous buyer.

Hov has long been a fan of Basquiat, who passed away in 1988, and has referenced his several times in his lyrics.

The art piece in question “features the Empire State Building under a trademark Basquiat crown” and can be seen below: