Earlier this year, it was announced that Jay-Z is going to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. The rapper, whose real name is Shawn Carter, will be following in the footsteps of hip-hop greats, The Notorious B.I.G., Tupac, N.W.A, and Public Enemy.
Located in Cleveland, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is a museum filled with the history of rock music and the artists and other musical figures who have helped shape its development. Artists are eligible to be inducted 25 years after their first recording, making Jay-Z an inductee in his first year of eligibility. In June, Jay celebrated the 25th anniversary of his first album, Reasonable Doubt.
Jay-Z rarely follows trends, so when it came time to send in artifacts from the course of his legendary career, he didn’t send in outfits or iconic valuables like most inductees. The 51-year-old rapper sent in one item: a painting; And it’s so bomb!
The “Tree of Life” was created by New Orleans-born-and-raised artist, Jerin “Jerk” Beasley, who initially painted the oil on canvas portrait for entrepreneur Larry Morrow‘s spot, Treehouse, that opened earlier this year.
According to reports, Jay-Z is letting the museum hold down the “Tree of Life” for just two years, giving fans a chance to lay eyes on it — I mean, it is a must-see.
Last weekend, Jerin posted a video of his painting in living color at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame museum. His wife, Bianca Beasley, went live on Instagram, showing us the event in real-time. I was tuned in and watched people look at the art in awe and ask for pictures in front of the portrait.
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Jay-Z will be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame alongside Tina Turner and Foo Fighters, to name a few, as well as specialty award recipients, Gil Scott-Heron, LL Cool J, and more on Saturday, October 30 in Cleveland.
Although Jerin has been receiving a lot of attention for his success of the ‘Tree of Life,” the self-taught artist has been giving New Orleans the gift of his art for some time. I first learned of Jerin back in 2007 when he and Jonathan Hamilton collaborated and created their clothing line/luxurious lifestyle brand, “Jerk and Jon.” Aside from that, Jerin has a unisex clothing line, frejresday, and owns Paint & Jrink art studio in the Marigny, as well as Paint & Jrink On the Go in Houston and Atlanta.
For more information on Jerin “Jerk” Beasley, hit up theartbeasley.com. ♥