Swizz Beatz: She did too.
Alicia Keys: So when you say, what do you learn about each other? Realizing that we have no idea the depth that’s inside of each of us. That was one of the most exciting things to learn about him in our relationship is how much he knows, how versed he is in the world of art. That’s one of my favorite things to learn about you. And I continue to learn that from him.
Swizz Beatz: And then to add to that, yes, we’re Black collectors—but we’re art collectors and we feel that we can represent our tribe and also shine light on other people’s tribes. It was only right to start with our own tribe. We have artists of all colors in our collection, but it was only right to highlight our tribe. But we plan on doing Giants 2, 3, 4, 5, 6—keep changing the shows up, maybe change the titles.
Can you guys talk a little about the different emotional responses that some of these different works bring out in you?
Swizz Beatz: The Dina Lawson photos are super stunning because what people don’t know about those photos is, they’re not blown up Polaroids. She casts everyone for that photo. That’s not their house, that’s not their furniture, that little kid that’s with this gentleman here, that’s not his daughter. And to be able to make a photo that you cast the crew and the furniture for look like a [home] Polaroid, make it look so intimate…
Alicia Keys: I’m looking at the Lorna Simpsons with the Black ballerinas and the way that I love how she’s creating this relationship with the work where you see them looking at their teacher and then you see them on the other side learning. I also love Hank Willis Thomas’ piece, it’s a sculpture of a hand holding what looks like a police officer hand gripping a baton. You see the hand holding it, stopping them from whatever they were about to do.
I saw a couple Basquiats over there. If we’re doing an art Verzuz, you guys against Jay-Z, who wins in the Basquiat arena?
Swizz Beatz: Jay [laughs]. Jay’s been doubling down on Basquiat. I got on Jay one time because I seen a Basquiat in [his] assistant’s office: “You got a Basquiat… where the assistant is?” He was like, “Yeah, man. What do you want me to do?”
One thing I’m always interested in when I look at people like you two, artists engaging with artists in different mediums is, are there any of these works that help you cross over? Are you looking at this and then thinking of a song or Swizz, is there something you look at that puts you in that vibe to go cook up something with Stove God?
Swizz Beatz: Ah man, wait till you hear that [album]. It definitely makes me want to cook up, I really want to do a compilation based on the show.
I just like the idea of you in here, centered and calm, and in your head you’re thinking “Showtime!”
Alicia Keys: But one of the artists, Amy Cheryl, I find that the way she titles her works are really beautiful songs. When I read titles that make me feel a way… Then I go in.
Sign up for Tap In to get Frazier’s weekly culture diary, exclusively in your email.