Jay-Z spits wisdom about his huge wealth and exquisite taste in fine art over Timbaland's jazzy, marching soundscape. As well as the titular Pablo Picasso, the rapper also namechecks Jean-Michel Basquiat ("I am the new Jean Michel"), Mark Rothko, Leonardo Da Vinci (rhymed with 'Givenchy'), Andy Warhol, Jeff Koons, New York's Museum of Modern Art, the Louvre and the Tate Modern.
Jay kicks off the track dreaming of hanging a Picasso in his "casa." Jay previously expressed his love for the Spanish painter and sculptor in "Who Gon Stop Me" ("I'm riding dirty, tryna get filthy") and "Friend Or Foe" ("You draw, better be Picasso"). He uses casa, the Spanish word for house, as an acknowledgment of the nationality of the Cubism master.
Hova's namecheck of Jean-Michel Basquiat is one of three references to the New York painter on Magna Carta… Holy Grail. Jay-Z is a devotee of the late artist who was one of the first black painters to hit the mainstream art scene in New York during the second half of the 20th century. He also referenced Basquiat on the Watch The Throne cut "That's My Bitch" ("You say I care more about them basquion's, basquiats. She learning a new word, its yacht") and his own track "Illest Motherf--ker Alive ("Basquiats, Warhols serving as my muses"). Lastly, the Basquiat painting Charles The First inspired Jay's song "Most Kingz."
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