Turns Out Pre 16th Century Art Has Way More Swag Than We Thought.

B4-XVI, a tumblr curated by Cecilia Azcarate, highlights "an invisible conversation between hip hop and art before the 16th century."

Left: Jan van Eyck. Ghent Altarpiece detail. c. 1432
Right: The ATL Twins.

N/A

Left: Unknown German Painter 1560
Right: 2 Chainz

Left: Portrait of Simonetta Vespucci Piero di Cosimo c. 1480
Right: Rihanna for GQ Art Directed by Damien Hirst

Left: A. Durer Praying hands (removed from background) 1508
Right: Drake 6 artwork 2014/2015

Left: The Adoration of the Magi.Hugo van der Goes. Netherlandish. Late 15th century.
Right: Wiz Khalifa

Left: Henry VIII by the studio of Hans Holbein the Younger, 1540-1550
Right: Rick Ross

Left: Reliquary arm of St. Valentine 14th century Swiss
Right: 2 Chainz

Left: Quentin Massy's. Ecce Homo-1520
Right: 2 Chainz

Left: Perugia Altarpiece left panel by Fra Angelico, 1437 Right: Kanye West and Pastor Rich Wilkerson Jr at Kim & Kanyes wedding. May 24, 2014 Florence Italy.

Left: Detail of Christ Blessing surrounded by a Donor Family. Unknown German Painter 1560
Right: Kanye West

The project started with a trip to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Seeing furs, chains and gold depicted in Italian and Flemish paintings, Azcarate became "interested in the iconography of power."

"They were people of power," Azcarate said. "Intellectuals, gods, saints, and people whose fame survived their lives. Today we call them celebrities."

"Hiphop is not afraid of showing pride for its own power, and to translate that into an aesthetic of regality which is beautiful and timeless."

Find the full interview here.