The generational influence of late art icon Jean-Michel Basquiat exceeds beyond his medium. From hip-hop stars and the Hollywood elite to the world’s best jewelers and big names on Wall Street. his signature art style continues to inspire art connoisseurs from all walks of life nearly four decades after his tragic end.
Rapper Kid Cudi is now the latest to show his gratitude to Basquiat by writing, directing and starring in the titular role of an the upcoming biopic titled JEAN.
RELATED: From Paris! Kid Cudi Set To Make Art Debut As ‘Scotty Ramon’
Being Basquiat: His Art. His Life. His Masterpieces
“For years people have asked me about playing Jean Michel Basquiat in a film,” Cudi wrote in the announcement post (seen above), requests which unfortunately never materialized into anything. He explains why it simply made sense for him to orchestrate the project himself, going to the lengths of doing a wardrobe test and a first draft in the wig department. Cudi also put in his own words why it made sense to fully step into spearheading JEAN, adding, “To write a film about someone who existed was a challenge, but it was a welcomed one. A lot of research, books, talks with people that knew him. This film will be a love letter to Jean, the 80s and NY city.”
Set to begin filming in 2027, this project will join a handful of other films made in tribute of Basquiat’s life and legacy, including the original 1996 biopic starring Jeffrey Wright, a series of documentaries and another separate upcoming biopic, Samo Lives, with Mufasa: The Lion King star Kelvin Harrison Jr. taking on the lead role.
Cudi has built up quite a roster of films as an actor throughout the years, but this one will certainly test his skills beyond simply playing himself or a character that doesn’t stray too far from his personality. His recent reinvention of sorts under the art alias, Scotty Ramon, might just give him an advantage when it comes to channeling a pioneer of the craft. Thoughts?
Take a look at what some are saying below on social media about Kid Cudi starring in a Basquiat biopic:
1. Self-written and directed by Kid Cudi? This seems very ambitious, Best of luck!
via @LegendaryLade
