Interesting 6 part series: When the People Cheer: How Hip-Hop Failed Black America (that's part 1), Mo’ Money, Mo’ Problems: How Hip-Hop Failed Black America, Part II (part 2). Part 3 should come today.

Whereas “My Adidas” highlighted consumer items, “Picasso Baby” is all about unattainable luxury, fantasy acquisitions. Within the first ten words of the song, Jay Z ensures that no one in his audience can identify with the experience that he’s rapping about. He would never want to be in a club that would have you as a member. But this doesn’t offend his audiences. They love it. They want to be just like him so they can exclude people just like them.