Blondie’s “Rapture” Music Video

Posted on by The Wandering Art Historian

The song “Rapture” by new wave/punk band, Blondie, is known for a lot of musical firsts regarding the inclusion of rap and the influence of late 1970’s/early 1980’s hip hop culture.  But, did you know that the music video for “Rapture” is a sort of art historical time capsule as well?

When you re-watch the video, be sure to pay attention to the two graffiti artists in the background of the street scene. 

The artist on the left is Lee Quinones (tag, “LEE”) and the artist on the right is Fab 5 Freddy (Fred Brathwaite), two greats of the New York City art scene who helped transition graffiti and hip hop culture from the streets to the art gallery.

Also, be on the look out for a very young Jean-Michel Basquiat in the role of the DJ!

Leave a comment

I am writer and artist with a degree in art history who loves to talk to people about art. I have spent the last seven years building up The Wandering Art Historian “brand” as a way to connect with people who want to learn more about art. I give lectures and presentations and teach classes and host book club discussions with a creative or artistic connection. I also write about local artists, events, museums, and exhibitions to promote the arts in Central Florida. In 2021, I had a creative crisis. I struggled with authenticity in the art making process. I decided to make myself vulnerable and find out what a real, genuine Adrienne H. Lee artwork would look like. The process was challenging and emotional and revelatory. I learned that if necessity is the mother of invention, then authenticity is the mother of reinvention. I reinvented myself and learned an entirely new medium. The resulting artwork surprised me, and it will surprise you, too. Some people wish for a fairytale ending. For me, the fairy tale is only the beginning.