See what we’re chatting about over coffee:
• Jay Z’s recent six-hour performance of “Picasso Baby” at the Pace Gallery in New York City garnered a lot of attention. Now his performance, which was captured by HBO, will air on the network this coming Friday at 11 p.m. Picasso Baby: A Performance Art Film features the rapper interacting with several different artists and the intimate crowd as he performs the song over and over again. “Rap is thinking out loud, and you’re putting your fears and your vulnerabilities and your insecurities to music,” said Jay Z. “Concerts are pretty much performance art, and a smaller venue is a bit more intimate, so you feel the energy of the people.” [Rolling Stone]
• Aretha Franklin will be honored by Major League Baseball on August 24th for using her celebrity to make a difference in society. Franklin, who recently canceled a slew of performances, will be recognized at the 2013 Major League Baseball Beacon Awards Luncheon in Chicago. Previous recipients include Bill Cosby, Morgan Freeman and Muhammad Ali. [Rolling Stone]
• Toni Braxton’s bankruptcy case appears to have created drama in the singer’s life. When Braxton settled her case in court, part of her agreement allowed her to buy back a small catalog of songs she once owned. Unfortunately, she was outbid. A man named Ross M. Klein doubled Braxton’s bid of $20K and now owns 27 songs recorded by Braxton, which include a string of her biggest hits. [TMZ]
• Could Today star Hoda Kotb be The View’s newest host? According to reports, ABC approached Kotb about taking over for Joy Behar. A source says ABC is “very interested” in having Kotb join the roundtable. It’s unclear if she will take the job if she is offered the opportunity. [NY Post]