[2] The painting pays homage to jazz saxophonist Charlie Parker, whose nickname was "Bird," a leading figure in the development of bebop.

[6] Basquiat referenced jazz musicians and recordings in over thirty of his paintings such as Bird on Money (1981), CPRKR (1982), Discography I (1983), Horn Players (1983), Arm and Hammer II (1984), and King Zulu (1986).

Music journalist Tom Terrell wrote in the liner notes: "As Parker's bebop transcended jazz to influence musical and nonmusical pop culture worldwide, so did Basquiat's legacy impact on hip-hop and Euro-pop, Indie film and post-electric Miles jazz.

"[8] Author Jordana Moore Saggese states that "the crown motif that pervades Basquiat's work…is often interpreted as an assertion of the artist's power."

"[1] Rapper and Basquiat collector Jay-Z, who owns a print of the painting, interpreted that line in his memoir Decoded as a "statement about what happens when you achieve a certain position.