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Posts Tagged “Jay-Z”

videodrone

Jay-Z To Oasis: "Are Your Songs 'Appropriate' Glastonbury Material? Just Checking"


After months of buildup, Jay-Z played his much-discussed headlining set at the Glastonbury Festival last night, and he opened it with a special dedication to Oasis' Noel Gallagher, who had said that Jay was an inappropriate addition to the Glasto bill because it was "built on a tradition of guitar music." Jay strolled out with a guitar, strumming and warbling along to "Wonderwall," last-call-on-a-long-night-style, before breaking into "99 Problems." I think this is a way to tell Gallagher "your move," although I shudder to think what an Oasis cover of "Big Pimpin'" might sound like. (There's a download of his full set from last night here.) [YouTube / HipHopIsRead via madeupmemories]

10:45 AM on Sun Jun 29 2008
By Maura Johnston
4,505 views, 16 comments

Latest by n/a: @tmcmahon2: I think that makes it even more of a "fuck you" to Gallagher. "So, I can't play a guitar or sing. I'm not even gonna have my band play it. I still rock, asshole." He didn't cover Oasis, he more »

Jay-Z has become more politically aware over the past few years, but don't expect Barack Obama's implicit endorsement of him to serve as a gateway to a run for higher office: "No. Ha ha ha! No, they'll kill me in 30 seconds. 'Shit! This guy's in!' Bang! Ha ha! I won't make it past the primaries! Ha ha! They talk about Obama's priest—imagine what they'd do to me! My friend is locked up! Ha ha ha! That's funny." It's probably for the best, since dude is too busy working on buying a piece of the—ugh!—Yankees right now. [Time Out London via XXL]

5 comments

go on, nbc, dust your glasses off

"Today" Can't Remember What Jay-Z Looks Like


Anyone wondering why Today would bother to ask "what is Rolling Stone's fascination with Barack Obama?" discovers just how unfamiliar NBC News must be with the gritty street culture promoted by the magazine when a picture of rapper Joe "Pump It Up" Budden appears at 1:20, alongside a mention of former Def Jam CEO and 60 Minutes subject Jay-Z. Ironic, as you'd think it'd be much harder to find a photo of Joe Budden. The narrator seems to finds the tastes and opinions of this Obama fellow (he likes rap... but doesn't like the naughty lyrics!) perplexing throughout the piece, so maybe we should just be glad they didn't show John Legend when describing Obama's love for Steve Wonder. [TVNewservia Nah Right]

3:30 PM on Thu Jun 26 2008
By Anthony Miccio
142 views, 3 comments

Latest by jasonelias: Well they could put that powder keg John McCain on the cover but they actually want to sell magazines. more »

government names

Does The "New York Times" Have A Double Standard When It Comes To Hip-Hop Artists' Stage Names?

Sure, we've all had a laugh when the ever-staid The New York Times has made second references to "Mr. Pop" and "Mr. Loaf" in its cultural reporting. But why, the Columbia Journalism Review wonders, are the stage names of hip-hop artists like Jay-Z, 50 Cent, and Diddy not given the same treatment? Instead, they frequently get their birth names swapped into stories right away—even though artists in other genres who hide behind aliases, from Alicia Keys (nee Alicia Augello-Cook) to Clay Aiken (nee Clayton Grissom), don't get the same treatment. Is it because no one in the copy department wants to put a definitive entry in the stylebook on how to properly punctuate "Mr. Z," or is there something more nefarious at work? CJR demands answers! More »

4:15 PM on Tue Jun 24 2008
By Maura Johnston
2,502 views, 5 comments

Latest by n/a: I remember my friend telling me about going to the movies with his dad and having his dad say, "Ice Cube? Who the hell is Ice Cube?" For some people, Mr. Cube would be a little to weird. more »

reminders

Jay-Z Is Not A Hippie

After months of buildup, including rumors of soft ticket sales and Oasis members sniping over whether Jay-Z was an "appropriate" Glastonbury headliner, the festival is finally on the horizon, and organizers are getting ready to roll out the muddy carpet for the hip-hop mogul, who'll headline a bill that also includes Kings Of Leon, Jimmy Cliff, The Verve, and Leonard Cohen. (Amy Winehouse is expected to show up too, despite a recent emphysema diagnosis and hospital visit; she may be on the path to wearing an oxygen mask all the time, but for now she's still as ready to sing as she can be, according to her father. Good looking out, Dad.) Jay, who said of his Glasto gig that he's "never been involved in anything this controversial," has a busy, yet soulless, weekend ahead of him: More »

9:30 AM on Mon Jun 23 2008
By Maura Johnston
505 views, Comment

careless whisper

Jay-Z Sued For Stealing Boxer's Tendency To Whisper

Former pro boxer Mitchell Rose believes that Jay-Z first decided to use a "whispering tone" in his raps after Rose handing him a demo in 2001, and has filed a lawsuit. First off, "whispering tone?" Is Rose referring to that annoying sigh Jay-Z uses on somber tracks like "Lost Ones?"? I'm not the biggest fan of Jay-Z's stuff this decade, but I can't think of too many tracks I'd say have a "whispering tone." Also, I'm pretty sure if anybody can take responsibility for whispering in rap, it's probably LL Cool J. Girl... More »

1:30 PM on Thu Jun 12 2008
By Anthony Miccio
349 views, 11 comments

Latest by n/a: The legal grounds for this suit are that this asshole hopes that he'll pester Jay enough for him to settle out of court for enough stacks for him to pay his back child support and get himself some new Nikes. Any more »

meet the new boss

Def Jam To Replace Jay-Z With Evil, Evil Man Who Signed Rick Ross

While he's not going to be the label's new CEO (boss L.A. Reid reclaimed the title after Jay-Z's departure), Shakir Stewart has been named Executive Vice President of Def Jam, which basically makes him Jay-Z's replacement. While he can take credit for signing Ciara to LaFace (where he and Reid began their professional relationship) and signing Beyonce to a publishing contract in 1999, it's believed that the real reason he's being given the promotion is that he's responsible for signing Young Jeezy and Rick Ross to the label. Admittedly, these acts are younger and arguably more successful than the fogies like Nas and the Roots that Jay-Z was responsible for, but I'm pretty damn scared what's going to come from a label run by a guy who takes pride in turning charmless, one-dimensional self-aggrandizement into music-business gold. More »

2:00 PM on Wed Jun 4 2008
By Anthony Miccio
766 views, 9 comments

Latest by n/a: @Maura Johnston: The Def Jam publicity dept. needs to get on that, or have they been cut, too? Perhaps 2Pac Shakir will be able to convince Ricky Rowssss to make an appearance on Nas's ill-fated slave CD, or table it more »

The long-rumored $150 million, 10-year deal between Jay-Z and Live Nation reportedly closed Wednesday night, with Live Nation giving Jay a chunk of stock, $5 million per year for "overhead," $25 million for acquisitions and investments, $10 million an album (for a three-album deal), and $20 million for publishing, licensing, and other rights. Live Nation's stock has jumped sharply since the deal was reportedly closed. [Billboard]

3 comments

will blog for festival admission

The Allure Of The British Festival Is Wearing Off A Bit

The Guardian "leaked" most of the Glastonbury lineup this morning, and while there are certainly portions that sound very alluring (especially ignoring the logistical issues of actually traveling to an muddy field in the middle of England), it appears American festivals aren't alone in having an off year. More »

2:00 PM on Mon Apr 28 2008
By Dan Gibson
647 views, 7 comments

rumors

Is Beyonce Going To Hang Up Her Hair Extensions?

Now that she's maybe married, Beyonce has decided to retire from performing. Maybe! Beyonce's cousin, Angelica, got her name into the papers by blabbing to a New York Daily News source that B's next album will be her last. Instead of singing, the former Destiny's Child leader will scout out talent for her possibly-husband Jay-Z's The Carter Group, which is rumored to be backed by Live Nation. It's like a Jenga game of half-truths, this item! And I can't help but wonder what all the female artists on Columbia Records who were forced into the fifth-fiddle spot by Beyonce and Solange must think of it, given that any female "talent" within the Knowles' orbit was usually rewarded with pushed-back albums and not-as-forceful promotion. [NY Daily News / Photo: AP]

2:40 PM on Tue Apr 15 2008
By Maura Johnston
620 views, 3 comments

Latest by n/a: @HONEYBFLY: And yet I guarantee that's the business plan her husband and father have worked out for her. It (kinda) worked for Jay, right? BTW, there's nothing horrific about B making more albums. It's Rihanna you should be afraid of. more »

mouthing off

Gallagher Brother Goes "Veiled Racism" Route In Effort To Get Back Into News (And It Works!)

As a former headliner of the Glastonbury Festival, Oasis' Noel Gallagher is not happy with this year's lineup, which is headlined by Jay-Z (for now) and apparently suffering from low ticket sales. Why? Well, of course, it's hip-hop's fault! Because it hates melody! Or something like that. More »

1:30 PM on Mon Apr 14 2008
By Maura Johnston
1,699 views, 26 comments

rumors

Glastonbury Festival: Low Sales, Jay-Z Pull-Out Rumors Making Everybody Cranky

Registration for tickets to the Glastonbury Festival re-opened today, following relatively sluggish sales since Sunday. In previous years, tickets to the three day British event sold out within hours, but over a fifth of the 137,000 tickets remained unsold after the first day. While some blamed the horrible weather that plagued the Festival over the last three years, others claimed that planned headliner Jay-Z was the cause of the lack of enthusiasm. And you know Hov doesn't appreciate that. More »

3:00 PM on Tue Apr 8 2008
By Anthony Miccio
1,179 views, 4 comments

Latest by Oldboy: They should move it to Midsummer. more »

deals

Live Nation Apparently Willing To Throw Lots Of Cash Jay-Z's Way

The New York Times is reporting that Jay-Z and Live Nation are on the verge of agreeing to a $150 million deal that will cover his recordings and tours for the next 10 years, as well as financing for his own venture, which will allegedly be called the Carter Music Group. Once the deal is finalized, Jay will become Live Nation's most highly paid artist, a title that is currently held by Madonna, whose deal with the concert conglomerate comes in at a now-measly-looking $120 million. Earlier rumors claimed that Jay was looking for at least $100 million for the Carter Music Group, with naysayers saying that his pocketing that much money was a impossiblity because "it isn't the '90s anymore." Anyone want to check the calendars in Live Nation's offices? [NYT / Photo: AP]

9:40 PM on Wed Apr 2 2008
By Maura Johnston
270 views, Comment

nuptials?

Jay-Z To Make An Honest Woman Out Of Beyonce?

Put a ring on that finger, you cad! People is reporting that Beyonce and Jay-Z have picked up a wedding license. No response from the long-time lovers—over five years!—but I'm hoping to hear some wedding bells. Or maybe just a verse from Jay-Z that unhesistantly proffers affection rather than a reaffirmation of his glory or the idea that she's the workaholic, not this label exec whose retirement from the game lasted about three years. Treat a lady right, Hov. And now for some potential TomKat-esque tabloid terms we've come up with for the couple: More »

9:15 AM on Wed Apr 2 2008
By Anthony Miccio
472 views, 3 comments

Latest by Psicosis: Media will refer to them as "Hov and B, holla". more »

rumors

Jay-Z Does Not Come Cheap (Especially By 2008 Standards)

Since Jay-Z got the boot from left Def Jam's executive suite last year, there have been many rumors about his possibly starting up his own label somewhere else. So what happened to those plans? Well, some people are claiming that he hasn't gotten wind of the new economy of record labels, and that he "wants a label to give him $100 million for the Carter Music Group and provide for overhead, development and digital investment. It's crazy. He wants the labels to basically be his venture capital fund—but unlike a venture cap, they won't get 50 percent. This is not the '90s anymore." And, presumably, it's not the early 21st century dot-com bubble era either. [NYP]

10:00 AM on Thu Mar 20 2008
By Maura Johnston
129 views, Comment

leak of the day

Jay-Z And Mary J. Ask You To Give Thanks And Praises

ARTIST: Jay-Z and Mary J. Blige
TITLE: "You're Welcome"
WEB DEBUT: Feb. 28, 2008

More »
videodrone

Jay-Z's New Video Will Leave You Squinty


Murky and kinda inscrutable on the very small screen, the video for Jay's latest single, "I Know," makes me think I should really call Comcast and get MTV Jams added to my cable package just to see if its late-night atmosphere plays any better on my TV. Beautiful ladies stroll through noir-ish city streets captured in a muted palette of cerulean, amber, and black; a trip to a club adds (just a little) much-needed color (plus one druggy special effect); and Jay is nowhere to be seen on set. (For a split second I thought that might be him behind the orange glow of a lit smoke, but alas no.) But if the video leaves your eyes straining to care, there's a Pharell hook and a twinkly off-the-rack Neptunes keyboard, just in case you felt the need to relive the Black Album heyday of five years ago. [OnSmash]

10:40 AM on Wed Feb 27 2008
By Jess Harvell
478 views, 5 comments

Latest by n/a: Clearly, Jay's been bitten by the Green bug. The darker the screen, the less energy you waste! more »

lawsuits

Some Dude DJ Kool Herc Wants Billions In Slave Trade Reparations From Jay-Z And Associates

Yes, you read that right: a man named Clive Campbell the hip-hop legend has filed a $5 billion "claim of lien" against Shawn Carter, real estate magnate Bruce Ratner, and international financial institution Barclays. Herc'sThe tangled legal claim connects Jay, partial owner of the New Jersey Nets basketball team with Mr. Ratner, with Barclays, a bank that's been rumored to have "links with the slave trade," according to the New York Observer. The main point of contention is Ratner's proposed new arena for the Nets, a project which has received Jay's blessing, and since Barclays has "naming rights" for said arena, Herc Campbell implicates both men in profiting from a centuries-old cycle of oppression. More »

2:20 PM on Mon Feb 25 2008
By Jess Harvell
567 views, 5 comments

Latest by Jess Harvell: fixed it. thanks, y'all. more »