He's on the soccer moms' radio, but he gets respect in the projects. He's a corporate star, a marketing genius, a fashion trendsetter -- oh, yeah, and a rapper. HamptonRoads.com created this timeline to compliment a Jay-Z profile, How Jay-Z rules hip-hop and middle America, posted to our site March 5, 2010. His tour stops in our area March 7.
Created by HamptonRoads on Mar 3, 2010
Last updated: 10/10/10 at 01:41 AM
Tags: Jay-Z rapper rap "hip hop" "Shawn Carter" "BP3 Tour" "Norfolk Scope" "Hampton Roads"
'Ye also drafts Swizz Beatz, RZA, Pusha T and Cyhi Da Prynce for latest G.O.O.D. Friday track.By Mawuse Ziegbe
Kanye West
Photo: Gabriela Maj/ Getty Images
Another Friday, another Kanye West-helmed all-star collabo.
The hip-hop superstar's latest weekly offering, "So Appalled," continues his trend of packing a varied cast of big-name stars onto a single record. This week, 'Ye recruited G.O.O.D. Music signee Pusha T, fellow MC/producer Swizz Beatz and rap luminary Jay-Z for repeat guest spots. Wu-Tang Clan ringleader RZA follows in the footsteps of Wu member Raekwon by dropping a G.O.O.D. Friday verse and newcomer Cyhi Da Prynce makes an appearance.
'Ye tweeted Friday evening (September 24) that, unlike his recent free track "Lord Lord Lord," which surfaced Saturday morning, G.O.O.D. Friday followers could expect a new song to kick off the weekend. "Good Friday actually coming on time this week!" he wrote. "We do this for our culture!"
"So Appalled" also differs from the soulful instrumentation and introspective lyricism of "Lord" on several fronts. Accompanied by gruesome artwork of a nude woman splayed on a white surface with blood streaming from her mouth, the song has a testy, restless vibe with midtempo rhythms and ominous shuddering strings.
Swizzy sets the track's tone with ad-libs such as "one hand in the air, if you don't really care" as West follows with bars like "We above the law, we don't give a f--- 'bout y'all/ I got dogs that'll chew a f---ing hole through the wall."
Jay takes jabs at ankle-biting MCs, launching his verse with, "How should I begin this?/ I'm just so offended/ How am I even mentioned by these f---in' beginners?/ I'm so appalled/ I might buy the mall/ Just to show n---as how much more I have in store." Hov spends most of his bars deconstructing the hate that surrounds outsize fame but poses the question, "Would you rather be underpaid or overrated?"
Push is up next with his own views on reaching the top, spitting, "Success is what you make it/ Take it how it come/ A half a mill in 20s like a billion where I'm from."
Cyhi holds his own among an intimidating roster of established MCs with lines like "If God had an iPod, I'd be on his playlist" and "Thou shalt not hate, kid/ My movement is like the civil rights, I'm Ralph David/ Abernathy, so call my lady Rosa Parks/ I am nothing like them n---as, baby those are marks."
RZA comes right in as Cyhi steps back, nearly clipping the end of his verse with bellows of "f---in' ridiculous" riding out the track with rhymes like "Cars for the Mrs. and furs for the mistress/ You know that sh-- is f---in' ridiculous."
How do you like Kanye West's "So Appalled"? Let us know in the comments!
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http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1648711/20100924/west_kanye.jhtml
Jay-Z And Eminem Make History In Detroit
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http://www.mtv.com/photos/?fid=1647121
'You wanted my attention ... (Jigga) ...you got it' he tweets.By Mawuse Ziegbe
MC Hammer
Photo: Getty Images
Kanye West's latest G.O.O.D. Friday track, "So Appalled," features some hard-hitting bars from a diverse ensemble of spitters, including Swizz Beatz and RZA. However, the lyrics of one MC in particular, Jay-Z, may have hit below the belt, according to another rap star.
MC Hammer has apparently taken issue with a line in which Hov references the much-publicized dissolution of the "U Can't Touch This" star's hefty fortune. "Hammer went broke so you know I'm more focused/I lost 30 mil' so I spent another 30/ 'Cause unlike Hammer 30 million can't hurt me," Jigga spits. After the track hit the Web, Hammer knocked out a series of missives on his Twitter account blasting the hip-hop heavyweight.
On Friday night, when a Twitter fan asked Hammer if he had any comment about Jay's rhyme, the rap star Hammer shot back with "The Answer to Jay comes on Oct 31 ( Devils Nite) ..I saw him coming." The rapper-turned-preacher hit up the track's architect the next morning, with "@ kanyewest jay-hoe aka #HellBoy Tell Jay Oct 31 (Devils Nite). We'll see if this record and video 'Hurt's Him.' " The "Too Legit To Quit" star also tweeted "You wanted my attention #HellBoy (Jigga) ..you got it," and attached a link to a 36-second video of himself pummeling a punching bag.
Hammer also taunted fans who were staunchly Team Hov.
"These lil demons and Imps stopping by timeline today ... Yes, I dissed yo #Daddy ... The dude who made the #Lucifer song ... smh," he typed, referencing Jay's The Black Album track. "Laughing at these grown men coming on my timeline with they #pompoms waving for #HellBoy (Jigga)."
Although Hammer relayed some hostile tweets, the Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em rapper seemed to want to settle the drama in studio, reminding his Twitter followers that he was readying a response.
"I'm done until it's time ... Oct 31," Hammer wrote. "See, no need for such nastiness. I'm going back to the baggy pants that keeps you off guard. :)"
Do you agree with MC Hammer's comments about Jay-Z? Sound off below!
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http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1648729/20100926/jay_z.jhtml
'Forbes' Magazine's Top-Earning Musicians Of 2010
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http://www.mtv.com/photos/?fid=1643911
Numb/Encore
Artist: Jay-Z
Label: Warner Bros. Records
Director: Joe DeMaio/Kimo Proudfoot
Album: Collision Course [Clean]
http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1269&vid=37768
Jay-Z's Best Onstage Collaborations
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'Just think about it. They hit home runs in there,' Swizz says of performing in his hometown arena.By Shaheem Reid, with additional reporting by Sway Calloway
Swizz Beatz
Photo: MTV News
Last night, Swizz Beatz celebrated his birthday in one of the best ways you could think of. The Bronx native was a surprise guest of Jay-Z onstage at Yankee Stadium for the New York kickoff of the Jay-Z/Eminem Home and Home concerts, hot off the VMA stage, where he performed with Drake on Sunday night.
"Being onstage with Jay is funny sometimes because he's so cool and laid-back. I'm like the opposite, which makes it the perfect balance," Swizz told us recently about performing with the Jiggaman. "Sometimes when I perform 'On to the Next One,' I'll look at him and be like, 'Let me calm my ass down a little bit.' The energy, I'm just attracted to the people. It's an honor when Jay introduced me and we're able to rock the same stage back from 'Jigga' and we're still able to make classics together and still able to be cool and still share the same stage. It's a blessing."
When asked about actually being able to rock Yankee Stadium, the super-producer smiled and reflected. "Yankee Stadium. Ooo weee," he beamed. "Just think about it. They hit home runs in there. It's filled up like that. That's bigger than the Garden."
Swizz is already getting prepared with tracks if Em and Jay should want to take their live collaboration into the studio. "That's like the real best of both worlds," Swizz declared. "I think [the two of the them having concerts together], that's genius. Could this become an album? You see how I been thinking about that? Laying that out real quick."
The Jay-Eminem concerts in Detroit and New York, Swizz assessed, are a sign of the times. "The industry has no choice but to get together," Beatz remarked. "It's so crucial the decision that us as producers, as artists, as friends make. As you can see, the industry is on thin ice and it's too many people standing on it. There's no support. Where's the all the support that used to be in our industry? It's not there. The dollars are cut down. The digital world has scared the majors off from doing the correct deals. Now they introduced the 360 deals, where it's totally chaos to me. Artists have to be creative like that now. Before you didn't even have to think about teaming up. You'd be, like, right on your own playing field and that person would be the competition. And your job would be to destroy that person."
Do you think Jay-Z and Eminem should record an album together? Let us know in the comments.
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http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1647820/20100914/swizz_beats.jhtml
Numb/Encore
Artist: Jay-Z
Label: Warner Bros. Records
Director: Joe DeMaio/Kimo Proudfoot
Album: Collision Course [Clean]
http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1269&vid=37768
Drake, Chris Martin, Nicki Minaj also appear at first New York stop of Home and Home tour.By Shaheem Reid
Eminem and Jay-Z perform at Yankee Stadium on Monday
Photo: Kevin Mazur/ WireImage
NEW YORK — A year ago, Jay-Z showed why he's music's Emperor of the Empire State with a historic charity concert at Madison Square Garden, which Jay called "the house that Hovie built." On Monday night, "the God MC" took his mastery of performance to the front stoop of Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez, Yankee Stadium. And because that's no setting in which to go small, he brought out special guests like Kanye West, Drake, Chris Martin, Swizz Beatz, Nicki Minaj and, of course, Beyoncé.
After kicking off in Detroit two weeks ago, Jay and Eminem's Home and Home concerts landed on the Jiggaman's soil for shows on Monday and Tuesday (September 14). This time, after J. Cole opened, Slim Shady shook the stadium in the second slot, with special guests the G-Unit and Dr. Dre. Then Jay took over with a bevy of surprises and a catalog of hard-line hits.
"Before I start this piece, let me say, rest in peace to the boss, George [Steinbrenner]," Hov began, freestyling a reference to the late Yankees owner after commencing his program with the "Dynasty Intro."
"By the time we sliding home/ I hope we playing in the dome," he continued rapping.
During "Run This Town," Jay asked, "Where you at, boy?" And out came 2010 VMA closer Kanye West in a red suit. The roar was thunderous for the Louis Vuitton Don, who also rocked a huge gold link chain.
They followed up with the first live performance of the "Power" remix — where all 50,000-plus people did the soulful "power clap" — and "Monster." There was no Rick Ross on the latter, but 'Ye and Hov brought out Nicki Minaj, who was showered with love from her hometown.
Hov said that since they were in New York, he couldn't let Kanye off the hook that easy. West told the audience he was going to "take them back." The Chicago-born icon then crushed the concert with "Can't Tell Me Nothing" and a follow-up haymaker of the stadium-friendly "Good Life."
"It's one of the most unbelievable feelings in the world, being from New York and being in Yankee stadium," Jay said about the night.
"That's how you feel, New York City?" Hov continued, in response to the crowd's overwhelming cheers. "New York City, is that how you feel tonight? I can't believe this sh--!"
Jay's next guest was Bronx native Swizz Beatz, who was also celebrating his birthday. What a present!
Further along in his set list, Jay rolled out his jaw-dropping verse from "Free Mason." Like in most of his shows, the Jiggaman constantly spoke to the crowd. "Just because you question religion doesn't mean you don't believe in God," he said after his rumor-admonishing verse. "Don't let anybody scare you into having their beliefs. Be a muthaf---in' renegade."
Out came Eminem for their classic colossal meeting of the minds. No matter how many times they perform "Renegade," it's still surreal to see the two biggest names in rap stand unified, side by side.
Memphis Bleek then came out for a parade of familiar Jay knockers, including "U Don't Know," "99 Problems" and "Big Pimpin'."
There was a tribute to hip-hop's gone-but-not-forgotten greats that included B.I.G., D12's Proof, Pimp C and Tupac Shakur. Monday was the 14th anniversary of Pac's tragic death.
Chris Martin from Coldplay came out to sing the hook on "Heart of the City." Martin was crisp and soulful on the mic. Jay kicked the graceful lines to "Most Kingz," and then Martin took the energy up a few levels with "Viva la Vida."
"I used to rule the world," the crowd sang. "Seas would rise/ When I gave the word/ Now in the morning I sleep alone/ Sweep the streets I used to own/ I used to roll the dice/ Feel the fear in my enemy's eyes."
Hov then told his DJ to throw on any song, and out came Drake for "Miss Me."
"Tellllllll me/ What's really going / Drizzy back up in this bitch/ What's happenin!!!" Drake came on rapping. The approval for the 23-year-old was vibrant.
"Say, 'Free Weezy!' " Drake commanded during Lil Wayne's verse. Jay and Drizzy then let the mics explode with "Light Up."
Not letting the audience catch their breath, Beyoncé came out for "Forever Young."
"One word, Beyoncé, make some noise," Jay said about his wife. "That girl baaad! That girl tough!"
After "Already Home" came "Empire State of Mind." No Alicia Keys, but Roc Nation artist Bridget Kelly was on her A-game with the vocals. Not that it mattered, because the NYC crowd drowned the song out.
"This is better than any Grammy. Better than any MTV award," Jay said about being able to rock his city.
He then went into overtime with a barrage of classics such as "Jigga My N---a" and "Izzo."
He told the fans he wasn't going anywhere and continued to keep the energy high with "Where I'm From" and "Dirt Off Your Shoulder." Most of the sold-out crowd stayed until the very end, which featured Jay doing the Linkin Park mash-up version of "Encore."
"This night was like a gift for me," said the man who seemingly has everything. "I hope I returned it tenfold."
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http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1647790/20100914/jay_z.jhtml
'It would be impossible to find that album,' says one fan of a potential collabo after historic Yankee Stadium concert.By MTV News staff
Eminem and Jay-Z perform at Yankee Stadium on Monday
Photo: Kevin Mazur/ WireImage
Jay-Z and Eminem just finished their Home and Home showcase, with each MC headlining two nights at baseball stadiums in their respective hometowns, New York and Detroit.
But now that they've wrapped, is there the potential for the two to join forces again soon? MTV News hit the pavement in the Bronx just outside of Yankee Stadium to pose the question to the people: Do you want to hear a joint Jay-Z and Eminem project?
"Eminem and Jay-Z together," Karyn responded. "What a phenomenal duo — who can top that?"
Jay-Z has had his share of collabo albums in the past, including two with R. Kelly and a mash-up project with Linkin Park. Now, however, the Roc Nation boss is working on a joint LP with Kanye West. But most fans seemed to agree that a record with Jay-Z and Eminem would be historical.
"If Jay and Em did a record together, it would be off the hook," Dot said.
"If God can bless this earth with Jay-Z and Eminem doing an album together, all hell would break loose," Armaan told MTV News. "It would be impossible to find that album."
Music-industry insider Eddie Blackmon agreed the project would move quickly off shelves. "They're two of the greatest lyrical artists of our generation," he explained. "I think if they got together and collaborated on a project, it'd sell millions and millions of records."
New Edition's Michael Bivins also attended the event and afterward, he told MTV News he was enthusiastic about the idea of the two superstars coming together.
"The expectations might be really, really high," Bivins said about a potential LP. "Up there with Thriller."
Do you think Jay and Em should extend their joint-tour idea to the recording studio? Tell us in the comments!
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http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1648011/20100916/jay_z.jhtml
Lady Gaga Leads The 2010 VMA Nominees
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Deja Vu
Artist: Jay-Z
Label: Sony Urban Music/Columbia
Director: Sophie Muller
Album: B'day
http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1269&vid=96271
“The first Forbes 400 Summit was surreal, amazing and, in the end, moving. We gassed up a Gulfstream 450 one warm September morning and flew one of the most successful recording artists of all time, Jay-Z, to meet the most successful investor of all time, Warren Buffett, on the latter’s home turf of Omaha, Neb. The intent was to capture their very different perspectives on success and wealth and to talk about the social obligations that come with each. They ended up finding out they had more in common than anyone would have expected between a 40-year-old rapper from the Brooklyn projects and the 80-year-old sage of compounded returns.”
View more here.
http://www.jay-z.com/2010/09/jay-z-and-warren-buffett-on-the-cover-of-forbes-400/
“The first Forbes 400 summit paired one of the most successful recording artists of all time, Jay-Z, with the most successful investor of all time, Warren Buffett, on the latter’s home turf of Omaha, Neb. In an hour-long videotaped interview at Buffett’s office building, these two icons shared their very different perspectives on success, wealth and the social obligations that come with each. They found a lot more common ground than you’d think.”
Full Video:
View more here.
http://www.jay-z.com/2010/09/jay-z-buffett-and-forbes-on-success-and-giving-back/
Spiegel & Grau to Publish Book by Shawn “JAY-Z” Carter on 11/16/10!
New York, NY (September 22, 2010)— On Tuesday, November 16, 2010, Shawn “JAY-Z” Carter and publisher Spiegel & Grau, an imprint of the Random House Publishing Group, are set to release Decoded, the first book written by the multi-platinum, 10 time Grammy Award winning entrepreneur and icon. Unique in every sense, Decoded is a narrative journey through the lyrics and life of one of the most prolific artists of our time.
Featuring an image of Andy Warhol’s Rorschach on the cover, the beautifully designed, fully-illustrated book decodes 36 songs from JAY-Z’s extensive catalog. By telling the stories behind some of Jay-Z’s most famous and provocative lyrics, Decoded offers an intimate, first-hand account of an artist, his work, and the culture that so powerfully shaped him.
In addition to the hardcover release, Random House will publish Decoded as an eBook, as well as an interactive iPhone/iPad application that will include exclusive video and customizable content that will allow users to delve into a deeper Decoded experience.
“This is a book that could only have come from JAY-Z. Every aspect of it reflects his style and ambition and heart. The unique structure he devised – combining intense personal narratives with revealing ‘decodings’ of some of his most powerful lyrics – underlines his central mission for the book: to use his famously layered and poetic lyrics and his one-of-a-kind life story to tell a wider story about the world he grew up in and the transformative power of hip-hop. JAY’s rigorous attention to every detail of the book, right down to the book’s jacket, which he art directed, was impressive, and the depth of his thinking – about his experiences and lyrics, but also about the creative process, the poetry of hip-hop, and the art of life – was a constant revelation. This is a book that will offer gratifying surprises and insights to both the long-time JAY-Z fan and to the reader who might meet him here for the first time.”
– Chris Jackson, Executive Editor, Spiegel & Grau
FROM DECODED
“When I first started working on this book, I told my editor that I wanted it to do three important things. The first was to make the case that hip-hop lyrics—not just my lyrics, but those of every great MC—are poetry if you look at them closely enough. The second was I wanted the book to tell a little bit of the story of my generation, to show the context for the choices we made at a violent and chaotic crossroads in recent history. And the third piece was that I wanted the book to show how hip-hop created a way to take a very specific and powerful experience and turn it into a story that everyone in the world could feel and relate to.” – JAY-Z
Order your copy here.
http://www.jay-z.com/2010/09/decoded-by-jay-z/
A collection of lyrics and their meanings that together tell the story of a culture, an art form, a moment in history, and one of the most provocative and successful artists of all time.
Order your copy here.
http://www.jay-z.com/2010/09/jay-z-decoded-pre-order-now/
The nominations for the 2010 BET Hip Hop Awards are in! And guess who’s leading the pack? It’s Jay-Z with 11 nominations this year!
Check out the nominations below:
Best Hip Hop Video “Run This Town” feat. Rihanna & Kanye West, “Empire State of Mind” feat. Alicia Keys, “On To The Next One” feat. Swizz Beatz
Reeses Perfect Combo Award “Empire State Of Mind” feat. Alicia Keys
CD of the Year “Blueprint 3”
Track of the Year “Empire State of Mind” feat. Alicia Keys
Hustler of the Year
Made-You-Look Award
Lyricist of the Year
MVP of the Year
Best Live Performer
http://www.jay-z.com/2010/09/jay-z-tops-bet-hip-hop-awards-nominations/
JAY-Z Fans! Here is your last chance to be in the 1st 4 rows at JAY-Z and Eminem’s Home & Home Yankee Stadium Dates! Get your tickets below! There are only 40 tickets per date left!
Use the password: jayfans
For the 13th CLICK HERE
For the 14th CLICK HERE
Roc Nation stand up!
http://www.jay-z.com/2010/09/home-home-the-4040-promotion/
The New York Yankees announced that limited-edition co-branded Yankees/JAY-Z merchandise will be sold exclusively at Yankee Stadium beginning on Monday, Aug. 30. The merchandise will be available at Yankee Stadium through the JAY-Z / Eminem concerts taking place in the venue on Sept. 13 and Sept. 14.
All items will feature the presence of Yankees and JAY-Z logos, and all items have been seen and approved by JAY-Z.
Merchandise will include men’s and women’s T-shirts and hooded sweatshirts — all by Majestic — along with New Era 59/50 fitted Yankees caps with the album logo from JAY-Z’s
The Blueprint 3.
The merchandise has been created to commemorate Yankee Stadium’s first official concerts on Sept. 13 and Sept. 14, when JAY-Z and Eminem will co-headline in the Bronx. The concerts make up the second half of the artists’ “Home and Home” tour and will follow their joint performances at Detroit’s Comerica Park on Sept. 3 and Sept. 4.
Beginning Monday, Yankees/JAY-Z merchandise can be purchased in-Stadium during games or seven days a week at the Yankee Stadium Great Hall Team Store near Gate 6, located on the northwest corner of 161st Street and River Avenue. The hours of operation for the Gate 6 store are 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Sundays. On all days or nights that the Yankees play home games, the store stays open until one hour after the game ends.
http://www.jay-z.com/2010/09/yankees-and-jay-z-to-launch-limited-edition-co-branded-merchandise/
On Thursday, August 12, NIKE, Inc. will bring together the world of sport and entertainment in an unprecedented way as one of basketball’s most prestigious teams shares the stage with one of the world’s greatest entertainers.
Music mogul and multi-platinum selling recording artist JAY-Z will take the stage at New York’s Radio City Music Hall for an electrifying musical performance following a one-of-a-kind, on-court showcase featuring finalists for the 2010 USA Basketball World Championship Team as part of the inaugural World Basketball Festival – brought together by Converse, the Jordan Brand and Nike Basketball.
“We’re excited to bring together the international prestige of JAY-Z and the USA Team on stage at famed Radio City Music Hall to open the first World Basketball Festival. This will be a historic night,” said Trevor Edwards, Nike VP Global Brand and Category Management. “We’re also honored to collaborate with JAY-Z on limited edition Air Force 1s that celebrate the countries participating in this inaugural event.”
Nike has distributed tickets for the Radio City Music Hall events to a number of New York area community groups and charitable organizations, as well as youth clubs and youth basketball leagues. Distribution to the general public has been driven through on-going promotions with radio station Hot 97 and through retailers Modell’s, Footlocker, Niketown and House of Hoops. Additional ticket information can be found at http://www.facebook.com/wbf.
The entire Radio City Music Hall basketball and musical performance will stream live on http://www.facebook.com/wbf beginning at 6:30 p.m. EDT until its conclusion. Following the event at Radio City Music Hall, highlights will be available online at NBA.com and USABasketball.com.
In addition to his performance at Radio City Music Hall, JAY-Z has joined forces with Nike to create an iconic collection of Air Force Ones – the All Black Everything collection inspired by the World Basketball Festival. Nike has donated the shoes to the Shawn Carter Scholarship Foundation who in turn have linked up with eBay on a charity auction where the five unique pairs will raise funds for its mission to provide financial assistance to promising individuals upon acceptance into any accredited institution of higher learning.
One hundred percent of the funds raised will support the Shawn Carter Scholarship Foundation. The charity auction begins on August the 12, and bidders can visit www.ebay.com/jayznikewbf to enter a bid. Only two pairs of each of the five designs will be created, one for the winning bidder and one for the man behind the design, JAY-Z. The charity auction begins on August 12, at 9:00 a.m. EDT and ends on August 22, at 9:00 a.m. EDT.
After the tip-off event at Radio City Music Hall on August 12, the action moves uptown to New York City’s legendary basketball courts at Rucker Park in Harlem, Friday and Saturday, August 13 and 14.
The World Basketball Festival concludes Sunday, August 15 with an exciting exhibition double-header featuring the United States taking on France (1 p.m. EDT) and China meeting Puerto Rico (3:30 p.m. EDT) at famed Madison Square Garden. Tickets for the exhibition doubleheader, which start at $15, are available on the Web via www.Ticketmaster.com and www.thegarden.com, by phone at
1-800-4-NBA-TIX, and at the box office at Madison Square Garden.
The exhibition games are being utilized as part of the teams’ preparation for the 2010 FIBA World Basketball Championship in Turkey, August 28 to September 12.
http://www.jay-z.com/2010/08/jay-z-joins-nike-inc-and-usa-basketball-to-tip-off-world-basketball-festival/
JAY-Z will join Keep A Child Alive co-founder Alicia Keys, Sade, and Janelle Monáe for the 7th Annual Keep a Child Alive “Black Ball NY”, taking place on September 30, 2010 at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York. The Black Ball is a special benefit event where celebrity and philanthropy walk hand in hand, raising hopes, dreams and millions of dollars to help children and families affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa and India. For more information, please visit www.keepachildalive.org.
http://www.jay-z.com/2010/08/the-7th-annual-black-ball-keep-a-child-alive/
'I share his passion for Brooklyn,' Mikhail Prokhorov says of NBA partner Hov at Gracie Mansion, according to the New York Post.By Mawuse Ziegbe
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Jay-Z share breakfast
Photo: Chris Hondros/Getty Images
Jay-Z is known for doing things big, but nothing says baller status like sharing breakfast with two billionaires, which is just what the Jiggaman did Wednesday morning in New York.
The MC and minority owner of the New Jersey Nets noshed on bagels with media mogul/ Mayor of New York City Michael Bloomberg and the new majority Nets owner, Mikhail Prokhorov, at Gracie Mansion (traditionally the mayor's official residence though Bloomberg doesn't live there). Prokhorov spent the rest of the day on a tour of the city, which included a stop in Jay-Z's native Brooklyn, where the Nets plan to move in two years.
While the Russian tycoon has made his multibillion dollar fortune in the banking and mining industries, Prokhorov clearly has his ear to the streets and revealed his respect for Jigga. According to the New York Daily News, Prokhorov gushed about his fellow Nets owner: "We are soul mates."
And there may be more power breakfasts in store for Hov and Prokhorov as the billionaire added, "I'm looking forward to hanging out with him." While Prokhorov was aware that he and Jay-Z make something of an odd pairing, he insisted the connection between the two moguls is deeper than rap.
"Despite the fact that I am very far from the rap music, we have a lot in common," Prokhorov said, according to the New York Post.
Plus, the two power brokers do have one important thing in common: "I share his passion for Brooklyn," Prokhorov said.
Are you surprised to hear Jay-Z is breaking bread with billionaires? Share your thoughts in the comments!
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http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1639660/20100520/jay_z.jhtml
Just in time for the warm weather, we compile the best sun-drenched tunes since 1991, in Bigger Than the Sound.By James Montgomery
Photo: Universal
Think back to every awesome/romantic/borderline-insane thing you've ever done during the summer. Chances are, there was music playing when you did it. And it was probably playing very, very loudly.
That's because, perhaps more than any other time of the year, summer is practically made for music. It's when we pump up, strip down, make terrible decisions and basically have the times of our lives. And, somewhat fittingly, music is always there with us. It's the soundtrack to our every hookup, breakdown and tanning mishap. It's what's in the air at the beach, the time-share or the club (well, either that or Axe body spray). It's part of our memories, along with that terrible tattoo you got down in Panama City.
So for a song to become a summer jam, it's got to be great (and slightly stupid, but that's a column for another day). And since the official kickoff of summer 2010 is right around the corner, I've decided to compile a list of the greatest of the great — the best, brightest, dumbest, funnest, lightest, loosest, freakiest, goofiest summer songs of all time. All of them are special, all of them are classics. And yes, I spent waaay too much time working on this. What can I say? I freaking love the summer.
Anyway, rather than just prattle on, I reached out to some of my favorite writers — all of whom are certified summer-jam experts, btw — and had them contribute their favorites too. The only thing I told them was that the cutoff point was 1991 (that's when Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince released their epochal "Summertime," after all), and then I sat back and watched the brilliance flood my inbox. Here's what they submitted, along with my picks. It's a definitive list, as submitted by some of the best in the business. These are the Greatest Summer Jams of the Modern Era.
Amos Barshad, New York magazine's Vulture blog
The Notorious B.I.G., "Hypnotize": He died a month before it was officially released, and I think it was clear then it'd be awhile until someone else would be making this level of lyrically brilliant, commercially viable hip-hop. Also, the mermaid fish tank in the video was awesome.
Young Money, "Every Girl": Too raunchy to actually take the Song of the Summer crown, but hung around for a while last season, probably because the sentiment is so universal.
Rihanna, "Umbrella": If you don't like "Umbrella," do us all a favor and move back to the USSR.
Third Eye Blind, "Semi-Charmed Life": Stephan Jenkins believes in the sand beneath his toes, and so do I.
Adam Stewart, MTV News house-music expert/ dude from New Jersey
Tiësto, "Traffic": When Tiësto released this dance-floor mega-bomb in 2003 under his Magik Muzik, the guido fist-pump was arguably born. I have yet to hear this song go off at the beach club without an ocean of hands in the air and strobe lights blinding every eye in the house.
Robin S, "Show Me Love": Steve Angello — one-third of house music's current holy trinity, the Swedish House Mafia — breathed new life into this timeless sing-along floor-filler in 2008. How could he make one of the best and most iconic dance songs even better? The Midas touch of Angello has ensured "Show Me Love" a place as a summer anthem for many years to come.
Swedish House Mafia (featuring Laid Back Luke), "Leave the World Behind": Speaking of the Swedes, they're responsible for one of the most epic dance anthems the world has ever heard. With the soulful vocals of Deborah Cox and melodic grand-piano stabs, Axwell, Angello and Sebastian Ingrosso will forever be looked to for producing thumping summer beats.
Benny Benassi, "Satisfaction": The quintessential Jersey Shore anthem arrived on our doorsteps in the summer of 2003. It was the first year I ever bought a share in a beach house. I heard this song at least 17 times a day for three months straight, and now, years later, I still call it one of my summer faves.
Sarah McLachlan, "Silence (Delerium Remix)": Honestly, this song can make the biggest guido cry. First released in 1997, it hit U.S. airwaves in 1999, and once Tiësto got a hold of it, the uplifting vocal-trance track became one of the most recognizable tunes to any dance-music aficionado. Ahhh, the memories I have from this song, most of which are not suitable for publication.
David Guetta, "Love Is Gone (Joachim Garraud Remix)": A flashback to the pre-Black Eyed Peas days of mega-producer and DJ David Guetta. Ever hear the beginning riff to "I've Gotta Feeling"? It came from this track, and this explosive club destroyer gives me chills to this day. Almost 100 percent of the time, this song creates an impromptu dance-battle circle on the club floor. Awesomeness.
Christopher R. Weingarten, freelance writer and author of the 33 1/3 title "Public Enemy's It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back"
The five best songs that hit #1 on Billboard between June and August, 1991-2010:
5. (tie) Sir Mix-a-Lot, "Baby Got Back," and Destiny's Child, "Bootylicious": Two songs celebrating butts. Your mom probably knows all the words to them (mine does). The summer usually means butts come out of their winter hibernation behind sweatpants, they shed the raincoats giving them protection from spring precipitation, and they fearlessly brave the elements in shorts — or less! There's probably some scientific study that can link the popularity of butt songs with the slow appearance of summer butts. If not, I would like to participate in that study. I cannot lie.
4. Rihanna (featuring Jay-Z), "Umbrella": Holy sh--, Jay-Z's on this?
3. Fergie, "London Bridge": People front like Fergie's terrible (and she generally is), but if these Polow Da Don broken marching-band drums and ecstatic "oh sh--s" were backing M.I.A. or Santigold or something, this would have been the hippest song of 2006, and cheeseball hipster blogs would have had apoplectic fits about their "acute angles" and "Residents-like dissonance." The lyrics are generally nonsense and may be about fellatio.
2. Tupac (featuring Dr. Dre and Roger Troutman), "California Love": Tupac got out of prison and immediately released the most glorious summer-party jam in the history of time. Your move, Gucci Mane.
1. EMF, "Unbelievable": This is pretty much ground zero for your Gnarls Barkleys, M.I.A.s, Sleigh Bells, Andre 3000s and Kid Cudis. Weird streaks of punk, dance, alt-rock, rap and whatever else kind of blur into an inescapable pop moment of screaming and dancing and wearing skateboarder clothes. Sampling Andrew Dice Clay for the "oh!" is either a stroke of genius, an Anthrax-style prank, or dudes just didn't know where to find a James Brown record. Also one of our most postmodern Billboard hits is now in a commercial for Kraft Cheese Crumbles! Which you can use at a summer picnic. Wheels within wheels, people.
Eric Rosenthal and Jeff Rosenthal, ItsTheReal.com
1. The Notorious B.I.G., "Hypnotize": "Yacht Rock" may have its own week on Jimmy Fallon's show, but for us, summer is all about Speedboat Rap. With mermaids in fish tanks and helicopter assassins, "Hypnotize" is a throwback to a time when MTV aired countdown shows like "Most Expensive Music Videos."
2. Nelly, "Hot in Herre": If you're anything like us, then summer 2002 (or should that be "summerr 2002?") was all about rebellion! Nelly and the Neptunes led the charge with their revolutionary anthem, "Hot in Herre." We rebelled against correct spelling! We rebelled against proper pronunciation! Girls rebelled against their clothes! 2002 was the summerr when we changed the worrld.
3. Next, "Too Close": Imagine if Marvin Gaye had two brothers and they all performed as a group. The trio that made up Next were nothing like that, but they did have one ultra-catchy song with some classically to-the-point lyrics. The you-on-me, let's-do-it sex words found in "Too Close" were totally appropriate for when they played the song at my eighth-grade dance.
4. Juvenile, "Back That Azz Up": Summertime marches in the streets for women's equality, this song is not. But who cares?! Nothing makes suburban girls get down like disrespectful lyrics and Mannie Fresh's bouncing drums. Well, except for money and the thought of getting TwitPic'd.
5. LFO, "Summer Girls": LFO were the lacrosse-playing, male equivalent of a Stepford Ke$ha. They were in way over their heads as rappers. They were part of Lou Pearlman's Orlando cult. They name-checked Abercrombie & Fitch. Still, "Summer Girls" is the perfect summer song — for when you meet a nice girl and you just want to take her home.
James Montgomery, MTV News rock editor
10. Sloan, "Money City Maniacs": The air-raid sirens at the beginning. The windmilled guitar chords in the middle. The handclapped breakdown at the end. The general fist-pumping-ness of it all. Proof that they even have summer up in Canada.
9. 69 Boyz, "Tootsee Roll": If you haven't had too much to drink and displaced your pelvis while dancing to this song, then I probably don't want to know you. Dip, baby, dip — indeed.
8. Britney Spears, "Toxic": Only ranked so low because it was released in January of 2004, which sort of makes it the antithesis of a summer jam. Still, there's no denying anything about this song — its longevity included — which is why it's still played at clubs to this day.
7. En Vogue, "My Lovin' (You're Never Gonna Get It)": This song is built around a James Brown sample, a decidedly funky flute loop and the vocal histrionics of four of the finest female voices in pop-n-b history, but none of that is what makes it great. It's all about the breakdown, which launches this one into the stratosphere. And it still hasn't come back down.
6. Ludacris, "Southern Hospitality": Luda's big coming-out party, an ode to shiny Cadillacs, well-endowed ladies and delicious Arnold Palmers (sweet tea and lemonade mixed together, duh), this is basically everything you'd ever want from a summer song. And don't forget the buzzing, Autobahn beat, courtesy of the Neptunes. The beach never felt so chilly.
5. Jay-Z (featuring UGK), "Big Pimpin' ": The lilting, tilting Caribbean beat; the iconic, laconic chorus; that video — oh, that video. Girl in the black fedora, I'll hold you in my heart forever.
4. Beyoncé (featuring Jay-Z), "Crazy in Love": A fierce, feisty, fun slab of power hip-hop, this one heated up the summer of 2003 (and thanks to it's never-endingly energetic beat, probably caused more than a few hernias), and it hasn't really stopped ever since. Also notable for being the song that basically launched B as a solo star, even if it does feature her (future) husband. History!
3. Rihanna (featuring Jay-Z), "Umbrella": The greatest summer song in recent memory and the tune on which Rihanna made the leap. Dance floors still go nuts from the opening snare line, and it almost doesn't matter that the production work here is downright frigid. Pack your parka, because you'll be hearing this one for the rest of your life.
2. DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince, "Summertime": There's a reason this one is a classic. Sure, the chorus is legendary, but it also features Mr. Smith's best work — his flow is smooth, sexy and swaggadocious — and Jazzy Jeff's production work (a beach blanket full of horns and chimes and breezy synths) is truly something to behold, even 20 years after the song was released. But that's probably getting too deep — let's just sit back and unwind.
1. Nelly, "Hot in Herre": From the triumphantly cheesy opening notes and the popping, locking beat to Nelly's goofball, stop-n-pop delivery and a chorus so delightfully stoopid that it might actually be brilliant, "Hot in Herre" might just be the most ridiculous song ever recorded — which is also why it's the single greatest summer jam of all time.
Kyle Anderson, MTV Newsroom blog editor
1. Nelly, "Hot in Herre": It begins and ends here. It's got a funky beat and a totally ridiculous chorus about getting naked. What more could you want?
2. Crazy Town, "Butterfly": This song could be heard coming out of every tool's car in my hometown during the summer of 2001, which is a sure sign of a hit. Also, even though it features a guy named Shifty Shellshock rapping about how much he wants to have sex with an underage girl, it holds up kind of well.
3. Pras (featuring Mya and ODB), "Ghetto Supastar": Neat facts about this song: It was on the soundtrack to the forgotten classic "Bulworth," which starred a rapping Warren Beatty and Halle Berry before she was a big deal; ODB drops rapping at the end of his guest spot to just make noises; the full title is "Ghetto Supastar (That Is What You Are)," which seems weirdly redundant; the chorus interpolates a song written by the Bee Gees and made famous by Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton (who were definitely the ODB and Mya of their day).
4. Third Eye Blind, "Semi-Charmed Life": Could act as the soundtrack to your crystal-meth bender or a trip to the beach. Versatile! Seriously, though, this song kind of rules and sounded awesome cranked all the way up on the radio.
5. Will Smith (featuring Sisqo and Kool Moe Dee), "Wild Wild West": Yeah, most people would go with "Men in Black," but I preferred Smith's official jam of the summer of 1999. It borrowed a sample from Stevie Wonder, made Sisqo wail in an awesome chorus and was for a movie that was absolutely awful. Plus, Smith raps about the types of weapons the villain in the movie uses, so it makes utterly no sense now. Truly a song of its time.
Leah Greenblatt, Entertainment Weekly
Paper Boy, "Ditty": This song, along with pretty much all of Biggie's Ready to Die and Dr. Dre's The Chronic, gives me high school summer nostalgia vibes so hard, I swear I can almost taste the Zima.
Len, "Steal My Sunshine": I did not know that Northeastern Canada had any sunshine to steal, but this brother/sister one-hit-wonder team from Toronto — God, this song is just bam, so summer. Maybe it's the cowbell?
Phoenix, "If I Ever Feel Better": I still don't understand how their last album was so big, but this song wasn't a hit when it came out 10 years ago. Still, in my opinion, the most transcendent slice of French synth-pop bliss — a perfect soundtrack for drive time, dance time, lifetime.
Lumidee, "Never Leave You (Uh Oooh, Uh Oooh)": Another one-hitter, and such a New York-y one: It's block parties, open fire hydrants, double-dutch jump rope and those crazy neon-colored popsicles that give you high-fructose-corn-syrup headaches.
MGMT, "Time to Pretend": I feel like everyone got so burnt on this album in the last couple years, especially the "singles." But this one just feels like this distilled nugget of sun and fun and nostalgia and maximum irresponsibility, a.k.a. youth.
Miley Cyrus, "Party in the USA": Seriously. When I hear the opening chords, it's like a fat kid with a dollar hearing the Good Humor truck jangle — I just lose my sh--.
Maura Johnston, music journalist
5. Beyoncé (featuring Jay-Z), "Crazy in Love": Still a staple at every too-sweaty dance party, thanks to its looped Chi-Lites hook and the "oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-oh, oh-no-no" that gets even the most curmudgeonly attendees shaking their hips. And the bridge is up there as one of the most joyous expressions of love in pop music ever.
4. Fastball, "The Way": It sounds like a lost Elvis Costello track that a car radio settled on after flipping past Jewel and Madonna. But the one megahit by the Texas alt-pop band was a look at two adults who embarked on one last, crazy ride in which they shucked off their responsibilities and took off down the open highway.
3. Hanson, "MMMBop": I still remember the first time I saw this video on MTV, which took place early one morning right before I graduated from college. I was pretty spellbound — not just by the skills of the extremely young drummer on display, but by its ever-bubbling chorus and guitar line, which practically radiated sunlight, its charms were so bright.
2. Rihanna, "Umbrella": A song about rain embodying the hot, sunny season? Well, sure. Thanks to the way its synths push through the speakers, "Umbrella" actually sounds like one of those brief summer squalls that lasts for maybe five minutes, tops, pounding the ground with its rain until almost the exact moment when the sun comes out. Plus, what's summer without a bunch of friends to get you through it?
1. DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince, "Summertime": There are so many reasons it's the obvious pick: the lyrical shout-out to the season; the lazy-day groove; the descriptions of summertime celebrations that seemed to come straight from Will Smith's old photo albums. Plus, I lived in Philadelphia for two years, and if you claim residence there for more than one summer, you kind of have to take on this track as your top summer song of all time.
Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, author of the upcoming book "Talking to Girls About Duran Duran"
Unrest, "Yes She Is My Skinhead Girl": An old punk-rock summer romance 45 from the days of 1991. I've been playing it a lot because Unrest are doing some reunion shows this summer, and it's incredible how those records hold up. I love how Mark Robinson sings about making out on the beach: "Kiss kissing all over your faces/ Smack smacking on my old Ran Races/ Suck sucking where there are no traces." I have no idea what Ran Races are ... sneakers?
Quad City DJs, "C'mon N' Ride It (The Train)": My all-time favorite Southern house-party choo-choo jam. I love the bass. I love the invitation to Michelle, Tamika and Tanya. I love the parentheses in the title. ("The train," dummy! What do you think we're singing about with all the choo-choos here?) I love how it goes on for five or six or seven minutes, who counts, and only an idiot would fade it out early.
Nicole (featuring Mocha and Missy Elliott), "Make It Hot": What did summer sound like before Missy and Timbaland started making records? I'm not sure I can remember, and I don't care. This has to be the sexiest, swampiest, most paranoid hanging-on-the-telephone song ever, with Nicole asking, "Can I get another shot?" and Timbaland answering, "Oh yes you can." This song never became as famous as it deserves to be, but future generations won't sleep on it.
LCD Soundsystem, "I Can Change": My favorite song this summer. James Murphy busts out his Morrissey falsetto to sing, "I can change/ If it helps you fall in love," which has to be the least Morrissey-ish sentiment imaginable. (Morrissey would claim that he can't change, and that's why you should love him.) Those synthesizer burbles are very early Depeche Mode, and early Depeche Mode is always perfect for summer listening, so it's a no-brainer that I'm going to be playing this song nonstop for at least the next six months.
Britney Spears, "Sometimes": Speaking of sometimes, I sometimes get misty over the pop-radio summer of 1999, the halcyon days when Britney could just spend a whole video dancing around on the dock while her elfin dancer boys pose around her in the shape of a heart. This is one of Brit's most underrated summer hits, along with "Lucky" and "(You Drive Me) Crazy." Sheer genius.
Questions? Concerns? Hit me up at BTTS@MTVStaff.com. And share your picks for the best summer jams in the comments!
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NBA fans are wondering if James will head to Jay's New Jersey Nets when his Cleveland contract is up.By Rahman Dukes
LeBron James and Jay-Z
Photo: MTV News
Now that LeBron James has received an early exit out of the NBA playoffs for the second straight year, fans wonder: Will the 2009-10 MVP hang up his Cavs jersey for a move to Brooklyn?
It's no mystery that King James and Jay-Z are bosom buddies and that Jay's influence on the scoring champ could bring the kid from Akron, Ohio, to the Big Apple. Earlier this year at their "Two Kings" annual event during the NBA All-Star weekend in Dallas, Hov told a crowd of reporters that he was impressed by LeBron's growth over the years.
"I'm inspired by LeBron James at this moment, this season that he's having," Jay said. "I didn't think that he would get any better. I remember when I first met him — he told me that he played point guard and I was like, 'You'll never make it in the NBA.' I didn't think he'd make it past half-court — he's 6-foot-8! But I didn't know how gifted this young man would become. And he's getting better."
"Growing up, I had many inspirations," James added.
Jay-Z and LeBron share many similarities, from the reigning positions in their respective careers down to the origins of their upbringing, as both superstars come from single-parent homes.
"I think our biggest inspirations were our families," Jay continued. "We didn't have all of this stuff coming around the neighborhood. For us, it was just our mothers, our parents — our strong mothers."
Later in the Q&A session, a reporter asked LeBron if he ever thought about playing for the Dallas Mavericks. "Uh ..." LeBron paused, looking toward Jay for an answer.
"That's a little self-serving," Hov shot back at the reporter.
"What about the Nets?" another reporter asked.
"Nah," Jay calmly responded. Only time will tell if Jay is pulling our leg — he's been known to do that.
What team would you like to see LeBron James play for? Let us know in the comments!
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Jay-Z was nominated for several BET Awards! Check it out below!
Video of the Year – “Empire State of Mind” & “Run This Town”
Best Collaboration – “Empire State of Mind”
Viewers’ Choice – “Empire State of Mind”
Best Male Hip-Hop Artist
The BET Awards will air Sunday, June 27th on BET.
http://www.jay-z.com/2010/05/bet-nominations-are-in/
Two superstars, two stadiums, two concerts, two unforgettable events. In a rare co-headlining concert pairing, JAY-Z, who has scored more #1 albums than any solo artist in history, and EMINEM, the biggest selling artist of the 2000s, will share a stage with each headlining in his own hometown–EMINEM at Detroit’s Comerica Park and JAY-Z at New York’s Yankee Stadium. The Detroit show is set for Thursday, September 2 and the New York performance is scheduled for Monday, September 13. Both shows will be produced by Live Nation. JAY-Z and EMINEM made an appearance together earlier tonight at Comerica Park, where the Tigers hosted the Yankees, to announce the shows.
“This is a once in a lifetime set of shows and I know we’re both really going to bring it to our home towns” said EMINEM. “The fans are going to love this–and so am I. It’s gonna be historic.” Full EMINEM concerts have been few in recent years. His performance last October at the Voodoo Music Experience in New Orleans was his first full concert since summer 2005. His newest album, Recovery (Aftermath/Interscope), will be released June 22.
Said JAY-Z: “These shows are like a dream come true. I’ve always hoped that hip-hop could play any stadium like other genres of music. How perfect is it that Eminem and I get to play our hometowns and show how far the live rap experience has come? Fun and historic, a great combination all around the board.” JAY-Z is currently touring stadiums, arenas and festivals around the world in support of his latest #1 album, 2009’s Blueprint 3 (Roc Nation).
Since 1996, 10-time Grammy award winner, Shawn “JAY-Z” Carter has dominated the rap industry and set trends for a generation. Now in 2010, he personifies the “American Dream.” Founder and chairman of Rocawear, he is also co-owner of the NJ Nets, 40/40 sportsclubs, Translation Advertising and Carol’s Daughter skin line, as well involved in a partnership with Iconix Brand Group. After three successful years as President and CEO of Def Jam Recordings, where he fostered the careers of international stars Rihanna, Ne-Yo and Kanye West, JAY-Z entered into a partnership with Live Nation to form Roc Nation. Through Roc Nation, JAY-Z released the Blueprint 3, his 11th #1 album, putting him ahead of Elvis for most #1 albums by any solo artist. He continues his philanthropic work through his Water For Live initiative and the Shawn Carter Scholarship Foundation.
EMINEM has sold more than 80,000,000 albums worldwide and won 11 Grammy Awards and an Academy Award. After 1999’s quintuple platinum The Slim Shady LP, The Marshall Mathers LP (2000) and The Eminem Show (2002) became two of the Top 5 best selling albums of the 2000s, with approximately 10,000,000 copies of each sold in the U.S. alone. 2004’s Grammy-nominated Encore reached #1 and was certified quadruple platinum. The #1, double platinum, 2005 greatest hits collection Curtain Call: The Hits and #2, platinum, 2006 various artists compilation Eminem Presents: The Re-Up followed. 2009’s Relapse, the #1-charting winner of the Best Rap Album Grammy was, at nearly double platinum, the best selling rap album of the year. “Not Afraid,” the first single off his upcoming Recovery album, was released two weeks ago and soared to #1 on the iTunes chart, and debuted at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 this week.
http://www.jay-z.com/2010/05/eminem-and-jay-z-to-headline-new-york%e2%80%99s-yankee-stadium-and-detroit%e2%80%99s-comerica-park-in-september/
Music mogul JAY-Z joins the legendary Betty White as musical guest on NBC’s “Saturday Night Live” show May 8.
JAY-Z will make his third appearance as musical guest in studio 8H. Multiple Grammy Award winner, Shawn “JAY-Z” Carter has dominated the rap industry and set trends for a generation. JAY-Z has had numerous number ones on the Billboard Hot 100, including his latest hit “Empire State of Mind” featuring Alicia Keys; additionally, as an artist, he holds the record for most number one albums by a solo artist on the Billboard 200. In 2009, JAY-Z entered into a partnership with Live Nation to form Roc Nation. Through Roc Nation, JAY-Z released the Blueprint 3, his eleventh number one album, putting him ahead of Elvis for most number one albums by a solo artist.
“Saturday Night Live” is from SNL Studios in association with Broadway Video. The creator and executive producer is Lorne Michaels. Steve Higgins and Marci Klein are producers. Ken Aymong is supervising producer. Seth Meyers is head writer. Don Roy King directs.
http://www.jay-z.com/2010/05/jay-z-joins-betty-white-as-musical-guest-on-nbcs-saturday-night-live/
Jay-Z to perform at Coachella this year, which is taking place on 4/16! Will you be there?
Find out more information here.
http://www.jay-z.com/2010/04/jay-z-to-perform-at-coachella/
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Rep for singer calls reports 'untrue.'By MTV News staff
Beyoncé and Jay-Z
Photo: Kevin Mazur/ WireImage
Despite a widely circulated report on the Media Take Out Web site claiming that a "rock solid" source had said Beyoncé and husband Jay-Z are expecting their first child together, a rep for the singer told MTV News on Friday (March 26) that the report is "not true."
The famously private singer has spoken about raising a family with Jay in the past. "I hope that those things will just happen naturally," she told Allure magazine in its February issue. She told "Access Hollywood" in 2008, "The kids, I don't know ... in three years, maybe. It's a lot of work."
Beyoncé certainly does not appear to be pregnant in Lady Gaga's recent "Telephone" video, which was filmed last month in Los Angeles.
Beyoncé and Jay-Z joined Alicia Keys onstage at her concert at Madison Square Garden in New York last week. Beyoncé teamed up with Keys for "Put It in a Love Song," joining her midway through the song and finishing it out with a dance breakdown — it was the first time the two had performed together onstage.
A few songs later, Swizz Beatz joined Keys onstage and was soon followed by Jay-Z: Times Square and the New York skyline engulfed the arena as the team broke into "Empire State of Mind."
The couple's second wedding anniversary is approaching: They wed in a private ceremony in New York on April 4, 2008, although they declined to discuss it publicly for many weeks. Jay-Z and Beyoncé were named the top-earning couple in entertainment by Forbes at the end of last year, thanks to a combined household income of $122 million between June 2008 and June 2009.
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Jay-Z Fans! Be sure to tune into Fuse TV on Monday, March 22nd, to see everything Jay-Z, all day! Need more information? Head over to FUSE.TV for all the details!
http://www.jay-z.com/2010/03/jay-z-takeover-fuse-tv/
Jay-Z Fans! See below the dates for Jay-Z’s European Tour! Stay tuned for details!
6/4/10: Rock am Ring, Germany
6/5/10: Rock im Park, Germany
6/6/10: Paris Bercy, France
6/7/10: Manchester Arena, UK
6/9/10: Birmingham LG Arena, UK
6/11/10: Isle of Wight, UK
7/2/10: Eurockéennes Belfort, France
7/4/10: Wireless, UK
7/9/10: Oxygen, Ireland
7/10/10: Frauenfeld, Switzerland
7/11/10: T in the Park, Scotland
http://www.jay-z.com/2010/03/european-tour-dates-announced/
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Artist: Jay-Z
Label: SRP/Def Jam
Director: Chris Applebaum
Album: Good Girl Gone Bad
http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1269&vid=146709
I Know
Artist: Jay-Z
Label: Roc-A-Fella
Director: Billy Parks
Album: American Gangster [Clean]
http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1269&vid=212384
When The Money Goes
Artist: Jay-Z
Label: Def Jam, Desert Storm
Director: Parris
Album: Loso's Way [Clean]
http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1269&vid=428475
Hov is returning to Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night.By Shaheem Reid
Memphis Bleek
Photo: MTV News
By this time on Tuesday, Jay-Z and Memphis Bleek should be preparing to go on in their house. Hov's BP3 tour hits New York's Madison Square Garden that night — a place where the Jiggaman has astounded thousands of fans with a multitude of guest spots, surprises and even a "farewell" concert. While no one knows what Jay will pull out of his bag of tricks, Memphis Bleek — who always performs with Jay in concert — says to expect an evolution of sound.
"This run is gonna shut everything down, because everything is live now. No more playback. The band plays everything. You gotta come check it out," Jay's former neighbor in the Marcy Projects revealed.
Bleek also said that while Hov parades out an endless array of classics, there are some songs he himself wants to hear that didn't make the setlist.
"Now that's what I don't have," Bleek said about input on what Jay performs. "Jay, he don't be listening to me. He clips a lot of records, a lot of records Jay don't do that I be wanting him to do. If Jay did 'Imaginary Players' — you know what will happen in that building? 'Streets Is Watching,' records like that, they don't come on. That boy's hit catalog is crazy."
Over the weekend, Jay, Bleek and opening acts Young Jeezy and Trey Songz hit the Philips Arena in Atlanta. The sold-out crowd saw Jeezy bring out surprise guest Plies; Trey soothed the ladies and Jay threw knockout blows such as "D.O.A." and "On to the Next One."
Bleek says traveling with Jay from city to city is a lot different for him this time.
"For me it's a new movement," he said. "They ain't let me bring my bus out, my Gs out this time — they clipped my bus! They say I gotta ride on the G5 this time everywhere. Usually I'm stuck on the middle of the road, nowhere with my peoples. Now, I'm riding with the A group.
"Catch me after tour, I might be acting different," he added with a laugh. "I'm moving up. I might act different: They say when you blow up, you act different."
After the BP3 tour finishes in Los Angeles late this month, Bleek said he wants to embark on a solo tour to promote his upcoming album, The Process.
"We gotta get the music out first," Memph determined. "Once we get the music out, the shows will come. I turn down a lot of shows because I don't want to perform old records. I'm tired of singing 'Is That Your Chick,' 'Do My ...' I been doing that. I need to add to the catalog. That's what The Process is gonna do."
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Jay gets some help from Young Jeezy, Trey Songz, Lil Wayne, Drake, Nicki Minaj and other special guests.By Shaheem Reid
Jay-Z performs at Madison Square Garden Tuesday
Photo: Bryan Bedder/ Getty Images
NEW YORK — There is always palpable exhilaration whenever Jay-Z plays Madison Square Garden. Tuesday night (March 2) was another sold-out show at MSG as Hov's Blueprint 3 Tour arrived in town.
After Trey Songz played up to the ladies with his set, there was a short intermission. Like lightning -- boom! The Beastie Boys' "No Sleep Till Brooklyn" video began playing on two big screens that hung over the stage, and a 10-minute countdown began perfectly in sync with the classic hip-hop track. Hova chants started several minutes prior to that.
Finally, with no time left on the clock, Jay's music began. He was greeted with a deafening roar of approval. "Feel it coming in the air," Rihanna's recorded voice from "Run This Town" blasted through the arena.
Jay rose from underneath the stage, rolling his head around his shoulders like a young Mike Tyson getting ready for a prize fight. Jay, like Tyson in the '80s, knows he's a dominant force in any ring, any arena, but especially at the Garden, he's unstoppable.
Jay then brought out Memphis Bleek and told his former neighbor in the Marcy Projects he wanted him to see something special. Like a wizard, Jigga waved his hand around the arena and made fans scream.
"I wanna be careful how I phrase this, because it's one of my heroes," Jay said. "Madison Square Garden used to be Run's House. But 'Run's House' is now on MTV. Madison Square Garden is now 'The House That Hov Built.' "
His assertion was backed up with triumphant showings of "On to the Next One," "U Don't Know," "99 Problems" and "Show Me What You Got."
Hov Rocks NYC
"Empire State of Mind" felt special in the Garden. Jay's performance of the record filled the arena with hometown pride. It's the closest feeling the crowd at the Garden will get to the Knicks winning the championship ... at least until LeBron James signs with the team next year (fingers crossed).
James was in attendance, along with his Cleveland Cavaliers teammate Shaquille O'Neal, Rick Ross, Gwyneth Paltrow, Diddy and Cash Money Records CEO the Birdman. Birdman was on hand to cheer on his "son" Lil Wayne. Wayne, Drake, and Nicki Minaj had the show-stealing moment as part of Young Jeezy's set. The Snowman also brought out Akon.
Jeezy came out about 40 minutes into Jay's show, and the two did "Real as It Gets" from Blueprint 3. After handing Jeezy the keys to MSG for a while, Jay came back and traded rhymes with his Southern partner on the remixes of "Put On" and "My President." Trey Songz came out with Jay as well to help out on "Heart of the City" and "Already Home."
The Blueprint 3 Tour stopped with an "overtime" session that saw Jay take his fans back as far as the Reasonable Doubt days with "Ain't No N---a" and "Can I Live."
"Am I going too far back? This moment is only for us," he added of himself and fans of his first LP.
Hov then brought it up a few years for "Big Pimpin'," with Jay urging everyone to wave whatever they had from rags to bandanas to hats in the air, Carnivale-style.
"I don't take it for granted," Jay said of the fan love. "I appreciate everyone in the building tonight. Thank you, and I hope we return the love tenfold.
The legendary MC then asked to do one more record: "Encore."
Hov is going to be in the Tri-State Area with a few shows during these next two weeks. He plays Atlantic City's Borgata Hotel as well as the Nassau Coliseum in Long Island next week.
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On To The Next One
Artist: Jay-Z
Label: Roc Nation
Director: Sam Brown
Album: The Blueprint 3
http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1269&vid=469115
Jay cracks jokes on BBC show about his wife stealing her most famous moves from him.By Jocelyn Vena
Jay-Z and Beyoncé
Photo: Evan Agostini/ Getty Images
Jay-Z doesn't really like to open up about his personal life and rarely talks to the press about what he and Beyoncé do together in their off-time. But when he stopped by BBC One's "Friday Night With Jonathan Ross" across the pond last Friday, Jay decided that he'd just roll with the personal questions and have a good-natured laugh about the whole thing.
"You're my guy," he joked to Ross about how he loves to talk to him about life with his pop superstar wife, ranking his confidantes: "Obama. You." (He had just shared with Ross that he had been invited to the White House by President Obama.)
Hova explained that Beyoncé was too busy with previous engagements to join him in the U.K., and then he seemed to take advantage of her absence to declare that he was the mastermind behind her famous dance moves. "She's actually in Trinidad," he said. "She has a concert. [We go to each other's shows] all the time, of course. She's a magnificent performer. I steal routines from her. She stole many things from me. You know, I see it onstage ... the ['Crazy in Love'] 'Uh-oh' dance, I started that. You probably don't know what that is."
Then Jay decided to take credit for her most famous dance to date: "I actually created that dance [from 'Single Ladies']," he deadpanned. "That was me again. [I said], 'You should do this [the hand-wave motion],' and she did it. I wouldn't really tell anybody. It's what you asked me, so I don't want to make it seem like I'm making myself more important."
Jay-Z remained in a jocular mood when Ross asked how he spent Valentine's Day with Beyoncé. "Well, I'm not gonna tell you that," he said after a pause. "I'll give you a little bit of information. She was in Peru, and I was in Denver, on my way to here, and ... it was very romantic. ... Skype."
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TUNE IN AT 1:00PM TO WATCH IT LIVE! Watch it here!
Forest City Ratner Chairman Bruce Ratner, Barclays PLC President Robert E. Diamond, Jr., and NETS Investor and Cultural Icon Shawn “JAY-Z” Carter to Celebrate The Next Phase of Construction!
“(BROOKLYN, NY) – March 11, 2010 – Governor David Paterson, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz today joined Forest City Ratner Companies Chairman and CEO Bruce Ratner, Barclays PLC President Robert E. Diamond, Jr., and NETS investor and cultural icon Shawn “JAY-Z” Carter at the ceremonial groundbreaking of the Barclays Center at Atlantic Yards.
The 18,000-seat world-class sports and entertainment arena is being developed by Forest City Ratner Companies (FCRC), which will operate the arena in partnership with ONEXIM Group, the investment fund founded by Mikhail Prokhorov. The Barclays Center will host more than 200 events annually, including professional and collegiate sports, concerts, family shows, and NETS Basketball.
While construction has been on-going since last fall, today’s ceremony marks the next phase of construction of the arena, which is expected to open in 2012.
It is anticipated that Atlantic Yards will generate over $5.6 billion in new tax revenues for the State and the City over the next 30 years and will create a net positive fiscal impact of more than $1.3 billion. In addition to tax benefits, the project will also create thousands of new jobs: upwards of 17,000 union construction jobs and up to 8,000 permanent jobs when the entire project is completed.
Bruce Ratner explained that he expected the project to generate a significant amount of jobs in the coming months as construction activity picks up.
“When we announced Atlantic Yards in December 2003, we anticipated that this project would create buzz and excitement for the borough and the City as well as needed jobs and affordable housing,” said Mr. Ratner. “We did not at the time appreciate that Atlantic Yards would be such an important economic engine. The fact that we can start construction in this financial environment is testament to the lasting appeal of New York City. We are a City that continues to grow and prosper and Atlantic Yards will for many years stand as a reminder that we can build and create jobs and homes and dreams even during the most difficult of economic times.”
Mr. Ratner explained, as well, that over the next six months, excavation, and foundation work will proceed, as well as continued work on street utilities. “We will work closely with the community to ensure that construction progresses efficiently and with minimum impact on the surrounding communities,” he said.
Robert E. Diamond, Jr. the President of Barclays PLC, which has the naming rights for the arena, said, “Barclays is proud to be part of the ongoing renaissance of Brooklyn. The Barclays Center will create new jobs, help bring professional sports back to Brooklyn, and provide a state-of-the-art arena that will host a range of events and serve as the future home of the NETS. Our goal is to have the Barclays Center become the cultural and sporting heart of this community.”
Mayor Michael Bloomberg, “Development has always been an essential component of our success as a City. Today, however, it is critically important because we need to create these jobs, we will need the affordable housing going forward and we need to continue to enhance diverse communities. I’m confident that today’s groundbreaking symbolizes more than the start of Atlantic Yards. It sends a loud message throughout the country that New York will continue to prosper, that we will continue to grow and that we are open and ready for business.”
“What began for me as a dream of bringing a major league sports team back to Brooklyn for the first time since our beloved ‘Brooklyn Bums’ skipped town when I was just a boy has culminated with this groundbreaking on something even I couldn’t have envisioned—an Atlantic Yards complex that will bring the state-of-the art Barclays Center, affordable housing, union jobs and permanent employment opportunities to our nation’s fourth largest city,” Borough President Marty Markowitz said. “Brooklyn deserves nothing less—and although it has been a long road to this moment, it was the commitment of Bruce Ratner, the Nets organization and the City that turned my vision into something that will boost our borough’s economy, pride and reputation as a world-class sports city, and kept this project off the sidelines and firmly on center court. There’s only one thing more exciting than putting a shovel in the ground today—being in Barclays Center on opening night and welcoming our Brooklyn Nets and their diehard fans to the home of the soon-to-be NBA champions!”
Barclays Center, designed by the award-winning architectural firms Ellerbe Becket and SHoP Architects , will be one of the most intimate seating configurations ever designed into a modern multi-purpose arena, with unparalleled sightlines and first-class amenities.
The state-of-the-art facility, to be located at Atlantic and Flatbush Avenues, will have 18,000 seats for basketball and up to 19,000 seats for concerts. The arena will have 104 luxury suites, including 15 Brownstone Suites (16 seats each), 68 Loft Suites (10 seats each), 11 Backstage Suites, six Studio Suites, and four Party Suites. The arena will also include 40 loge boxes, six clubs and restaurants, and the onsite practice facility at the Barclays Center.
“The Barclays Center will be one of the premier sports and entertainment venues in the country,” said Brett Yormark, President and CEO of Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment. “Today is a defining moment for our partners and our fans who have stood by us and supported this world-class project. We look forward to many exciting moments at the Barclays Center.”
NBA Commissioner David Stern said: “The Barclays Center will be a spectacular state-of-the-art venue, and we look forward to its opening as the home of the Nets,” said NBA Commissioner David Stern. “Both NBA fans and the borough of Brooklyn will benefit from Bruce Ratner’s unwavering commitment to making this vision a reality.”
The Atlantic Yards project will include an arena and 16 new buildings to be utilized for residential, office, and retail purposes. Of the anticipated 6,430 units of housing, 4,500 will be rental apartments and the remainder will be market rate condos. Fifty percent of the rental units — 2,250 apartments – will be for a combination of low-, moderate- and middle-income families. In addition, 10% of the rental units will be reserved for senior citizens.
In addition to the affordable housing commitment, FCRC entered into a historic and unprecedented Community Benefits Agreement, wherein FCRC has agreed to continue its longstanding commitment to minority and women owned businesses, by ensuring that at least 30% of contracts and 45% of all construction jobs are to be held by women and minorities. In fact, out of the more than $51 million worth of contracts already awarded for work on the site, 80% of the total prime contracts awarded to date have gone to M/WBE firms and 49.3% of the total contract dollars to M/WBE firms.
In addition, in their commitment to the physical and educational development of youth in the Brooklyn and New York City community, Barclays, the NETS, and FCRC formed the Barclays Nets Community Alliance in November 2007. As part of its stated mission, the Alliance invests in local non-profits that work to improve the lives of young people through sports and other activities, including education and health care.
In addition to Barclays, the naming rights partner, the Barclays Center currently has 10 major partners, including: ADT, Cushman & Wakefield, EmblemHealth, MetroPCS, MGM Grand at Foxwoods, Jones Soda, Haier America, Phillips-Van Heusen, Anheuser-Busch, and High Point Solutions.
For more information on the Barclays Center log on to www.barclayscenter.com“
http://www.jay-z.com/2010/03/watch-the-groundbreaking-ceremony-live-the-nets-future-in-brooklyn/
On To The Next One
Artist: Jay-Z
Label: Roc Nation
Director: Sam Brown
Album: The Blueprint 3
http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?artist=1269&vid=469115
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