J & J Rundown: All About Jay-Z

Jay-Z and Kanye West to release full album

Jay-Z and Kanye West are working on a full album together.

The pair previously announced they were to collaborate for an EP called ‘Watch the Throne’, but Kanye has since revealed this will now become an album.

He told MTV:

“We’re putting out a whole album now. We had done five songs so far, but then a few of them kind of were out there – and I put them on my album. Sorry, Jay!”

Although Kanye used some of their initial ideas for his forthcoming ‘My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy’ album – including the track “Monster”, a version of which featuring Jay-Z has been released – he added the pair have set a date to record again, and he doesn’t expect Jay to have any problems coming up with lyrics.

He added:

“We’re going to the South of France at the end of this month just to record new ideas. We’ll probably be done with the album in like a day or whatever. If you think about it, it’s really easy for Jay: He only has to think of, like, 10 verses!”

Kanye has a long association with Jay, working with the star as a producer on his breakthrough album ‘The Blueprint’ in 2001.

Jay-Z to Stump for Obama Again in 2012

During the 2008 presidential election, Jay-Z made it known that he was rooting for now-President Barack Obama. The rap superstar appeared at campaign rallies with Obama and even sang his praises during (typically sold-out) shows.

Jay-Z hasn’t been involved in the upcoming mid-term elections, but that doesn’t mean he’s done with politics. While speaking with the New York Post, Deputy White House Press Secretary William Burton made it sound like the Obama camp is expecting Jay-Z to help out in 2012.

Burton joked about the rapper taking over a key economic post before admitting his appeal to the Democratic party.

“In all seriousness, keep in mind he was pretty active during the 2008 election, so I don’t think it’d surprise anyone that he would be involved again,” Burton said. “But it’s a little premature.”

I’m A Business, Man! Jay-Z’s 10 Smartest Business Decisions According to Vibe Magazine

Guess who’s bizzack? Less than a month before the release of “Decoded”, a book that breaks down the meanings behind many of his most complicated lyrics, Jay-Z is proving once again why he landed atop of the Forbes “Hip-Hop Cash Kings” list late last summer.

Last week, Hov teamed up with Microsoft‘s search engine Bing to launch an advertisement campaign that will see pages from his upcoming book plastered to billboards throughout the country as well as surfaces like the bottom of a pool and the top of a pool table. Jay-Z fans are encouraged to use Bing to find and locate these pages, and the first fan that locates all of them and “decodes” them properly will win a chance

to catch a Jay-Z concert in Las Vegas on New Year’s Eve.

It’s already proven to be an incredibly deft business move by Jay-Z. The promotion has given the book a ton of free press and a good chance of moving off bookshelves quickly on Nov. 16.

In honor of Hov‘s latest deal, VIBE looks back at 10 of his smartest business decisions. If you’ve ever wondered how he managed to take his life from Marcy to Madison Square, look no further.

Check out the list at VIBE.com.

“I think the list is a bit bogus. Nothing against VIBE by all means they are a great magazine. I just feel the list could have been put together more for his Business/Investment ventures, rather than what kind of champagne he prefers, but that’s just me.”

Here’s one from wikipedia.org:

Jay-Z has also established himself as an entrepreneur like his fellow hip hop moguls and friends, Russell Simmons, Dr. Dre and Sean “Diddy” Combs, who also have business holdings such as record companies and clothing lines. In an interview, he stated that “my brands are an extension of me. They’re close to me. It’s not like running GM, where there’s no emotional attachment.” He is the founder of the urban clothing brand Rocawear along with Damon Dash. Rocawear has clothing lines and accessories for men, women and children. The line was taken over by Jay-Z in early 2006 following a falling out with Dash. In March 2007, Jay-Z sold the rights to the Rocawear brand to Iconix Brand Group, for $204 million. Jay-Z will retain his stake in the company and will continue to oversee the marketing, licensing and product development.He also co-owns The 40/40 Club, an upscale sports bar that started in New York City and has since expanded to Atlantic City and Chicago. In 2008, the 40/40 club in Las Vegas was closed down and bought back by the hotel after attendance steadily declined. Future plans will see 40/40 Clubs in Tokyo and Singapore. In 2005, Jay-Z became an investor in Carol’s Daughter, a line of beauty products, including products for hair, skin, and hands, as well as fragrances.

Jay-Z serves as co-brand director for Budweiser Select and collaborates with the company on strategic marketing programs and creative ad development. He provides direction on brand programs and ads that appear on TV, radio, print, and high-profile events. He is a part-owner of the New Jersey Nets NBA team paying a reported $4.5 million for his share. He is interested in relocating the team to Brooklyn. In October 2005, he was reported in English media as considering buying a stake of Arsenal F.C., an English soccer team. He has also invested in a real estate development venture called J Hotels which recently acquired a $66 million mid-block parcel in Chelsea, New York. Jay-Z and his partners are contemplating constructing a high-end hotel or an art gallery building on the newly acquired site which has the potential to go up about twelve stories. Through his company Gain Global Investments Network LLC, had an interest estimated between 2 and 7% in the Aqueduct Entertainment Group (AEG) consortium which in January 2010 was awarded a contract to operate a 4,500 slot machine racino at the Aqueduct Race Track. Jay-Z became interested in the project after New York Governor David Paterson who awarded the contract said there had to be an affirmative action component to the ownership. Jay-Z initially approached Steve Wynn who was also bidding on the contract. On March 9, 2010, Jay-Z and Flake withdrew from the project and Paterson recused himself from further involvement.

Jay-Z’s Interview With The Wall Street Journal

Here are excerpts from an interview from The Wall Street Journal with Jay-Z in his office.

WSJ: This book puts a frame around your career. When did you really start thinking about how you wanted to present your legacy?

Jay-Z: You think about legacy before you even start. When a kid is practicing on the basketball court, it’s “5-4-3-2-1 and the crowd goes crazy!”

As you start realizing your dreams and it’s tangible, you think about it in a real way. But I think that emotion happens from the beginning, from record one.

The legacy, I think about that as I make the music, all the time. How can I make the best album of all time? You always fail. But every time I go up to bat, I’m thinking how can I make an album better than “Thriller.”

WSJ: I’ve talked to some of your friends who say that when you guys make personal career decisions, you’re taking into account how the decisions will move hip-hop culture forward overall. Can you give me an example?

Jay-Z: For us, this is the music that saved a generation. So there’s a big responsibility for those who it saved to make sure that thing is intact for the next generation. We’re the first generation that really took advantage of it, starting with Puff [Daddy] and Master P, guys who really made a name and became successful as entrepreneurs.

Even more than that, when you’re under attack so much as a genre [as hip hop is], you’re forced to come together. But probably the last time we really came together on something was working for Obama, lending our voice and the people we had toward that campaign. Whether he does a great job or not is almost secondary to what it did for the dreams and the hopes of an entire race. Just based on that alone, it’s a success, the biggest we’ve had. Period. To date. It’s Martin Luther King’s dream realized. Tangible. In the flesh. You can shake his hand.

WSJ: What would you change about hip-hop if you could?

Jay-Z: We have to find our way back to true emotion. This is going to sound so sappy, but love is the only thing that stands the test of time. “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill” was all about love. Andre 3000, “The Love Below.” Even NWA, at its core, that was about love for a neighborhood.

We’re chasing a lot of sounds now, but I’m not hearing anyone’s real voice. The emotion of where you are in your life. The mortgage scandal. People losing their jobs. I want to hear about that.

WSJ: What’s the most important decision you made along the way to help keep your career in your own hands?

Jay-Z: We got lucky. In the beginning we couldn’t get a deal. We had to work our own records in the beginning. It gave us a different way to negotiate when we came to the table. Most people get excited and take the first deal they’re offered. We had a little bit of success already, so we were stubborn enough to think that we could really do it at that point. They offered us a deal and we asked for a co-venture. That pretty much ensured that we’d have control from the beginning, from album one.

WSJ: You don’t hand out awards. Are there other things you say no to automatically?

Jay-Z: That doesn’t have anything to do with building the myth. I’m just uncomfortable speaking. I can do a stadium show for two hours and I’m in my comfort zone. But if you look at any of my acceptance speeches they’re maybe seven seconds. I want to get off the stage.

For more on his interview, check out The Wall Street Journal

Check out a video below of an exclusive Amazon.com interview with Jay-Z about his book “Decoded”

Jay drops some book knowledge in this exclusive interview for Amazon.com. He gives more detail about what we can expect from “Decoded” when it hits stores on November 16th.

Source: Zimbio

Related Articles

• Jay-Z & Kanye West To Release Full Album, Not EP (current.com)
• “Jay-Z To Campaign For President Obama? + Eminem Is The #1 Hottest MC?” and related posts (theybf.com)
• President Obama To Hire Jay-Z For 2012 Campaign? (current.com)
• Kanye West Cutting Album With Jay-Z (spin.com)
• Kanye And Jay-Z To Collaborate On A Full Album! (perezhilton.com)

Music In Ya Ear!: Keri Hilson – “Pretty Girl Rock”

Keri Hilson performed her new single, “Pretty Girl Rock,” on Wednesday Sept. 29, 2010 in Time Square at the Beats by Dr. Dre Event. Keri is beautiful and of course she knows it. She made sure that you knew it as well. Her lyrics, “Girls think I’m conceited because I know I’m attractive.” “Don’t hate me ’cause I’m beautiful!”

Written and produced by Ne-Yo and Chuck Harmony, “Pretty Girl Rock” is the second single from Hilson’s sophomore album, ‘No Boys Allowed’, which currently doesn’t have a release date. Following the lukewarm response to the disc’s lead single “Breaking Point,” Hilson is hoping “Pretty Girl Rock” becomes a hit. I think personally, the song is DOPE!! It is definitely a feel good tune, and definitely a them song for those confident ladies, especially the ones who have an inner Alter-Ego, as I do…LOL

I was actually at the event celebrating my 10 year Anniversary with my man, and boy was it a great way to spend it. Keri Hilson was looking so beautiful. WOW!! She came out performing with a gun microphone than switched up afterwards. It looked like it weighed a ton for her to be holding while performing. She definitely rocked the show. Her grommet vest was DOPE!! I so want it.

Also in attendance performing was Soulja Boy. He ended up making it rain, by throwing a stack of money into the crowd. Note to the ladies, he actually looks better in person than what he does on tv…Just saying!

Dr. Dre was also there, but never came down to the stage area to say anything or at least thank everyone for coming to the event. I thought was a bit messed up on his part, but I guess you can say the performances took away from his shine.

It was great! We really enjoyed ourselves. Happy 10 Year Anniversary to me! ;o)

Check out the “Pretty Girl Rock” performance after the jump….I will also be posting up some photos from the event, real soon. I need to get them uploaded.

Short Clip…

Full View

DOWNLOAD IT!: Keri Hilson – “Pretty Girl Rock” (Produced by Ne-Yo & Chuck Harmony) (via onsmash.com)

Download It!: Nikki Grier ft. Busta Rhymes – “Downtown”

Check out new artist Nikki Grier who is a singer/songwriter who has worked with major artists such as 50 Cent, Eminem, and currently Dre. “Downtown” is her sexual single about you-know-what, the song is nice it features Rapper Busta Rhymes. The album cover looks really sexy. I guess you can say it goes well with the song.

Listen and Download the track below….

LISTEN:

Download It: Nikki Grier ft. Busta Rhymes – “Downtown” (via Lavish Lane)

Let us know what you think!…

Music News: Jay-Z and Eminem Concert at Yankee Stadium Was Full of Surprises!

Jay-Z & Eminem’s first show at Yankee Stadium for their “Home & Home” tour was full of surprises. It was a star studded event.

The duo brought out special guests that included: Dr. Dre, Kanye West, Beyoncé, Chris Martin of Coldplay, Drake, Nicki Minaj, B.O.B., 50 Cent, Lloyd Banks, Swizz Beats, and Bridget Kelly for the show in which both headliners went through dozens of songs each.

Check out videos from the show below:

Jay-Z & Kanye perform “Power” Remix and Nicki Minaj comes out for “Monster”

Jay-Z performs his verse from “Free Mason” and does “Renegade” with Eminem.

Jay-Z & Eminem perform “Renegade” and “Light Up” with Drake

Jay-Z & Chris Martin perform “Heart of the City”, “Most Kingz”, “Lost” and “Viva La Vida” at Yankees Stadium

Jay-Z & Beyoncé perform “Forever Young”

Eminem brings out B.o.B., 50 Cent & G-Unit, D-12 & Dr. Dre for his set at Yankee Stadium

Video Source: YouTube

“Wish I could’ve been there.”

Game Head: DJ Hero Jay-Z & Eminem “Renegade” Edition!

Tracing back to the Jay-Z and Eminem collaborative track from 2001’s “The Blueprint” album, DJ Hero creates a special version of their newly developed video game system, appropriately entitled the Renegade Edition.

Along with a special version turntable, the set will feature a convertible hardcase turned stand, and two-disc CD set, featuring previously unreleased music from Hip-Hop legends, Jay-Z and Eminem.

CHECK OUT MORE PHOTOS BELOW!

Source: faithfulfiend

“Your thoughts? I know I’m getting one, YAY!!”

Hip-Hop News: Eminem Talks New D12 Album

After a several year-long hiatus, Eminem has finally returned to satiate the thirst of his deprived fans with not one, but two albums—Relapse, which is in stores now, and Relapse 2 which is slated for release in late 2009.

His latest appearance was on BET’s Rap City with Big Tigger reposted by Rap Radar, where not only did he discuss his drug addictions and his multiple relapses, but he also confirmed that D12 will be releasing a third studio album:  “…as far as the future of D12, we’re gonna be back in the studio soon.” He said that he felt his music now is the same as it would have been if Proof had still been around, because, “…I think that this is what Proof always wanted, you know, [for] me to go crazy again.”

With the murder of Proof, Eminem lost his original hype man, mentor and best friend but these days, you see fellow D12 member, Mr. Porter (formerly known as Kon Artis) on stage providing ad libs and hyping the crowd up in his place. Although he’s been focusing more on honing his skills as a producer than a lyricist, Mr. Porter shows that he hasn’t fallen off during the Rap City freestyle segment towards the end of the show along with Em and Tigger.

Despite many trials and tribulations faced by the “three-headed monster” (Eminem’s relapses, Dr. Dre’s loss of his son and G-Unit woes), Em says that he feels that they are still the most powerful dynasty in all of Hip Hop. This will certainly be tested very soon, as the world is expecting Relapse 2, Detox and Before I Self Destruct to drop within the year.

Although Eminem mainly talks about his multiple drug relapses that have occurred, his album Relapse is actually a double entender for his first drug relapse as well as the relapse of the Slim Shady persona, who is prominent throughout many of the tracks on the album. Relapse 2, due out later this year, is expected to follow the same concept.

Special Props to HipHopDX for the info via email

Music In Ya Ear!: Eminem – “We Made You”

Video of the Day!: Eminem “We Made You”

Rapper Eminem’s new music song ‘We Made You‘ has made it’s way online. The song “We Made You,” comes off Eminem’s sixth solo album entitled “Relapse.”

In the song “We Made You,” the Eminem mentions celebrity names such as Kim Kardashian, questioning her gender, Jessica Simpson asking her to sing the song, Lindsay Lohan, Jessica Alba, Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin claiming after getting a buzz he’d ‘nail her’ and others.

The song “We Made You” was produced by Dr. Dre and has a music video directed by Joseph Kahn scheduled to release today (April 7th) on MTV.

The album “Relapse” is slated for a release date of May 19th, 2009 on Interscope Records/Aftermath Entertainment/Shady Records.

Download: Eminem – “We Made You”

Video: MTV.com

Source: MTV

“Your thoughts on this video?”

Wire Talk: N.W.A. Biopic?

N.W.A. Biopic In The Works…

A new movie is underway for the 80-90’s California gangsta rap group, N.W.A. who went mainstream and influenced thousands with their die-hard songs such as “Straight Outta Compton,” “F-ck tha Police,” and “Gangsta Gangsta” although many were banned from radio, but still managed to sell millions.

New Line is reportedly developing the new movie “Straight Outta Compton” which is titled after N.W.A.’s (Niggaz With Attitude) album and the self-titled song “Straight Outta Compton” released in 1988. According to Entertainment Weekly’s Hollywood Insider, the movie will chronicle the rise and fall of the rap group which consisted of the late Eazy-E, Ice Cube, MC Ren and beatmakers Dr. Dre and DJ Yella.

Currently, the film producers are stated to include Ice Cube, Dr. Dre, and Tomica Wright (Eazy-E’s widow), and Circle of Confusion entertainment, however, they are searching for a director possibly like Curtis Hanson who directed Eminem’s movie 8 Mile.

In 2006, former NWA manager and businessman Jerry Heller at the age of 65 released a memoir entitled “Ruthless” about the group stating that when he met Eric ‘Eazy-E’ Wright, the credited creator and founder of Ruthless Records, label to N.W.A., in 1987, he knew that he would change the music world.

SOURCE: HipHopRX

“I think this movie would be hot to see.”

Music News: Flo Rida Talk New Album

Flo Rida Talks About Record-Breaking Single ‘Right Round’ and Dead or Alive-sampling hit beats previous record set by Eminem, Dr. Dre and 50 Cent…

Flo Rida’s got another one! The MC jokes about people calling him a one-hit wonder, but with the start he’s gotten with his new single “Right Round,” it doesn’t seem like that’s a problem anymore. His song just beat the record set by 50 Cent, Eminem and Dr. Dre with “Crack a Bottle”“Right Round” for highest debut on the digital-single sales chart. also has the highest digital sales of any single in one week, a record previously held by Flo’s own Grammy-nominated monster, “Low.”

“It’s crazy, because people feel like you get lucky the first time you do something like that. But the second time? You know you’re blessed,” he told MTV News. “I’m humbled enough to say I’m a fan of [50 Cent, Eminem and Dr. Dre]. I’m inspired by those guys. But at the same time, at some point in time you have to do better in some categories, if not every category.”

“Right Round” samples Dead or Alive’s 1985 dance classic “You Spin Me Round (Like a Record),” which Jessica Simpson and Marilyn Manson have also covered. Flo Rida has put his own, er, spin on the song’s lyrics.

“Right Round” is about a young lady, she might be in the strip club and she’s got my head spinning round,” Rida explained. “Or any young lady that I might see walking past me that’s getting my attention. She got it going on! I’m going crazy over her. I might go to the club and make it rain … in the club on her because she got it going on.”

Flo Rida says to look for a mix of party and message records on his new LP, R.O.O.T.S. (Route of Overcoming the Struggle), which is due out on March 31. Ne-Yo and Rick Ross are among the guest stars.

Look for Flo Rida next week in Mixtape Monday. He’ll be performing and explaining records from his latest street CD, Freestyle Kronikles 3 on MTV.

Source: MTV

Music News: Flo Rida Topping Charts!

Flo Rida’s “Right Round” tops the 1 million mark in paid downloads in just its second week of release, which makes it the fastest million-selling download ever. This shaves three weeks off the old record, which was set in November by “Live Your Life” by T.I. featuring Rihanna. “Right Round” debuted last week with sales of 636,000 downloads, by far the biggest one-week total ever. This week, it sold 460,000 downloads, the third highest one-week total ever. In second place: Flo Rida’s previous smash “Low” (featuring T-Pain), which sold 467,000 downloads during Christmas week 2007. Flo Rida doesn’t get one-tenth of the mainstream media exposure of Kanye West or even Lil Wayne, but based on these numbers, I’d say he deserves to have a higher media profile.

The record for fastest-selling download has been broken several times in the past year. “Love In This Club” by Usher featuring Young Jeezy set a record when it topped the 1 million mark in its seventh week in April. It was broken two weeks later when “4 Minutes” by Madonna featuring Justin Timberlake rang the bell in just six weeks. At the rate we’re going, we will soon get to the point that high-demand songs sell 1 million copies in their first week of release. This is the second week in a row that rap or hip-hop artists have held down the top three spots on Hot Digital Songs. “Right Round” holds at #1, “Dead And Gone” by T.I. featuring Justin Timberlake inches up to #2 and “Crack A Bottle” by Eminem, Dr. Dre and 50 Cent dips to #3.

Source: Yahoo!