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JAY-Z
Jay-Z Says He Boycotted The 1999 Grammys After DMX Was Snubbed At The Award Show
Competition in hip-hop has always been a major factor in hip-hop. It’s something Jay-Z knows all too well, having had spats with acts like Nas and Drake. But sometimes rappers need to put aside their differences for the greater good. During a recent appearance with Bad Bunny on LeBron James’ HBO show The Shop, the legendary musician spoke about once siding with the late DMX after the Grammys failed to nominate him at their 1999 show.
“The first time I boycotted the Grammys was for him,” he said. “We both came out that year. He didn’t get nominated. He dropped two No. 1 albums in the same year and they didn’t even nominate him.” The two albums Jay-Z is referring to are 1998’s It’s Dark And Hell Is Hot and Flesh Of My Flesh, Blood Of My Blood. The 1999 award show is also where Jay-Z earned his first Grammy, winning in the Best Rap Album category for Vol. 2… Hard Knock Life. He added, “I wasn’t even in the building because I boycotted it for him. There was a competitive thing, but it was big love.”
Jay-Z then dove into the pugilistic nature of his relationship with DMX, recalling a time when the late rapper called him out at a show. “He got on stage: ‘JAY-Z, where you at!?’ I was like, ‘This guy is nuts!’ He was just all passion,” he said. During the episode of The Shop, Jay also explained why DMX was an impossible act to follow at live shows.
JAY-Z + Beyoncé Rumored To Buy World’s Most Expensive Car
Hip-hop power couple JAY-Z and Beyoncé have been making headlines for spending their well-earned money. According to reports, the legendary artists are rumored to have purchased the world’s most expensive car. JAY-Z + Beyoncé Buy World’s Most Expensive Car It’s rumored that JAY-Z and Beyoncé shelled out some serious funds for one of the finest […]
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Jay-Z Explains Exactly Why DMX Was An Impossible Act To Follow As A Live Performer
In the wake of the late DMX’s tragic, untimely death, his fans and peers have been sharing their memories and stories that reveal just what made him such a formidable force in the hip-hop world. Who better to testify to X’s power as a live performer than one of the best and most influential New York rappers in the game, Jay-Z. As the clip below shows, in a recent episode of LeBron James’ show, The Shop on HBO, even Jay-Z found X a tough act to follow. Just as he showed his fallibility in a recent episode by admitting he sometimes forgets his own lyrics, Jay let James and crew know that following up a DMX set was no easy feat.
“X is about to go on, and I’m like, you know, I wanna see,” he begins. “X is going before me. And then he goes (growls), and the f*cking arena goes crazy. First of all, it’s deafening… and I’m like oh sh*t.” Jay goes on to explain the other elements of X’s set that get the crowd hype, including ripping his shirt off halfway through his set, and then, of course, leading the entire crowd in prayer as a closing act. Then, after all that, it’s time for Jay-Z to take the stage — a tough act to follow indeed. Check out his retelling of the set above, it showcases exactly why Jay is such a successful figure in pop culture in the first place, he’s a great storyteller. And if you’re craving more DMX, check out the posthumous Exodus album his label released this past Friday.
Beyonce And Jay-Z Probably Commissioned This $28 Million Rolls Royce With Champagne Refrigerators
Though it hasn’t been officially confirmed that Rolls Royce’s latest insanely expensive car was commissioned for Mr. and Mrs. Carter — aka Beyonce and Jay-Z — all signs point to the Carters. Partnering with the custom builder Coachbuild, the new Rolls Royce Boat Tail reportedly retails for around $28 million, making it one of the most expensive cars on the market.
According to the Rolls Royce website detailing the car’s custom features: “A double refrigerator houses the clients’ favorite vintages of Armand de Brignac champagne. Bottles can be rapidly cooled to precisely six degrees — the optimum serving temperature of the preferred vintage.” Of course, Jay-Z only recently sold his fifty percent stake in Armand de Brignac, back in February, to Moët Hennessy.
Other features of the car’s back deck include a parasol and picnic set, alongside the double refrigerators, and gossip sites like Page Six point to the Boat Tail’s blue color as another sign that the commissioners were Bey and Jay. I mean, considering they love the color so much that it’s their daughters name, it’s a pretty solid bet. The other fascinating bespoke feature in the car? A pair of Bovet 1822 timepieces that are two-sided, one for the lady and for a gentleman, which can be used in the car as clocks or worn. Check out more details of the rather magnificent car here.
Jay-Z Is Set To Speak At A Robin Hood Foundation Event For Wall Street Executives
The Robin Hood Foundation is a charitable organization dedicated to addressing poverty in the New York City area and a favorite of wealthy Wall Street executives looking to do some good with their riches (you know, aside from just like… giving it all away). The bemusingly titled charity is set to hold its annual investors’ conference next month and has invited a speaker who knows a bit about being on the other side of the wealth gap: Jay-Z.
CNBC made the announcement yesterday, reporting that Jay’s booked to discuss his use of data to make investment decisions, as well as the recent sale of his Tidal shares to Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey. Jay’s other endorsements include cannabis, NFTs, and a reported TV and film production company for which he just filed a trademark. According to CNBC, it’s also an opportunity for Jay to schmooze with the sort of high rollers who can invest in his future endeavors as he builds his billion-dollar empire.
Even as Jay continues to make million-dollar money moves, the rap mogul has contributed just as much to his day job, collaborating with former rival Nas twice in as many months with songs on DJ Khaled’s new album and on DMX’s posthumously released Exodus, out now on Def Jam.
H/T to Complex.
Jay-Z Will Speak to Wall Street Executives at Robin Hood Event
Hov talks big business. Continue reading…
Jay-Z Admits He Used To Forget His Lyrics When He Performed On LeBron James’ ‘The Shop’
LeBron James‘ HBO Show The Shop returns for its fourth season this Friday, bringing with it an impressive list of guests including Puerto Rican star Bad Bunny, WNBA champion Nneka Ogwumike, and Bron’s big homie Jay-Z. In a new clip previewing the season premiere airing this Friday, the latter makes an admission that might surprise a few fans of the 30-year rap veteran: He wasn’t always as cool, calm, and collected as his rap persona might have you believe.
When LeBron asks whether his guests ever got “so zoned out they couldn’t see anything,” Jay confesses, “In the beginning, I used to get on the stage and just forget all my lyrics.” Of course, Jay is far from the only rapper ever to forget his own lyrics — on stage or otherwise. Both Eminem and Lil Wayne have copped to having to Google their rhymes to ensure they don’t repeat themselves, while current hitmaker Lil Baby was stumped by a TikTokers lyrics quiz when he couldn’t complete his own bars. Among them, it’s probably easiest to forgive Jay and Wayne, who’ve both embraced a style of songwriting heavy on mental formulation without writing anything down.
The Shop airs 5/28 at 9 pm ET on HBO. Watch the promo above.
Jay-Z’s Made In America Festival Announces Its Return For A 10th Anniversary Event
Made In America, the music festival created by Jay-Z and Roc Nation, is returning in 2021 for a 10th-anniversary event this Labor Day weekend, September 4 and 5. The festival is returning to its usual venue at Benjamin Franklin Parkway, with a portion of proceeds going to support the ACLU of Pennsylvania and The REFORM Alliance.
In a statement, Jay-Z said, “We are thrilled to announce Made in America 2021 on the legendary Benjamin Franklin Parkway. This year will be like no other, as Made In America celebrates 10 years of music history-making moments. The artists’ performances will be even bigger and Cause Village will host a wider range of amazing philanthropic organizations. We look forward to sharing incredible memories with our festival attendees and the city of Philadelphia.”
While the lineup for the 2021 event hasn’t yet been announced, previous iterations have been played by such names as Cardi B, Juice WRLD, Lil Uzi Vert, Lizzo, Nicki Minaj, Post Malone, and Ty Dolla Sign. The 2020 festival, canceled due to last year’s shutdown, hadn’t yet announced its lineup at the time of cancelation. Other festivals scheduled to come back this year include Governor’s Ball, headlined by Billie Eilish and Post Malone, and Lollapalooza, with Foo Fighters, Post Malone, and Tyler The Creator.
For more information, visit www.madeinamericafest.com.
Top Hip-Hop Songs From the Year You Graduated High School
50 Cent, Wiz Khalifa, Bone Thugs-N-Hamrony, Fetty Wap, Timbaland, Kid Cudi, B.o.B, Kendrick Lamar and more. Continue reading…