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JAY-Z
New York Mayoral Candidate Andrew Yang Apparently Struggled To Name A Jay-Z Song During His ‘Ziwe’ Interview
Ziwe Fumudoh sat down with former presidential and current New York mayoral candidate Andrew Yang this week, and those who assumed the result would be bad news for Yang were apparently very correct according to the first clips from Ziwe.
Ziwe, whose Showtime series has garnered a reputation for putting celebrities on the hot seat and asking some very leading questions, asked Yang on Twitter earlier in the week he would appear on the show. “You would be an iconic guest,” she wrote on Twitter.
.@AndrewYang would you be interested in an interview on my show? you’d be an iconic guest pic.twitter.com/CoxXrZJ0Cq
— ziwe (@ziwe) May 20, 2021
Those who knew her work pretty plainly thought this would be a tough interview for Yang, who has stumbled in his mayoral campaign in recent weeks. By Thursday night, however, Wall Street Journal reporter Katie Honan had reported Yang would indeed appear. And on Saturday, Ziwe posted a clip from the episode that involved New York legend Jay-Z. The clip, which cuts off after about 30 seconds of awkwardness, includes Ziwe asking Yang what his favorite Jay-Z song is with him unable to name a single one.
i asked new york mayoral candidate andrew yang what his favorite jay z song is pic.twitter.com/UV8tQJXta1
— ziwe (@ziwe) May 22, 2021
“I listened to a lot of hip-hop during like the 90s and 2000s,” Yang said when asked what he’s “vibing to” lately after a question about listening to rap music. She presses him, saying “I gotta know” what artists he likes, and he mentions Nas and Jay-Z after some hesitation.
“What’s your favorite Jay-Z song?” she asks. “I mean, he’s a New Yorker.”
Yang only says “yes” initially, and then there’s a long pause as he seems to think it over. “What is my favorite Jay-Z song?” he asks, as if to himself as well as anyone willing to give him the name of one to rescue him from the situation. Ziwe’s expression really says it all here.
The clip cuts off right as he says “it’s” after a full 10 seconds of contemplation or so. And while he may just have had a hard time coming up with his favorite, not simply struggling to come up with any songs at all, the awkward moment is the latest in a campaign that’s struggled to avoid them.
For Yang to have said yes to the interview means either no one on his staff knew what Ziwe’s deal was with these interviews, or he was simply not as prepared as he should be for the kind of questions she’d ask. But it’s also an own goal in several ways here: If Yang simply isn’t a Jay-Z fan, which is fine even for New York mayoral candidates, the easiest way to avoid falling into this trap is to not claim he spent a few decades listening to his music seconds before.
We’ll have to wait and see what he came up with when his interview on Ziwe airs on Sunday night.
Young Thug Explains Why He Compared Himself To Jay-Z: ‘I Got Just As Many Hits’
Late last year, when Young Thug was asked whether he’d participate in a Verzuz hits battle, the genre-bending Atlanta rapper’s answer caused a minor dustup on social media because of his controversial inclusion of one of rap’s biggest names in the response. “It would probably have to be like [Lil Wayne],” he said at the time. “… Jay-Z ain’t got 30 songs like that.”
While some fans thought that Thug’s mention of Jay-Z was disrespectful, Thug later explained on his Instagram that he wasn’t trying to diss Jay, he was just “talking too fast.” Today, he returned to the scene of the faux pas, the Million Dollaz Worth Of Game podcast, to further elaborate on his original comments and set the record straight with regard to where he stands on Jay-Z’s legacy.
Host Gillie Da Kid tees him up saying, “You were basically saying you got a lot of f*ckin’ records,” to which Thug replies, “That’s all I was saying, I just used his name because he the biggest n**** in the world to me. I just used his name, to let the world know, ‘Yo, I got just as many hits as the biggest n**** in the world.’ I’m doing two hours on stage. I don’t remember my last hour show… and I don’t do too much talking.”
Still, it might be interesting to see how the two fanbases would react to a Verzuz-style battle. Obviously, both have more than enough hit records to go back-and-forth, but the generation gap and difference in their styles could generate some fun debate among hip-hop heads, possibly even bringing them together across the regional and generational splits that have prompted so much of hip-hop’s friction over the years. However, it might be more productive for the two to collaborate on a new hit record that brings them together instead of forcing them to compete.
You can watch the full interview with Million Dollaz Worth Of Game above.
The Tracklist For DMX’s Posthumous ‘Exodus’ Reveals Collaborations With Jay Z, Nas, Lil Wayne, And More
Since the tragic, untimely death of DMX due to complications after a drug overdose earlier this year, the hip-hop community has been hellbent on preserving his legacy. He was an artist who meant so much to so many people, and giving his catalogue the send off it deserves has been a priority for many. At the forefront of these efforts has been producer and rapper Swizz Beatz, who also recently opened up about his frustrations with some of the fake friends he saw around the late rapper.
In an effort to be anything but that, Swizz has been working as a steward for the posthumous album, Exodus, that DMX’s label recently announced. Swizz has discussed the final song he collaborated on with X, and also let fans know that a collaboration between Earl, Jay Z Nas is likely going to be in the mix.
Well, all those have been confirmed now, along with plenty of other songs, as the tracklist for the album was shared by DMX’s label today. Their all caps caption stated the following: “EXODUS 1:7 OFFICIAL TRACK LIST (5/28). THE LEGACY CONTINUES.” Along with a photo of the tracklist, which features, among many others, appearances from Lil Wayne, Snoop Dogg, and yes, Jay Z and Nas on the same track together. Check out the list below and look for the full project dropping later this month on May 28.
1. “That’s My Dog” Feat. The Lox and Swizz Beatz
2. “Bath Salts” Feat. Jay Z and Nas
3. “Dog’s Out” Feat. Lil Wayne and Was
4. “Money Money Money” Feat. Swizz Beatz
5. “Hold Me Down” Feat. Alicia Keys
6. “Skyscrapers” Feat. Bono
7. “Male Stick Up Skit” Feat. Cross, Infrared, and Icepick
8. “Hood Blues” Feat. Westside Gunn, Benny The Butcher, and Conway
9. “Walking In The Rain” Feat. Nas, Exodus Simmons, & Mr. Porter
10. “Take Control” Feat. Snoop Dogg
11. “Exodus Skit”
12. “Letter To My Son (Call Your Father)” Feat. Usher and Brian King Joseph
13. “Prayer”
JAY-Z + Nas will reunite on DMX’s ‘Exodus’ final album
Music moguls JAY-Z and Nas are coming together for late Ruff Ryders icon DMX. New details have surfaced on X’s posthumous Exodus album including some standout guest features including the former Def Jam trio. JAY-Z + Nas will reunite on X’s last album With anticipation building for the project’s May 28 release, both song titles […]
The post JAY-Z + Nas will reunite on DMX’s ‘Exodus’ final album appeared first on SOHH.com.
Conway The Machine Says Jay-Z Told Him He Isn’t Working On Any New Music
Jay-Z’s 2021 has been filled with business moves from all corners of the world. The billionaire rapper has bought his way into new ventures and sold his way out of others. The various deals involved his champagne company Ace Of Spades, his streaming service Tidal, Los Angeles-based fitness company LIT Method, and NFT marketplace Bitski. Through it all, some hoped the rapper would also be working on a new album, one that would be the follow-up to his 2017 solo effort, 4:44. According to Conway The Machine, however, who says he recently spoke to Jay about the possibility of new music from him, that is not the case.
“I was asking him, I’m like, ‘Yo, you gonna record more? You been cooking up, what you doing?’” Conway said during an interview with Nadeska on Apple Music. “He actually was like, ‘nah man, I ain’t, I ain’t’ and he was saying the way he records is kinda like how I do it. It’s gotta be a vibe. Like, I gotta hear something, they gotta take me there, I gotta be experiencing something, I gotta do something.
“I’m just sitting there soaking up jewels, you know what I’m saying,” he added. “But that’s what it was like with Hov. I’m a listener, so, I’ma sit back and collect all the jewelry as I, as much as I can.”
You can listen to Conway The Machine’s interview on Apple Music here.
Shaq Applies His Analysis To Rap Lyrics About Him From Cardi B, Drake, Jay-Z, And More
When it comes to pop culture figures that rappers love to reference in their songs, NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal stands head and shoulders above the rest — literally, in most cases. Not only does he have an extensive hoop, film, and rap career to draw lyrical comparisons to, but there is a wealth of words that rhyme with “Shaq” — not to mention, his many, many nicknames. The Big Diesel, who’s now best-known for his nightly hoops analysis on NBA on TNT, tried his hand at breaking down some of the bars about him from rap titans like Biggie, Cardi B, Drake, and Jay-Z for Genius’s Between The Lines.
Throughout the course of the video, Shaq gives his impression of the many, many rap lines about him. Nas’s “It Ain’t Hard To Tell” was one of the first songs to make reference to O’Neal (more precisely, to the way “Shaquille holds the pill”), blowing the then-NBA sophomore’s mind, while Mannie Fresh’s “Still Fly” line about buying a car from him turns out to be a true story. Shaq also notes he wasn’t bugged by Biggie’s line about losing money on Lakers games from “I Love The Dough” because it too was based on the performance of the Lakers in their first three playoffs appearances with Shaq on the team, plus due to BIG’s contribution to Shaq’s own album — which he naturally gets into as well.
There’s plenty more to talk about; watch the full video up top.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
DJ Khaled congrats JAY-Z for Hall of Fame induction
We The Best CEO DJ Khaled is honoring hip-hop legend JAY-Z today for an incredible achievement. Khaled dedicated a post to Hova through Instagram, congratulating him on his Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction. DJ Khaled Congrats Jay-Z for Hall of Fame Induction The Palestinian musician included photos of JAY-Z in his post, including […]
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Royce 5’9 gives JAY-Z his flowers after HOF induction
Detroit rapper Royce Da 5’9 has only respect for a living G.O.A.T. The hip-hop veteran has saluted music icon JAY-Z following his publicized Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction. Royce 5’9 gives JAY-Z his crown The Motown legend hit up Instagram with a salute to Young Hov. The post features a snapshot from streaming […]
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Foo Fighters And Other New Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Members React To Being Named 2021 Inductees
The official class of 2021 inductees for the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame was announced today, and as the honorees have become aware of the news, they have offered reactions to their latest historic achievement.
Foo Fighters went funny with their reaction, referencing one of Pat Smear’s previous bands and writing, “Holy sh*t! The guitar player from The Germs is in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame!!!”
Jay-Z has yet to give a public reaction, but his Roc Nation shared a photo of him and captioned it, “Hall Of Fame Hov.”
Hall Of Fame Hov pic.twitter.com/5OAPnVGfGz
— Roc Nation (@RocNation) May 12, 2021
LL Cool J shared the list of of nominees and wrote, “You can do anything you put your mind to. Thank you.”
Carole King also wrote, “I wanted to be a songwriter so I could meet all the great artists and they would know who I was. I thought being inducted into the @rockhall as a songwriter with Gerry Goffin was the pinnacle. Until now. Thank you for ALSO inducting me as an artist. And [thanks] to my fans always.”
I wanted to be a songwriter so I could meet all the great artists and they would know who I was. I thought being inducted into the @rockhall as a songwriter with Gerry Goffin was the pinnacle. Until now. Thank you for ALSO inducting me as an artist. And
to my fans always. https://t.co/O7ue6ibBdj
— Carole King (@Carole_King) May 12, 2021
The Go-Go’s are thrilled to be included in this induction class, as they tweeted, “We are so EXCITED to announce that we will be … inducted into the 2021 Rock Hall of Fame!! Women have always been a vital part of the ever changing music business and we are so proud to have our success story honored and recognized by the @rockhall and our wonderful fans!”
We are so EXCITED to announce that we will be … inducted into the 2021 Rock Hall of Fame!!
Women have always been a vital part of the ever changing music business and we are so proud to have our success story honored and recognized by the @rockhall and our wonderful fans! pic.twitter.com/7q175tQjQU
— The Go-Go’s (@officialgogos) May 12, 2021
The induction ceremony is set to take place on October 30 at 8 p.m., from Cleveland, Ohio’s Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse. The show will be broadcast on HBO and later stream on HBO Max.