JAY-Z

Jay-Z’s Presence Alone Changed Lou Williams’ Mind About Declaring For The NBA Draft Out Of High School

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Three-time NBA Sixth Man Of The Year Lou Williams officially retired from the league on Father’s Day. Williams’ announcement was made in the form of an Instagram video narrated by his daughter. “Finally, today, I’m happy you found peace with your decision,” she says. “You were a young dreamer out of South Gwinnett, one of the last to be drafted — straight to the league. You were eager to make a name for yourself.”

It turns out Jay-Z is responsible for Williams’ going 45th overall to the Philadelphia 76ers in the second round of the 2005 NBA Draft out of South Gwinnett High School, rather than playing at the University Of Georgia first.

“I went straight from high school [to the league],” Williams said to start a recent episode of The Starting Five podcast presented by DraftKings. “My thing was, my senior year in high school, I started experiencing things. I had this one night — LeBron and Mav [Carter] introduced me to Jay-Z. I kicked it with Jay for a night, and I went to school the next day.”

Lou Will continued, “I was looking around the class, like, ‘I’m nothin’ like none of y’all.’ I started experiencing different sh*t, so I was like, ‘I’m not going to sit in another classroom after this.’ I literally can’t do it, you know what I’m saying? I don’t think that’s going to be the path for me.”

Williams spent the first seven seasons of his career in Philly (2005 to 2012) before signing in free agency with his hometown Atlanta Hawks, where he initially played from 2012 to 2014. Williams ultimately finished his career in Atlanta, most recently appearing in 56 games during the 2021-2022 season, but he enjoyed stops with the Toronto Raptors, Los Angeles Lakers, Houston Rockets, and Los Angeles Clippers in between.

Watch the full The Starting Five episode above.

Jay-Z & Alicia Keys’ “Empire State Of Mind” Has Gone 9X Platinum

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If you were to say you haven’t heard Jay-Z and Alicia Keys’ 2009 song “Empire State of Mind,” you would be lying. The unofficial anthem of New York City, one can hear it crossing terminals at JFK Airport. Any millennial worth their weight in rap has this on their top-10 list of the early aughts. And now, Jay-Z can sit back and revel in the song going Platinum a whopping nine times. Going Certified Platinum today, June 28, 2023, it took the track almost 14 years to move nine million units.

“Empire State of Mind” had momentum from the jump. Jay-Z dropped the single on September 1, 2009, ten days before the eight-year anniversary of 9/11. The track went Gold and Platinum in two months. By April 2010, it had gone triple-Platinum. The higher the honor goes, the tougher it is to reach that benchmark. So to see “Empire State” do it nine times is quite impressive. For Jay-Z, this is nothing surprising; most of his lyrics comment on him being the best rapper to do it, and this is just further proof.

Read more: Beyonce & Jay-Z Play Uno & Take Beautiful Photos Together During France Trip

Jay-Z, Alicia Keys, And The Legacy Of “Empire State”

Originally, “Empire State of Mind” had Angela Hunte and Janet Sewell-Ulepic on the hook. In fact, they were the writers of the first version of the song. They had to submit the track twice to Jay-Z’s Roc Nation before Jay decided to keep the chorus, switch up the verse, and record it himself. Roc Nation asked Hunte and Sewell-Ulepic if they thought anyone else was more appropriate for the chorus. They suggested Alicia Keys, and Jay considered Mary J. Blige as well. But once he heard the piano loop, he knew Keys was the right choice.

“Empire State of Mind” was number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for five straight weeks, making it the first Jay-Z track to top the charts with him as a lead artist. Keeping with the “State of Mind” theme, a la Billy Joel and Nas, the song’s title is a reference to the Empire State Building. The “Excelsior” state and the city that never sleeps are grateful for such a powerful and indicative anthem, showcasing the culture behind one of America’s greatest cities.

Read more: Alicia Keys Picks Up Maybach Gift From Swizz Beatz

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Beyonce & Jay-Z Play Uno & Take Beautiful Photos Together During France Trip

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Beyonce may be one of the biggest acts touring across Europe at the moment, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t still take time to enjoy the historic continent on her days off. Most recently the 41-year-old has been making plenty of appearances in France with her husband, Jay-Z. One of their first stops in the city was Pharrell’s Louis Vuitton menswear runway debut. During that, Bey was seen filming her longtime friend like a proud mom during his big moment. Of course, the Carters were some of the best-dressed at the venue, along with celebrity friends like Rihanna, ASAP Rocky, and Zendaya.

Their lifestyles certainly have them used to luxury. Nevertheless, a sneakily captured photo of Beyonce and Jay-Z at lunch in France earlier this week proves that they know how to enjoy the simple things in life too. “Not Bey playing Uno with [Hov] today, they’re just like us I’m crying 😭😭😭,” one Twitter user wrote while sharing the image of the “Irreplaceable” singer holding a small collection of colourful cards in her hand.

Read More: Beyonce & Jay-Z Support Pharrell’s Louis Vuitton Debut Looking Regal AF

Stars… They’re Just Like Us

As Daily Mail reports, the couple was dining at the world-famous la Colombe d’Or in Saint-Paul-de-Vence this week. Queen B looked ready to take on the stage in an elegant white dress complete with feather and sheer detailing. She combined the gown with chunky sunglasses and a black and white purse, waving and smiling at cameras on her way into the restaurant.

Jay-Z appeared to be in total vacation mode, wearing a printed button-up shirt with green leaves and golden keys displayed across it. He kept it casual in a pair of cargo shorts, adding a simple watch, sunglasses, and a silk scarf tied around his hair. Aside from the paparazzi images that have been captured, the mother of three also shared some heartwarming snaps in a photo dump, giving us some insight into how playful she and the New Yorker are together, even after all these years.

Read More: Beyonce Gives Merch To Fans Outside After Making Music History With Barcelona “RENAISSANCE” Concert

Bey and Jay’s Latest Photo Dump

Check out Beyonce’s latest IG post with her husband below. Do you think that she and Jay-Z are one of the best-dressed couples in the music industry? Let us know in the comments, and check back later for more hip-hop/pop culture news updates.

 

 
 
 
 
 
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[WATCH] JAY-Z Performs Set After Pharrell’s LV Debut in Paris

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JAY-Z didn’t only attend the Louis Vuitton debut of Pharrell as the Creative Director of Menswear, but he also performed. Hitting the timeline from Paris, videos show performances of “Niggas in Paris,” “Frontin,” “PSA,” and more.

The post [WATCH] JAY-Z Performs Set After Pharrell’s LV Debut in Paris appeared first on The Source.

Pharrell’s First Louis Vuitton Show As The Men’s Director Featured A Fun Duet Performance With Jay-Z

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Pharrell Williams recently kicked off his first fashion show in Paris as Louis Vuitton’s Men’s Creative Director — replacing the late Virgil Abloh. It wasn’t without surprises either, as he incorporated music into a large part of the show.

Jay-Z made a special appearance to play “Frontin” by The Neptunes and “On To The Next One.” Pharrell also brought the Voices Of Fire gospel choir to perform their recent collab, “Joy (Unspeakable).”

There was also a live debut of a new Clipse (Pusha T and Malice’s duo) song that is reportedly called “Chains ‘N Whips,” according to a New York Times write-up.

“Beat the system with chains and whips,” Pusha reportedly raps in the chorus, per the publication. The song also played over the speakers on the runway.

“That was made in this room,” Pharrell told NYT in reaction to the song. “We just start walking around and looking out this window and you just see all of this. I mean, we beating this system, bro.”

There’s also another lyric that was shared by Stereogum, where he seems to dig at a long-time rapper. “You’d think there’d be honor amongst veterans / I am watching your fame escape relevance / We’re all in the room, but here’s the elephant / You’re chasing a feature out of your element,” the Clipse track goes. Many have suspected it is about Dipset’s Jim Jones.

Check out some live footage from Pharrell’s Louis Vuitton show above.

Beyonce & Jay-Z Support Pharrell’s Louis Vuitton Debut Looking Regal AF

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Beyonce may be in the midst of her career’s biggest stadium tour so far, but that doesn’t mean she won’t make time in her schedule to support Pharrell Williams. The mother of three was just one of the many famous faces who sat front row in Paris on Tuesday (June 20) to watch the producer and designer unveil his first collection as the leader of Louis Vuitton’s menswear brand. The job was previously held by the late Virgil Abloh, leaving Williams with some serious big shoes to fill. Thankfully, he seems to have pulled off a presentation that’s earning him promising reviews.

Joining Bey at the highly anticipated event was her husband, Jay-Z. The pair – who purchased the most expensive home in California history earlier this spring – looked as regal as ever, the Houston native seemingly putting this past weekend’s on-stage faux pas behind her to focus on Pharrell. As many social media users have pointed out, Beyonce is undoubtedly exhausted after giving it her all on stages across Europe for the past month and looking like a billion dollars in the process. To conceal any tiredness that may appear in her eyes, she shielded them with some of the largest shades we’ve seen her wear.

Read More: Beyonce Left Unimpressed By “RENAISSANCE” Tour Team’s Major Fail In Amsterdam: Video

Beyonce and Jay-Z Make a RENAISSANCE World Tour Pitstop

 

 
 
 
 
 
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Other stars who were spotted at the show include Euphoria actress Zendaya, Tyler, The Creator, Megan Thee Stallion, and Anitta. Of course, Rihanna and ASAP Rocky were there too which we’ve been expecting ever since the Bad Gal appeared in recently released campaign photos for the new collection.

Ahead of the big show, Pharrell markedly shared some of his thoughts on the work he’s done. “Every day, I gotta pinch myself because it’s an appointment, and I was chosen,” he humbly told WWD. “Pietro saw something, and I’m touched by that and I honour that every day.”

Read More: Pharrell Williams Reveals How He Feels About First Louis Vuitton Collection

More Photos and Videos from Pharrell’s First LV Runway

Keep scrolling to see more photos of Beyonce, Jay-Z, and our other favourite stars at the latest Louis Vuitton runway. Are you a fan of Pharrell’s first collection as the brand’s creative director? Let us know in the comments, and check back later for more hip-hop/pop culture news updates.

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50 Cent Reportedly Planned To Diss Jay-Z, Nas, Cam’ron, And Others On A Fiery Song Before Dr. Dre Reined Him In

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50 Cent can’t contain his excitement about being involved in Expend4bles, but while he’s always looking forward, he’s also reflecting on the 20th anniversary of his ground-breaking debut album, Get Rich Or Die Tryin’.

In early May, 50 announced his global The Final Lap Tour to commemorate the milestone. The massive trek is scheduled to begin on July 21 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Over the weekend, Diverse Mentality gave fans something to chew on in the meantime by releasing a two-hour documentary about Get Rich Or Die Tryin’.

The 1:08:00-mark dives into the track “Back Down (Ja Rule Diss)” with on-camera insights from Sha Money XL, who is credited as the recording engineer (as noted by Genius.)

“This one was fresh — fresh! We went to my crib, cut that sh*t. Fif had no filter,” Sha Money says. “Got to LA and played it, [Dr.] Dre put the filter on him, like, ‘Hold up, bro. Hold up, bro. Nah, bro. You goin’ too far, man. So, we had to re-record that sh*t.”

The doc’s narrator, Quake, adds:

“The original version of ‘Back Down’ that was recorded in Sha Money’s basement was a lot more aggressive. Not only did 50 Cent go at Ja Rule and Murder Inc. as a whole, but he took aim at Supreme, Jay-Z, R. Kelly, Nas, Cam’ron, and more. 50 Cent even invites Dr. Dre, toward the end of the track, to jump in and say ‘f*ck you’ to the competition. However, Dre did not do that and decided to have 50 Cent re-record the song with a more filtered version only going at Ja Rule and Murder Inc.

I’ve heard this original version only two times, so I don’t remember too many bars from the original. But he does take aim at Cam’ron by dissing his pink clothes and says, ‘You’re acting all gangsta and tough / You must’ve forgot when the director yelled cut,’ which was referring to Cam’ron’s acting days on Paid In Full.”

Watch the documentary below.

If You Want To Buy A Bidet Beyoncé And Jay-Z Might Have Used, Well, It’s On eBay Right Now

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As children’s author Tarō Gomi wrote in the iconic 1977 book Everyone Poops: “Everyone poops.” That includes global superstars like Beyoncé and Jay-Z. Now, if you want to own an implement that may have one point been a part of that process for the Carters, here’s your chance.

As TMZ reports, Eric’s Architectural Salvage LA is selling a bunch of items supposedly from a home that Jay and Bey used to rent in 2015, a mansion in Holmby Hills, Los Angeles. After the couple left the home, the owners did a complete renovation and Eric’s Architectural Salvage LA ended up with some of the items from the building. That includes a fancy-pants bidet from the house, which is up on eBay right now.

The listing is titled “Bidet With Sherle Wagner Hardware Beyoncé Jay Z Estate” and is currently priced at $2,400. The description reads in part, “This is one of the prettiest bidets it features amazing Sherle Wagner hardware . SW was known for making beautiful Glamorous over the top hardware that was often gold plated. I’m not sure if this hardware is gold plated for we are unable to test it but it is highly possible that it is . This hardware is featured in the SW catalog it was salvaged out of the Holmby Hills area out of the $55 million home it was formerly occupied by Jay Z and Beyoncé this home was lavished with nothing but the best.”

Other items up for auction include doors, sconces, exterior lights, and other household miscellany, so find the Eric’s Architectural Salvage LA eBay store here.

DaBaby Freestyles Over A Jay-Z Beat

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In a new clip, DaBaby is seen freestyling at a Circle K. He raps over Jay-Z’s track “Public Service Announcement” from 2003’s The Black Album. “Rip me out the wifebeater I been actin brand new” one commenter writes, noting that the rapper is also seen tearing his top off. “My guy ain’t had to rip his shirt off,” another adds.

This week, DaBaby celebrated on social media. Hip Hop All Day reported that he’s the only male rapper to have three songs from this decade reach one billion streams on Spotify. The rapper shared a clip from his “SHAKE SUMN” in honor of the achievement. Recently, a fan also offered DaBaby oral sex in public at Hot 97’s Summer Jam in New York City. After considering it briefly, DaBaby ultimately turned her down.

Read More: DaBaby Fan Offers To Orally Pleasure Him In Front Of Crowd, He Declines

DaBaby Freestyling

Earlier this month, DaBaby was accused of attempting to ambush Megan Thee Stallion with Tory Lanez. A memo from prosecutors says, “During the victim’s performance, the defendant went through security clearance and entered the green room.” It continues, “These areas were within 100 yards of the stage where the victim was performing, in violation of the protective order. It was also brought to the victim’s attention that the defendant and DaBaby attempted to rush the stage… In no way was the victim previously aware of nor did she consent to the defendant’s presence at the venue when she would be performing.”

Last month, Lil Durk detailed confronting the rapper about his collaboration with NBA YoungBoy, Better Than You. Durk refuted the claim that he came into DaBaby’s DMs “waving a white flag.“ He instead provided DJ Akademiks and his viewers with his side of the story. “I’m like, ‘Hey fam, whatever you got going on when y’all doing a tape, that’s y’all.’ You feel me?” he explained. “That’s when the other bullsh*t came out, ‘Waving the white flag in my DM.’” Durk says that the two of them were ultimately able to hash it out, and now they “don’t have a problem.”

Read More: Tory Lanez & DaBaby Accused Of Trying To Ambush Megan Thee Stallion Performance

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