Video: Jay-Z f. Alicia Keys, “Empire State of Mind” (FADER Version)
- story Peter Macia
Apparently the snitches we rely on to pass our ideas to rich and powerful weren’t listening when we pitched our treatment of this video, so here goes. Hype, feel free to redo, so long as we get a cut.
FADER IN: VERSE ONE:
As the first notes of “Empire” ring through the speakers, the camera focuses on the front door of Jay’s old building in Marcy. A few current young residents stand near. As Jay’s verse begins, he emerges from the door and the camera dollies with him. He walks east through Marcy, gathering followers behind him with every step until the first chorus.
Video: Jay-Z on Oprah
- story Peter Macia
In conjunction with her feature on Jay for O Magazine, Oprah brought Hov to her show, and, as she has made her trademark, got him to show her things no one else has seen, like his office at Rocawear (looks kind of like ours times a billion and with really nice stuff in it and no empty Red Bull cans stacked in the corner). Watch the full interview after the jump, special thanks to B. Dot at Rap Radar.
Premiere: Caspa f. Dynamite MC, “The TakeOver” MP3
If you read this site regularly you know we are on a single-minded campaign to get more rappers on dubstep beats so it can be more popular in the States so its purveyors can tour here more, and also because Jay-Z on Joker would be a monster. Take for example this spooky beat from Caspa aka “The Dopest Ghost in Town”: the wobble sounds that much harder with a dude rapping on it like he maybe wants to punch you in the face. Go in, Dynamite! Coincidentally, Caspa is consistently amazing (ok, maybe we’re obsessed) and touring the States (he hits NYC on Wednesday, September 23 at Le Poisson Rouge). This track comes from his album Everybody’s Talking, Nobody’s Listening, which is heartbreakingly bonkers. North American tour dates after the jump.
Download: Caspa f. Dynamite MC, “The TakeOver”
Stream: Crookers f. Kelis, “No Security”
What with the epic “Scars” with Basement Jaxx and this sparkly dubstep joint from our Milano party brethren Crookers, we’re impressed by Kelis‘ sudden ubiquity, having just popped a kid and gotten divorced and all. As Annie Mac (that’s Annie Mac, right?) says on this radio rip, the new US mainstream’s interest in dubstep is kind of bazonkers, though we’re still waiting for that Jay-Z/Joker collabo. But then Ms Rogers has always been adventurous—you’ll recall her early work with Neptunes when they were the hottest shit in space—and we hear she’s been working on her new album with our beloved Switch, which sounds like one of the best ideas ever. Until that transpires, we’ll marvel at this YouTube rip of “No Security,” which Crookers put up on their own blog. That’s kind of funny, right?
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posted on Sep 14, 2009 in MP3 / STREAMS tags annie mac, Basement Jaxx, Benga, Crookers, dance/electronic, dubstep, Eve, Jay-Z, Joker, Kelis, Neptunes, Switch
Thoughts on Jay-Z and Lil Mama (and of course Kanye) at the VMAs
- story Peter Macia
Thanks to the wondrous internet, those of us who didn’t watch the MTV VMAs live last night were able to catch up on its most ridiculous and embarrassing moments today, after doing a bunch of other stuff and getting some lunch and listening to some music and staring out the window for a while. Kanye ran up on whats-her-name, ruining her “moment,” but in all truth, he created a moment for her that will last much longer than any she could have created with her thank you speech. You’re welcome. But the coup de grace was former FADER feature subject and Harlem pocket rocket, Lil Mama, bumrushing Jay-Z and Alicia Keys’ closeout performance of “Empire State of Mind.” As you’ll see in the video, the performance was carefully scripted and scheduled to have Jay come out of his limo on the street an onto the stage just as his verse was set to begin. And he did. And he and Alicia did a nice rendition of the song, which has recently become the only thing people who own cars will play in said cars while driving through NY streets. New Yorkers are hyped on this shit—it’s kinda crazy. It’s even made some of us transplants reconsider our feelings about this city, and maybe that’s why that girl jumped on that stage. She’s probably listened to the song a hundred times and rapped and sang every word, daydreaming about being on that level. And then that level was, like, three feet away from her, so she stepped up. You can’t really blame her either. It’s like if Jay-Z had a Twitter, we’d all be @’ing that dude like we knew him. He would be our Facebook friend if he was on that too. She was just love RT’ing Hov’s performance, that’s all. She probably also thought a bunch of fools would follow her up there on some Girl Talk shit, which would’ve actually been kind of awesome, but it didn’t happen. So there she is. And without her, we wouldn’t have Jay’s incredible gasface. Plus, if anyone thinks she ruined a classic moment for dude, it was the MTV VMAs. Jay’s classic moment was on Friday night.
Oh, and by the way, FADER Label’s very own Matt & Kim snatched a moon man for Best Breakthrough Artist video. Congrats dudes!
(video and pick via Nah Right)
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posted on Sep 14, 2009 in MUSIC NEWS, MUSIC VIDEO tags Alicia Keys, hip hop, Jay-Z, Kanye West, Lil Mama, MTV VMA
Exclusive: Jay-Z on Fuse Setlist From Backstage
- story Peter Macia
Straight from backstage at Jay-Z’s Answer The Call 9/11 concert on Fuse, we got the actual setlist, so if you saw it or you were there, print this out and say Jay gave it to you. Check it out after the jump. And remember next year that September 11th is a national day of service from now on. (via Rob Stone’s iPhone)
Contest: Win Tickets to See Jay-Z at Madison Square Garden
- story THE FADER
Because we love you and know that you’re jockin Jay-Z and particularly his forthcoming The Blueprint 3, we’re offering one lucky winner a pair of tickets to spend an intimate evening with him on its release day. Just you, Shawn Carter, and the entirety of Madison Square Garden. And because it’s on September 11th, all the proceeds are going towards the New York Police and Fire Widows’ and Children’s Benefit Fund, and airing live and commercial-free on FUSE at 9pm/8c (check it here). So if you don’t win, you can still watch it and have a myriad of reasons to purchase tickets. To enter, tell us which track off a Blueprint album is your favorite and why in the comments and make sure to register with your legit email so we know where to find you.
Stream: Jay-Z, The Blueprint 3
- story Sam Hockley-Smith
If you didn’t already “find” The Blueprint 3 on the internet, or if you are NORE, there is now a totally free and legal way to enjoy the record a week before its release, courtesy of MTV. Obviously, listening from your desk isn’t as fun as wandering around trying to figure out who would sound good on the hypothetical remix for “Hate” or what this album means for the future of New York rap (more indie rock?!?), but the bright side is that we now have a new excuse to look up more pictures of Jay in big fur hats.
Stream: Jay-Z, The Blueprint 3
Jay-Z f. Kanye West, “Hate” MP3
- story Peter Macia
Though “Ghetto Techno” is getting some support in the comments, “Hate” just might be the homerun (okay, maybe a triple) we’ve been waiting for. Current playcount: 10 times in 24 minutes. Not only does it upgrade the synth grind of “Drunk And Hot Girls” with some actual lyrical hilarity, but Jay sounds a little angry. Maybe we should all hate more? Anyway, let’s hope the rest of Blueprint 3 sounds more like this and less like the other shit.
PS OMG Jay-Z and Beyonce were at the Grizzly Bear show! Dudes, they stay in Williamsburg. Don’t be surprised if Blueprint 4 looks like Dark Was The Night.
Download: Jay-Z f. Kanye West, “Hate”
UPDATE: This is it. Keep bringing this.
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posted on Aug 31, 2009 in MP3 / STREAMS tags Grizzly Bear, haterz, hip hop, Jay-Z, Kanye West, Williamsburg
Those Jay-Z Timbaland Songs Could’ve Been Worse
- story Peter Macia
And by could’ve been we mean they actually were worse, as evidenced by this non-Blueprint 3 song produced by Timbaland. Next to “Ghetto Techno,” the other leaked BP3 Tim tracks—”Venus Vs Mars,” “Reminder” and “Off That”—sound like the lord himself rewrote “Planet Rock,” and “D.O.A.” and “Run This Town” actually deliver Penelope Cruz to your doorstep covered in honey with $100 bills stuck where necessary to keep her street legal (Javier Bardem for the ladies). But seriously, one of the goofiest threads on the internet is talking shit about Jay. These songs may not be good, but some of the other ones will be and his status as one of the best ever won’t be tarnished, just like when Brett Favre throws 9,000 interceptions this year and one sweet touchdown that reminds everyone how ridiculous he used to be.
Download: Jay-Z, “Ghetto Techno”
