Forbes Avenue » jay-z

Empire State of Mind

negrostotle — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 16:50:50 +0000

The next video off of Jay-Z’s ginormous Blueprint 3 album is the Jay and Alicia Keys New York Anthem; Empire State of Mind. Hype Williams was tapped to direct (don’t worry, if you forget…I’m sure you’ll see his name in huge letters and glitter before the video starts) and the duo decided to film in various New York areas including Tribeca and Ground Zero. More from A-Keys, via MTV,

“Working together on ‘Empire State of Mind’ was incredible,” Keys said. “I’ve admired Jay-Z for a long time. Reasonable Doubt is my all-time favorite album, period, and he’s been on the scene for long time. I always figured that we would do some type of collaboration, and finally, it came together with this. He reached out to me said, ‘I have this big New York record. I feel its right for us to do it together. It has this big Frank Sinatra, take-it-there feeling. I feel like you could really do something with it.’

“I went by [the studio], took a listen to it,” she continued. “I really felt the energy of New York all through it. It felt classic, it felt so good; the piano obviously was in there. I said, ‘I love it, so let’s do it.’ We communicated a lot during the process. I think we both are really happy with how it came out.”

For everyone that was too lazy to read that…you can listen to it and stare at Alicia Keys.

Who is keeping their fingers crossed for a Lil Mama cameo?

Jay-Z on Oprah

negrostotle — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 00:07:29 +0000

Sean Carter…on Oprah. In 4 parts. When you really think about it, this is really an interview of completely crazy proportions. These are arguably the only two black people in the last 20 years that have completely blurred the cultural barrier between black & white all races. Suburban white house wives know who both of these people are. At the same time, any black person on “the streets” knows them as well. Not only knows them, but for the most part can accept (yes, I’m excluding Bill O’Reilly, of course)…which is really crazy. Crazier? the fact that I instantly fell into the rich white woman-poor black people comparison. Sad that those years of conditioning still haven’t worn off. I blame “the man” for that.

On a side note, just like the boy Rizoh said…You can almost hear Oprah yelling at the TV…”I can’t promote this, I got sponsors!” whenever the usage of The “N-word” comes up.

Video Courtesy of (rap radar) found at The Rap Up

Part I

Part II

Part III

Part IV

The 10 most memorable Jay-Z collaborations

negrostotle — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 13:00:50 +0000

So…the Blueprint 3 came out last week to much fan fare, selling over 500,000 copies in its first week. With that debut, Jay-Z surpassed Elvis Presley as the artist with the most number 1 debut albums (11) of all time. That’s all well and good, but I wanted to take a look back at some of those songs in which another artist collaborated with Jay-Z, because, although Jay is great in his own right, some of his collaborations have helped to create the mystique that surrounds Jay-Z today. So, without further adieu, the 10 most memorable Jay-Z collabo’s of all time…

Note: My love of hip-hop automatically prevents me from putting Memphis Bleek on this list. Sorry.

Note #2: The songs are Jay’s songs only. So joint collaborations (Jay & R.Kelly) or songs on which Jay is featured do not count.

10. Beyonce — ‘03 Bonnie & Clyde (off of 2002’s Blueprint II: The Gift & The Curse)

First and only mention of the otherwise forgettable Blueprint II, I promise. This song, in which “Jay and B” basically just talked about needing each other and no one else in the world (how adorable!) dominated the airwaves (and later a certain Chris Rock movie) the summer it was released. The collabo was memorable because 1. it was the first song in which “Jay & B” were on the track together and the combination of arguably the largest pop act and the largest rap act will get attention, regardless. 2. the subject matter fueled speculation that the two might be dating 3. it was catchy as all

Memorable line(s): “She gets “Carrie-fever” but as soon as the shows over, she’s right back to being my soldier…”

9. Foxy Brown — Ain’t No Nigga (off of 1996’s Reasonable Doubt)

Jay’s second-ever single with a then 17 year old Foxy Brown took the Four Tops classic Aint No Woman, and spun it on its head. Instead of talking about how great his woman is, Jay raps alongside a materialistic Foxy Brown about satisfying his lady, but also recognizing that there are a lot of other ladies that need to be satisfied as well.

Memorable line(s): “I’ve been sinnin since you been playin wit Barbie and Ken in, you can’t change a playa’s game in the 9th inning…”

8. Jaz-O — Nicca What, Nicca Who? (off of 1998’s Volume 2: Hard Knock Life)

This song off of Volume 2, which also featured Amil-lion, was memorable because it was the first time we had seen Jay-Z rap with the quickened cadence. Although the two rappers would develop apparently never-ending rap beef (Jay still mentioned Jaz-O on Blueprint 3) this was another song that was stuck in everyone’s head in ‘98, even if they couldn’t say all the words. Timbaland’s beat, which could still play in clubs today, combined with the quickened flow of Jay and Jaz-O combine to make this memorable song #8.

Memorable line: “Take this ride make you feel it inside your belly, if its tight get the K-Y Jelly”

7. Gloria Carter — December 4th (off of 2003’s Black Album)

Jay even got his mom on a song…how many people can say that? That in and of itself is what makes this song memorable. It also sort of helped to bring things full circle on Jay-Z’s career (which we thought was ending at the time). Hearing his mom talk about his birth and him growing up and then listening to Jay rapping on his then “last album”? Hard to forget.

Memorable line: “Sean Carter was born September 4th, weighing in at 10lbs 4oz.”

6. UGK — Big Pimpin (off of 1999’s Volume 3: The Life and Times of S.Carter”)

Another Timbaland beat that I think could still play in a club today and people wouldn’t notice that its 10 years old. This song was memorable because of UGK. Although they were already well-known down in Houston before this song came out, Big Pimpin introduced the rest of the world to the awesomeness that was Bun-B and Pimp C.

Memorable line: “I’m a pimp in every sense of the word, bitch, better trust and believe him”

5. Alicia Keys — Empire State of Mind (off of 2009’s Blueprint 3)

Yeah, I hear you. Of course your yelling at me saying “how are you including this song as being memorable when it just came out a week ago?” My response? give it time. This track simultaneously makes non-New Yorkers wish they were from New York, while somehow being reminiscent of the classic Jay track, Dead Presidents.

Memorable line: “Catch me at the X with OG at a Yankee game, shit I made the Yankee hat more famous than the Yankee camp”

4. Pharrell Williams — I Just Wanna Love U (off of 2000’s The Dynasty: Roc La Familia)

Monster song. This album wasnt even that good when you look at the tracks, but this song almost single-handedly redeems it. The Neptunes kill this beat and Pharrell’s high pitched falsetto fits the song perfect combined with Jay’s flow makes this one a classic. I heard this in the club less than a month ago, and not only did people start dancing, everyone started mouthing the words.

Memorable line: “6 model chicks, 6 bottles of cris, 4 belevedere’s got weed everywhere”

So, we’re down to the final 3. There isn’t even a lot to say about them. If you don’t like them, there’s something wrong with you. No, seriously.

3. Mary J. Blige — Can’t Knock the Hustle (off of 1996’s Reasonable Doubt)

Depending on who you talk to, this is the best Jay-Z song of all time, coming off of arguably the best Jay-z album of all time. I don’t really even have anything to say about this, except stop reading this article, go listen to this song, then come back. If you are a music fan, you like this song. If you don’t like this song, you aren’t a music fan. Jay’s lyrics? kill it. Mary’s vocals? kill it. the beat? nice. (arguably better when The Roots did it live on Jay-Z’s unplugged album).

Memorable line: “Can’t knock the way a nicca eatin, f*ck you even”

2. Notorious B.I.G. — Brooklyn’s Finest (off of 1996’s Reasonable Doubt)

Again, there’s not a lot I can even say. Take arguably the two best rappers of all time, and pit them against each other for three verses and this is what you get. CLASSIC.

Memorable line: “Who shot ya? Mob ties like Sinatra”

This text is a place holder because everything is screwy.

And the number 1 Jay-Z collaboration is…(drum roll please)…

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1. Eminem — Renegade (off of 2001’s The Blueprint)

This is probably the only collabo where almost everyone you ask will tell you that Jay got ate on it. Even Jay himself shouts out the quality of Em’s verse on Star is Born on the Blueprint 3. That in and of itself makes the song memorable. And its not like Jay-Z is a slouch on his verses either. Add to that the fact that they basically both sing the chorus (hilarious) and that makes this the most memorable Jay-Z collabo of all time.

Good Morning Forbes

negrostotle — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 11:01:03 +0000

So…what’s worse, the fact that he’s wearing a bra, or the fact that the cups are mismatched?

Rush Limbaugh — setting America back 50 years. We might have to do more on this later.

You think Facebook is awkward for you? check out these awkward moments.

The good news? the 2010 Winter Olympics will be bi-lingual. The bad news? the airports suck, and everyone might not get there anyway.

Who says bloggers don’t track down sources and investigate? The best story about former Chicago Cubs star Mark Grace that you’ll ever read.

Jay-Z is officially bigger than Elvis.

Glenn Beck thinks that Jimmy Carter calling conservatives racist is “the same kind of tactic” as turning children into suicide bombers. That would be the same Glenn Beck who less than two months ago called Obama racist.

The Tea Party crowd who marched on Washington D.C. last weekend to protest government spending and services is now protesting the lack of adequate government-run (public) transportation at the march.

LeBron James will make his acting debut in a comedy flick called Fantasy Basketball Camp.

Good Morning Forbes

negrostotle — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 11:00:54 +0000

Meeeeeow.

As you may or may not have heard…Kanye went “Kanye” during Taylor Swift’s speech at last night’s VMA’s. If Kanye brings Amber Rose and the catsuit outfit? I’d let him interrupt my funeral. Kanye has since apologized. Blame it on the al, al, al, alcohol…Seriously…he’s on the red carpet with a bottle of Henny. Awesome.

Rumors of Tiger Woods demise are greatly exaggerated.

Serena Williams got ejected for a foot fault, in what had to be the scariest moment of that small Asian woman’s life. She was also fined $10,000.

Jay-Z performed arguably the best song on BluePrint 3 at the end of the VMA’s…only to be swagger jacked by a Klingon from Star Trek.

Football Started! Thank goodness.

A sportswriter who thinks he’s in Michael Jordan’s head calls his Hall of Fame induction speech “petty” and “bitter.” No doubt a salty Knicks fan.

Sorry, Tom Brady, Ben Roethlisberger is the most clutch quarterback in the NFL.

Official BP3 Leak

cx2020 — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 20:04:39 +0000

If you haven’t heard the album yet, check out the official “leak” on MTV.com. It might take a listen or two to hear where the album excels, so those with a 10-second ring-tone attention span may never be happy. Songs like “D.O.A.”, “Run this Town”, “So Ambitious” and “Venus Vs. Mars” are welcome contributions to a weak hip-hop scene. Bottomline: The Blueprint 3 is worth buying, despite the negative Internet reviews from the chafed skinny-jean wearing Millennials.

Jay-Z on Bill Maher

tigger500 — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 16:03:12 +0000

What is striking to me about this interview is how small Jigga seems. When he’s Shawn Carter, he’s practically ordinary.

I say this with the utmost respect. Jay in his natural state is funny, incredibly thoughtful, and soft-spoken.

Seriously though, it’s interesting to hear him talk about his process. His rhymes aren’t freestyles, he does spend time developing in his head before he hits the booth, which pretty much means he’s gotta explain Volume 3, Dynasty, and most of The Blueprint and The Black Album. When I thought he freestyled everything, I gave him some leeway. That he thought out mess like Girls Girls Girls, Hola Hovito, and Justify My Thug is disappointing in the extreme?

Boo. Just. Boo.

Also – Bill Maher kinda has a crush, don’t he? “The B is for Brooklyn”, Bill? Awwww.

When rappers catch feelings: Ghostface Killah Edition

negrostotle — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 14:15:25 +0000

Sensitive thugs, ya’ll all need hugs. (c) Shawn Carter

To know Ghostface is to love him. Granted, I hardly ever know what he’s talking about, and when I actually figure out what he’s saying I say “what the hell is he saying”, but I love him anyway because of the energy he brings on every single song. Of course, not even Ghostface is immune from catching feelings though. Ghost had his auto-tuned up single She’s a Killah all ready to go and then Jay-Z came along and killed the auto-tune game with Death Of Autotune. What you are about to witness is a rapper catching feelings. True, he tries to play it off (”everything happens for a reason”), but we all know the truth.

Crying on the inside.

Good Morning Forbes

negrostotle — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 11:00:20 +0000

Pimpin knows no height. Just ask Webster. (via TheChive.com)

The Tarantino-helmed Inglorious Bastards opened big over the weekend, pulling in $37 million dollars; $10 million more than predicted. The reason? Twitter. Well, maybe.

U.S. Court of Appeals cockblocks Delaware’s attempt to allow single game betting on sporting events.

Well, well, well. KFC trying to play it off as healthy food…that didn’t last long. Introducing KFC’s Double-Down Sandwich.

Michael Jackson’s death officially ruled a homicide. When will the black-on-black-then-white crime stop?

Time names the 50 best websites of 2009. Forbes Avenue barely misses the cut.

An illustrated version of Jay-Z’s last 6 albums. If the pattern follows, Blueprint 3 will be “Meh.” Based on the leaked tracks I’ve heard so far, that might be right.

Good Morning Forbes.

Good Morning Forbes

negrostotle — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 11:00:04 +0000

Yes, the picture above is a t-shirt. Get it here.

Michelle Wie did good…at golf! Baffling.

Breath strips. Now with a bit of marijuana in them.

Is every track on Blueprint 3 going to leak before September 11th? Yes. Jay-Z (ft. Drake) — Off That

The 49 most influential men of 2009. Uh, according to AskMen Magazine.

Good Morning Forbes.