| 2016-09-16 | Jay Z Calls War on Drugs An "Epic Fail" | The New York Times recruited Jay-Z to write and narrate their new short film, A History on the War of Drugs: From Prohibition to the Gold Rush. Set to vivid illustrations by artist Molly Crabapple of the legal and social ramifications of the war on drugs in New York City from the late 1980s to present-day, the film shows the harsh realities and double standards that exist for drug dealers, especially those of color, and white entrepreneurs getting rich off today's growing marijuana business.
"In 1986, when I was coming of age, Ronald Reagan doubled down on the war on drugs that had been started by Richard Nixon in 1971," Jay says in the film, touching on the Nixon administration and Rockefeller laws. "Drugs were bad, fried your brain and drug dealers were monsters - the sole reason neighborhoods and major cities were failing." Dream Hampton (filmmaker and co-author of Jay Z's book Decoded) set the project in motion when the social agency she works with, Revolve Impact, sought to tackle the contradictions presented in Michelle Alexander's 2014 book The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by illustrating the effect the war of drugs has had in African-American communities.
The hip-hop mogul (who has been criticized for rapping about his drug-dealing past) hits out at the discrimination against men of color who push drugs in the film. "Young men who hustled like me became the sole villain and drugs addicts lacked moral fortitude," he says. He goes on to reveal how in the 1990s, incarceration rates in the United States were at an all-time high, "more than any country in the world" including Cuba, Iran, Russia and China.
Judges were dishing out life sentences on grounds of possession and low-level drug sales, Jay Z continues. "Even though white people sold and used crack more than black people, somehow it was black people who went to prison," he says. "The media ignore actual data to this day. Crack is still talked about as a black problem."
"People are finally talking about treating addiction to harder drugs as a health crisis, but there's no compassionate language about drug dealers...," he says before taking a look at the booming legal weed business in Colorado versus Southern states like Louisiana that continue to give out sentences for dealing marijuana.
Shawn Carter then sheds light on the hurdles for cashing in on the weed gold rush. "If you're entrepreneurial and live in one of the many states that are passing legalized laws, you may still face barriers participating in the above-ground economy. Venture capitalists migrate to these states to open multi-billion dollar operations but former felons can't open a dispensary. Lots of times, those felonies were drug charges, caught by poor people who sold drugs for a living but are now prohibited in one of the fastest growing economies. Got it?"
Jay Z, who has rapped about getting high on songs like "Allure," then issues a call for action. "Forty-five years later, it's time to rethink our policies and laws. The war on drugs is an epic fail," he says.
Watch the full short film In New Times video.
Source: BillBoard |
| 2013-04-09 | Beyonce and Jay-Z given permission for Cuba trip | Hip-hop supercouple Beyonce and Jay-Z received licences from the U.S. government for their controversial trip to Cuba last week, according to a new report.
The high-profile pair came under fire for opting to take a four-day vacation to Havana, where American tourists are banned, and two outraged U.S. Republicans sent a letter to the Treasury Department demanding information about the couple's trip.
Officials at the U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control, which grants licences for travel to Cuba, do not comment on individual cases, but a source tells Reuters the Crazy In Love hitmakers obtained the proper authorisation before taking off.
The insider adds that Beyonce and Jay-Z's trek was a "people-to-people" cultural visit.
Beyonce and Jay-Z, who celebrated their fifth wedding anniversary on Thursday, caused chaos amongst excited locals as they toured the capital, but the source insists the stars' walk around the Old City was led by top architect Miguel Coyula.
Source: Ananova |
| 2013-04-03 | Beyonce and Andre 3000 team up for Amy Winehouse cover | Beyonce is reportedly teaming up with OutKast star Andre 3000 to revamp an Amy Winehouse song for a new movie.
The superstar singer is said to be covering Winehouse's 2007 hit "Back to Black" for the soundtrack to Baz Luhrmann's upcoming big screen adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel "The Great Gatsby".
Beyonce's husband Jay-Z has been involved in putting together the music for the film and he has produced the singer's Winehouse cover with Andre 3000, according to Eonline.com.
The film with Leonardo DiCaprio is due for release next month.
Source: Ananova |
| 2010-07-09 | Eminem still playing T | 
Eminem will play at a music festival in Scotland this weekend, despite reports the rapper's planning to cancel his slot.
"The Stan" hitmaker is slated to perform at T in the Park in Balado, Scotland on Saturday alongside big names including Jay-Z and Muse.
Reports are suggesting Eminem won't turn up to perform the headlining gig, but festival organiser Geoff Ellis has slammed the rumours, insisting "everything is fine".
He tells Scotland's Daily Record, "I'm talking to Eminem's people and we are sorting out the details for the TV coverage. Everything is fine. Eminem is definitely going ahead and highlights from his show will be seen in the TV coverage.
"With some of the American artists, things take a little longer to sort out because of the time difference. Having Eminem playing his exclusive festival date is perfect for us. T in the Park will be the best yet."
Source: Ananova |
| 2010-07-05 | Allen sings for stars at final gig | 
Lily Allen stepped out of the spotlight in style by opening for Jay-Z at Sunday's Wireless music festival in London in front of a star-studded crowd including Madonna, Beyonce and Gwyneth Paltrow.
"The Smile" hitmaker is taking a break from pop to concentrate on starting a family with her lover Sam Cooper, but was persuaded to perform at the event in the capital's Hyde Park by the 99 Problems rapper.
And Allen thanked fans for their raucous reaction to her set, saying, "I appreciate that you were jumping up and down because this is probably my last gig in London for some time."
She also dedicated her song Who'd Have Known to Cooper, before declaring her love for the businessman - prompting boos from revellers.
Allen quickly retorted, "Don't boo him you meanies... This one's for you baby!"
In the audience, Beyonce turned out to support her hip-hop superstar husband with actress Paltrow, while the Iron Man star's best pal Madonna watched the gigs with daughter Lourdes.
Allen still has one more performance left this summer at the Benicassim Festival in Spain on 18 July.
Source: Ananova |
| 2010-06-22 | Jay-Z plays "axed" New York show | 
Jay-Z went ahead with an outdoor concert in New York on Monday just days after the gig was axed amid security fears - the rapper moved the show and scaled down his performance in order to comply with city regulations.
The hip-hop mogul had planned to pack the streets of midtown Manhattan with a surprise gig atop the marquee of the Ed Sullivan Theater during rush hour, as part of an appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman.
But city officials refused to grant the star a permit to perform after word of the secret show leaked, and officials feared a mass turn out would bring chaos to the streets of the Big Apple.
But Jay-Z refused to let the ruling damper his plans - he moved the show to the roof of the TV studio and allowed only 100 invited fans to watch him perform with his surprise guest Eminem. A permit was not required for the re-jigged show, as the performance was held on private property, according to the New York Post.
The decision to axe Jay-Z's gig on top of the Ed Sullivan Theater came just days after overcrowding led to the cancellation of a Drake gig in the city.
Source: Ananova |
| 2008-11-05 | Will.i.am to release Obama victory song | Will.i.am has written a new song to celebrate the announcement of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States.
Having finished editing the final cut of 'It's A New Day' as Obama made his acceptance speech in Chicago, the tune is set to make its internet debut today (5 November).
Black Eyed Peas frontman Will has already enjoyed viral success with 'Yes We Can', a track in support of the senator's bid for a place in the White House.
Other prominent African-American musicians who have pledged their support for Obama include Jay-Z, Mary J. Blige, Diddy and John Legend, who described the candidate as a "legend" in an interview with Orange.co.uk/music last month.
Making an appearance in Philadelphia on Monday (3 November), Jay-Z made a last-ditch attempt to encourage the crowd to vote for the Democrat.
He said: "I need y'all to be really, really quiet for this. I need you to really understand what I'm telling you.
"Rosa Parks sat so Martin Luther King could walk. Martin Luther King walked so Obama could run. Obama's running so we all can fly."
Source: Ananova |
| 2008-10-02 | Jay-Z set for free campaign concerts | Jay-Z is to perform two free concerts in a bid to help galvanise support for Barack Obama's presidential campaign and encourage voter registration.
New York rapper Jay, real name Shawn Carter, will play the first of two 'Operation Registration' shows at Detroit's Cobo Arena tomorrow (3 October), before heading to a currently unannounced venue in Miami on Sunday (5 October).
Miami and Detroit are swing states in next month's US election between Republican John McCain and Democrat Obama, meaning neither candidate currently has overwhelming support in those areas.
Jay-Z included images of Obama on screens during his Glastonbury headline set earlier this year, while Obama recently praised the rapper's entrepreneurial attitude.
Source: Ananova |
| 2008-04-18 | Hadouken! have Glasto say | Hadouken! claim that Jay-Z may not suit the usual Glastonbury festival goer.
Controversy has raged since Jay-Z was announced as a headline act at the event, with Oasis man Noel Gallagher among those claiming the rapper had put people off from buying tickets.
James Smith, frontman of new rave crew Hadouken!, told Orange: "I think that some of the headliners don't suit the kind of people that are gonna buy tickets."
He added: "I'd really like to see Jay-Z but I don't think that the average punter that usually goes will probably want to see him."
Meanwhile, James' bandmate Alice Spooner suggests a reason that nearly every recent Glastonbury attendee can sympathise with.
Alice said: "I reckon a lot of it's the mud thing last year because that put me right off. It just looked more like an endurance test than fun."
Glastonbury takes place at Worthy Farm, Pilton June 27-29.
Source: Ananova |
| 2008-04-03 | Beyonce and Jay-Z to marry! | Apparently Beyonce and long-term boyfriend Jay-Z are set to marry.
The pair – who've been seeing each other since 2002 – were spotted at New York's Scarsdale Village Hall picking up a marriage license, which will be valid for 60 days. But according to some sources, the wedding is to take place… tomorrow!
"It was just the two of them," said an eyewitness. "They were very polite and smiling as they filled out the paperwork. They were holding hands for a while. They looked really happy."
Aw. Beyoncé, 26, and Jay-Z, 38, have been pretty tight-lipped about their relationship, which has inevitably prompted bucketloads of speculation about when they would tie the knot. "One day soon – let's leave it at that," said Jay-Z last year.
"I don't know when I'll want to get married," the former Destiny's Child singer told Cosmopolitan back in January 2006. "I never pictured myself as a bride, but after my sister's wedding, I did start thinking about what kind of wedding I'd want. I don't think I want a big one."
And speaking to InStyle magazine the following December, she said: "You can't rush a man into anything – whether it's a relationship, marriage or having children."
Looks like her patience may have paid off…
Source: Ananova |
| 2008-03-27 | Kanye sued over sample | Kanye West is being sued by a songwriter who claims the rapper stole one of his songs.
Dayna ‘D’ Mystro Staggs alleges that the Kanye's tune Good Life, uses a sample of his track Volume, and is now suing the Chicago rapper, his record label G.O.O.D and Jay-Z’s label Roc-A-Fella.
According to Associated Press, papers filed to Maryland District Court claim West did not obtain Staggs' permission to use the sample.
Staggs is claiming royalties for 85% of all proceeds from the sale of Good Life.
Source: Ananova |
| 2008-02-25 | Young Knives back Jay-Z | The Young Knives have given their seal of approval to Jay-Z's Glastonbury headline slot.
Frontman Henry Dartnall told Orange about his view of the Somerset festival and Jay in an exclusive interview.
Henry said: "Glastonbury's like a festival of two halves. It's got that crazy half where you've got all the people taking space cakes and running around in the nudy and then you've got people watching Jay-Z.
He added: "Jay-Z's probably gonna be quite a good show, put it that way. He'll be a good headline show."
Source: Ananova |
| 2008-01-23 | Lupe tells of Jay-Z praise | Lupe Fiasco has revealed Jay-Z has been calling him a genius for years.
Chicago rapper Lupe reckons that praise, even from New York rap superstar Jay, wears off after a while.
Lupe told thelondonpaper: "It definitely feels good being appreciated but, trust me, it wears off."
He explained: "Like Jay-Z saying, "Lupe's a genius", but, you know, Jay-Z has been telling me for years so to see it in print doesn't affect me."
Source: Ananova |
| 2007-12-27 | Jay-Z quits Def Jam | Rapper Jay-Z has stepped down as president of record label Def Jam.
The 99 Problems rapper will not sign a new contract with the label and will instead focus solely on his own music career.
In a statement released on Christmas Eve Jay said:
"It's time for me to take on new challenges. I am pleased to have had the opportunity to build upon the Def Jam legacy, helping to move the company into a new era of artistic success."
As previously reported on Orange, Jay-Z hinted he would give up the role earlier in the year, saying that would do what was best for both him and the music industry. Other reports suggested that the rapper had clashed with the label over money.
Source: Ananova |
| 2007-12-21 | Jay-Z denies marriage reports | Jay-Z has denied reports that he has tied the knot with girlfriend Beyonce.
The glamourous music pair were in Paris at the start of December to celebrate the rapper's 38th birthday and world news agencies were convinced that the couple wed in secret during their stay.
Fuel to the fire was added when the pair were spotted with matching tattoos on their fingers - apparently replacements for wedding rings - but Jay, real-name Shaun Carter - has scotched suggestions of marriage.
A representative for the 99 Problems star simply told All Hip Hop: "They are not married."
This isn't the first time the couple have had to deny nuptial nonsense - the same rumour first came to light in July 2006.
Source: Ananova |
| 2007-11-07 | Jay-Z bans track downloads | Jay-Z has banned downloads of individual tracks from his new album American Gangster because he wants people to listen to the whole album.
The rapper won't allow iTunes to sell the album preferring to flog it on his label's site to make sure fans get all 15 tracks.
He tells All Hip Hop: "As movies are not sold scene by scene, this collection will not be sold as individual singles."
Jay's ban hasn't effected sales, American Gangster is expected to become his tenth No 1 album, the same amount Elvis Presley reached in his entire lifetime.
Source: Ananova |
| 2007-11-06 | Jay-Z hits the decks | Jay-Z is getting his own radio show on a US hip hop station.
The American Gangster rapper debuted as a DJ on Sirius Satellite Radio with his own show called Jay-Z Nation on Monday (November 5) and will be on air every day for a week until November 11.
As reported on Yahoo! Music, Sirius executive Scott Greenstein said in a statement: "Jay-Z is one of the pre-eminent creative forces in the music industry.
"Over the last decade, he has truly changed the face of hip-hop and music culture."
The hip hop mogul will be playing tracks from his new album, American Gangster, which is released in collaboration with the movie of the same name co-starring Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe about Harlem drug lord Frank Lucas.
Source: Ananova |
| 2007-10-11 | LL Cool J criticises Jay-Z | Jay-Z has been critised by LL Cool J for not concentrating on his job as president of Def Jam records.
LL has been at the label his whole career and is currently working on new album Exit 13, which is being executive produced by 50 Cent.
The rapper is unhappy with the way Def Jam has been treating him and the other artists.
He tells MTV: "Nobody is getting promoted the way they should be promoted.
"They are calling around to radio stations telling them not to play my records."
LL thinks Jay-Z needs to sort it out. In a recent YouTube interview LL took offense to Jay-Z working on a remix of 50's I Get Money instead of running the label.
During the interview he sent a message to Jay, saying: "When you doing that verse, you should have been doing your job, B. See?"
Exit 13 will be the last album in LL's current contract with Def Jam.
Source: Ananova |
| 2007-09-25 | Diddy teams up with 50 and Jay-Z | P. Diddy has spoken about working with 50 Cent and Jay-Z.
The heavyweight rappers have collaborated on a remix of Fiddy's track I Get Money known as the Forbes 1-2-3 Billion Dollar Remix.
With that many egos in one room and the hip hop habit of dissing other rappers how did they manage to get on?
Diddy told MTV: "Everybody put all the greasy, slick-talk to the side, and we all got in the studio and cooked up something real special for the people."
It turns out they didn't slag each other off because they spend the whole track bigging themselves up.
P Diddy explains: "The song ain't really taking shots at anybody to be honest. It's really just putting down our status in the game."
Source: Ananova |
| 2007-05-18 | Beyonce: sexy when she's messy | Beyonce says she feels sexy when she's in bare feet and her hair is a mess!
The singer says she relaxes when she's at home and the way she looks at home is a long way from the glamourous sex kitten she is on stage.
"I like to walk around my house with bare feet and messy hair, but that can be sexy too," she told Cosmopolitan magazine. "I have an old-fashioned view on sexuality, in that I don't think it should be in your face. I'm the opposite of who I am on stage."
The 25 year-old also revealed that she used to take part in beauty pageants - but never won because she dressed down.
"We all have insecurities and, to this day, I see plenty of things wrong with myself," she said. "As a young girl I did beauty pageants, but I hated them. I always wore baggy clothes and never won. I was a bit of a tomboy when I was a kid and never really thought of myself as pretty."
I'm sure her fella Jay-Z would disagree with that..
Source: Ananova |
| 2005-02-16 | Beyonce prefers to keep romance private | Beyonce says she finds it easy keeping her romance with rapper Jay-Z private.
The Destiny's Child singer has been in a relationship with Jay-Z for three years and never reveals details about their relationship to the press reports Contactmusic.com.
She said: "Even in school I was private. It kept my name out of people's mouths. Not because I was ashamed of anything or because I wasn't passionate about whatever it was, like who I was dating, but because it seemed more pure when I treated it like it was sacred.
"I don't mind being vulnerable, but people scrutinise celebrities and make up stories. Then when everyone in the world is talking about you, it makes things really hard - not normal.
"That doesn't work for me because I'm a regular woman."
Source: Ananova |
| 2004-11-19 | OutKast are big winners at MTV Europe Awards | OutKast were the big winners at the MTV Europe Music Awards, claiming three gongs.
The duo won best group, best video and best song (for Hey Ya!) at the ceremony in Rome. They had been nominated in five categories.
Usher won best male and best album for Confessions, while Britney Spears beat Alicia Keys, Anastasia, Avril Lavigne and Beyonce to the title of best female.
She sent a message of thanks on video saying the award "means so much to me", reports BBC News online.
The Black Eyed Peas took the award for best pop act, beating Anastacia, Avril Lavigne, Robbie Williams and Britney Spears.
UK rockers Muse were named best alternative act and best British artists, while Linkin Park were named best rock band.
Eminem's group D12 were surprise winners in the best hip-hop category, beating the Beastie Boys, Jay-Z, Kanye West and Nelly.
Eminem told the crowd: "D12 finally won an award, thank you very much."
The rapper had been joined on stage by a crowd of children as he opened the show with a performance of Mosh and Just Lose It.
He had a bust-up with producers over his plans to do a Michael Jackson parody, claims The Sun.
The rapper had been due to come on stage dressed as Jacko in a wig and false nose, but was ordered to change the skit. He threatend to walk out but ended up going ahead with the rest of his act.
The ceremony also featured a couple of duets - Usher teamed up with Alicia Keys, while Nelly joined Pharrell Williams.
The most dramatic performances came from the Beastie Boys, who entered the stage on bicycles and skateboards, and No Doubt singer Gwen Stefani, who was lowered on to the stage on a giant clock.
Source: Ananova |
| 2004-07-20 | Chris Martin wants to be a rapper | Chris Martin says he always wanted to be a rapper and admits listening to Jay-Z to get inspiration for Coldplay's new album.
The revelation came during an exclusive interview on South Leicestershire's Harborough FM radio station.
Martin said: "I've been listening to Jay-Z and Kraftwerk a lot. Trying to get inspiration for the last few songs on our album."
He also joked about Coldplay's mock rap outfit The Nappies, who recorded a comedy song for Paltrow just before her baby's birth and put it up on the Coldplay website.
When asked if the track would be an indication of the style of the new Coldplay album, Martin laughed: "I think strangely it might.
"I think every white guy growing up in Devon dreams of being able to rap, and that's why we signed The Nappies - it was something that we could never be."
Martin surprised Harborough FM listeners when he spoke to long-time Coldplay fan Thom Costall on his radio show.
He said he was enjoying parenthood since the birth of his baby daughter Apple with Gwyneth Paltrow and was looking forward to the new album.
"Everything's great. I've just been writing lyrics and doing baby things. It's great man, it's the best thing that's ever happened.
"If someone told me my life at the moment would be changing nappies and writing lyrics I would've taken it, Y'know? It's my dream come true."
Source: Ananova |
| 2004-03-09 | P Diddy says next album could be his last | P Diddy says he will probably retire as a rapper after his next album.
"I don't want nobody to just go crazy or nothing," Diddy he said. "It's not going to be as dramatic or traumatic as Jay-Z retiring."
His upcoming studio album, PD5, is due out in the autumn, reports MTV.
"I got a chance to have my dream come true, and I wanted to make sure I made the decision as to when I dropped my last album," he said.
"If I don't feel like this album is an incredible piece of work, then I'm cool with the albums I've done. I don't have to put out another album."
Source: Ananova |
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