Out with the old. In with the new. “Don’t be mad. It’s all about progression”. I think it’s true though. You can’t stay on the same shit forever; the only thing in life that’s constant is change, and you really just gotta roll with it sometimes. As long as you stay true to yourself, you should be cool. Nobody’s been better at adapting to change than Hov. And that’s why he’s still on top of the game, 14 years into his career. Not a personal favorite off BP3 for me, but a slap either way. Once again, Anthony Mandler did his thing on the visuals.
As the year comes to a close, we thought it was only appropriate to share with you the music that inspired us most. Off top, let me make it clear that this isn’t “top” or “best” anything. Contrary to popular opinion, this music thing is not a competition. Not to mention that trying to collapse a year’s worth of music into a comprehensive playlist just isn’t really feasible. Just ask Lily Allen, Pac Div or about 100 otherartists who easily could’ve ended up on this short list. Having said that, it’s only right to pay homage to the tracks that made our life that much more enjoyable. Whether they made us sing and dance, contemplate our lives or drive way too fast in the whip, the artists behind these 25 deserve a little recognition. Consider it their gift to you.
Interesting choice for the 4th single off BP3, but a cool video nonetheless. Without going too hard on the message tip, I think the video relates something important, that a good friend of mine has told me time after time. Life’s about the moments, and you can make them at any time. Staying young at heart is important because it allows your imagination to run wild, which allows you to make those memories happen. Okay, I’m doin a lot. Either way, a solid video for a pretty dope song.
Shit’s crazy sometimes. Life is so exciting because rarely do you really know what’s gonna happen next. Last night Jay-Z came to the Pauley Pavilion at UCLA. With N.E.R.D, Wale & J. Cole alongside, the show sold out in a matter of days. Needless to say, cats were hyped. For the past three weeks I’d been contemplating coppin a tick, but for $50 and limited bread I had started to come to grips with the reality of only hearing about the concert from friends the next day. So when last night rolled around and I found myself driving to Pauley with no ticket and no connections, I knew I had little to lose, and very much to gain.
To borrow a phrase, they never thought that hip-hop would take it this far. It would’ve been hard to imagine when Herc was rocking house parties, that a cat from Marcy Projects would one day be standing next to Bono, rocking a crowd in Berlin. I can’t call it for sure. But the evidence would certainly seem to suggest that anything’s possible.
The New York anthem from Jay and Alicia. Matt calls it grown man hip hop. Directed by Hype Williams, the video features iconic black and white shots of NY with stills consisting of all the things that make NY what it is. Still haven’t laid eyes on it though. I’m envious of those that have.
If you consider yourself a Jay fan, I recommend seeing him live. His performances are some seriously iconic shit. For the folks who were lucky enough to catch Friday night’s show at the Garden, I’m legitimately jealous. The show was a sellout within minutes. Thanks to Fuse TV though, we got the footage to capture yet another historic moment in Hovi history. Watch this all the way through and try to tell me one of your favorite artists didn’t show up. Justin, Pharrell, Mary J., John Mayer, Santi, Kanye, Rihanna, Beyonce, Diddy, Cudi…fuck a VMA’s. In any case, you know if we got it, it’s yours. Here’s the show in its entirety.
No album is safe from leakage. If it’s finished, it’s only a matter of time before it seeps out track by track to the masses. As usual, everybody took their chance to be professional Facebook music critics and let me know exactly how to feel about BP3 10 days prior to its release date. I won’t bore you with my opinion beyond saying it’s dope, and it’s still growing on me. But this track is something every hip-hop head should hear. A statement of Jay’s longevity and a salute to the hip-hop stars many of us grew up on in the post golden-age era. Honestly, I wasn’t really checking for J. Cole too often, but this looks like his Lupe on “Touch the Sky” moment. Ye and No I.D. killed it on the track too. Don’t forget to click MORE for the iciest commercial you’ve seen in a while.
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Bill might just be the realest late night host doing it these days. Week in and week out, Real Time features some of the most compelling discussions and insightful guests, offering a wide array of opinions and outlooks on some of the most pressing issues facing our country. This week, Bill sat down with Hov to discuss music, the industry and the life and times of Shawn Corey. We all know the back story, but Jay interviews always offer some serious insight. Some highlights include a discussion of the song(not)writing process, the difference between pop and hip-hop, and Bill giving Jay a book filled with every verse he’s ever dropped. For the record, it’s fucking gigantic. A dope conversation with two of my favorite entertainers. Read on for part two.
Since the photos of these two in the studio surfaced, a lot of anticipation built up surrounding this track. And now the wait is over. With just under three weeks left until BP3 drops, Hov’s first collab with Drake leaked today. Hopefully the first of many, since Drizzy’s only on the hook. For those of us looking to see who would outshine who might have to wait a while. Timbo came with a banger, but I can’t quite say I’m blown away. To be fair, expectations are a bitch when you’re talking about a trio like this, and the song is pretty solid all around. A slap for the folks who stay a little bit ahead of the curve.
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So they dropped it. After two teasers and a preview, the official video for Jay’s second single has been released. A solid effort all around, the video successfully captures the magnitude of the track while featuring three of the biggest acts in the world. While, Jay and Kanye come correct, Rihanna’s star shines the brightest. She just comes so epic with it. Style and grace. Style and grace. With BP3 right around the corner, I wonder if this is the precursor to the main event? Most of us are anticipating a classic album, and with ample time Jay has been given the opportunity to create a masterpiece. I guess only time will tell.
I predict we’ll be seeing a lot more from Jay in the next few weeks as we lead up to the release of BP3. Below is Jay’s Michael Jackson tribute that he performed just over a week ago at the All Points West Festival. Starting with “H to the Izzo”, the concert then goes into a Michael Jackson photo montage, then Jay realtalks for a minute, and wraps it up with “Can I Live”. If you haven’t seen it, the live Jay performance will change your life. It sure did change mine.
We all know Jay likes the iconic imagery. Throw in some noteworthy cameos and you’ve got a Jay video. D.O.A. doesn’t stray from the mold. I respect the message. A call to bring originality and innovation back to the game. At 39 and relevant, Jay can be described as the Godfather of hip hop, but does he have enough clout to curtail the prevalence of auto-tune within the industry? Time will tell. Lebron cameo is unnecessary but neccessary at the same time. Cut scene might make you chuckle. It’s Hovi Baby.
Probably the most memorable performance of the night. Everything’s just working on this one. Chris Martin and Jay are doing it, and the transition into ‘Viva La Vida’ is easy too. Those jackets are silly though.
