Tag Archives: jiggaman

‘X Factor’ MC Astro Calls Drake’s Take Care ‘A Classic’

Posted on November 18, 2011 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

‘I feel like I’m trying to be a part of that group that brings hip-hop back,’ pint-size rapper tells MTV News backstage. By Gil Kaufman, with reporting by Jim Cantiello Astro Photo: MTV News While many of his fellow contestants were getting dinged for not going hard enough on Wednesday night’s rock-themed episode of “X Factor,” that was not a problem for pint-size sensation Astro. The swagtastic 15-year-old rapper with the heart of a champion put up another great performance with a cover of Diddy’s “I’ll Be Missing You.” And though he’s lamented that hip-hop is dead and he’s the one to bring it back, Astro did make an exception for one artist he thinks is killing it right now. “You can’t not say Jay-Z,” he told MTV News’ Jim Cantiello after the show when asked to name anyone besides the Jiggaman who is on top of their game right now. “That has to be included. Jay, Kanye, Lupe [Fiasco], Pharrell … Drake? That album is classic,” he added about the Canadian MC’s just-released Take Care. “Everything from the artwork, the inside pictures. Drake is awesome, and I feel like I’m trying to be a part of that group that brings hip-hop back also.” Astro — whose song fit the rock theme if only because Diddy sampled the Police classic “Every Breath You Take” — paid homage to a number of fallen hip-hop greats during his performance. Surrounded by huge video screens scrolling the names of late rap icons including Tupac, Heavy D , Left Eye and Jam Master Jay, judge L.A. Reid’s prot

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Tagged after-the-show, every-breath, from-the-panel, Game, jiggaman, Music, nypd, performance, Photos, Pictures, TMZ

Jay-Z & Gwyneth Paltrow Interview Each Other For Their Own Websites

Posted on April 12, 2011 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

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Jay-Z ‘s new lifestyle website, Life + Times , launched on April 1st and gives a first-hand look into what the Jiggaman thinks is cool and worth your time (and money). His bestie, Gwyneth Paltrow , also has a website called Goop that serves a similar purpose. It only made sense that the two interviewed each other for their respective websites. Check out some excerpts from their short Q&A sessions below: Gwyneth Paltrow: You are the coolest man on Earth, how the f did you get like that? Jay-Z: I’m around great women, starting with my mom. Women keep men cool. The hotter the chick the cooler the guy … that sounds like a really bad rap line! Jay-Z: Personally I was very surprised at your extensive knowledge of hip-hop songs. Particularly how you can sing ’90s hip-hip songs word for word. I can’t even do that! How does a girl from Spence discover hip-hop? Gwyneth Paltrow : I first was exposed to hip-hop when I was about 16 (1988) by some boys who went to collegiate. The Beastie Boys were sort of the way in for us preppie kids. We were into Public Enemy, Run-DMC and LL Cool J. But then I went to LA the summer between my junior and senior year of high school and I discovered N.W.A which became my obsession. I was fascinated by lyrics as rhythm and how Dre had a such different cadence and perspective from say, Eazy-E, who I thought was one of the most ironic and brilliant voices hip-hop has ever had. It was an accident that I learned every word of Straight Outta Compton and to love something that a.) I had no real understanding of in terms of the culture that it was emanating from and b.) to love something that my parents literally could not grasp. But I was hooked. I can’t remember what I ate for dinner last night but I could sing to you every single word of N.W.A’s “F*ck Tha Police” or [Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock’s] “It Takes Two.” Go figure. Gwyneth interviews Jay @ Goop.com Jay-Z interviews Gwyneth @ LifeAndTimes.com RELATED: Sade & Jay-Z “The Moon & The Sky” (Remix) [NEW MUSIC] RELATED: Gwyneth Paltrow To Cover Prince’s “Kiss” On “Glee”

Jay-Z & Gwyneth Paltrow Interview Each Other For Their Own Websites

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Tagged celeb news, cooler-the-guy, cover-prince, Culture, Gwyneth Paltrow, jiggaman, Music, national, obsession, public-enemy, summer, time, TMZ

50 Cent Explains Photo With Jay-Z Backstage In Detroit

Posted on September 4, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Fif ‘got a chance to kick it’ with Jay at Home and Home shows, co-headlined by Eminem. By Shaheem Reid 50 Cent and Jay-Z in Detroit Friday Photo: Thelifefiles.com DETROIT — You didn’t think they were going to have two of the biggest hip-hop shows in the past decade without inviting 50 Cent to join in, did you? Fif and the Unit have been Eminem’s special guests for the Home and Home shows, co-headlined by Jay-Z. The Detroit run started Thursday night at Detroit’s Comerica Park and concluded Friday (September 3). Sitting down with MTV News before the second show, 50, Lloyd Banks and Tony Yayo expressed their excitement to be a part of the historic event. On Thursday, the Unit performed “Patiently Waiting,” “I Get Money” and “In Da Club.” And by the following morning, footage and photos from the show circulated on various websites. But thelifefiles.com caught a very unexpected gem: One of Jay’s close friends, Lenny Santiago, snapped a picture of the Jiggaman and Fif talking backstage. The energy in the pic seemed to be positive, and both were smiling. It was surprising to all hip-hop fans, considering the fact that since last year, Fif has been throwing jabs at Hov in interviews and on songs such as “Flight 187.” While Fif declined to say exactly what he and Jay conversed about on Thursday, he did say they didn’t have serious beef. “We got a chance to kick it for a minute,” 50 said. “I know people were interested in what that conversation was like. But they can ask Jay-Z. I take people’s actions as if it’s genuinely how they feel. I can only use what I saw you do as if that’s what you meant. I can’t understand what your motivation was prior to that.” Fif has also had some well-documented issues with Diddy. Ever since Diddy aligned himself with Rick Ross several months ago, the General of the G-Unit has publicly lambasted the leader of Dirty Money. But 50 says a recent talk with Diddy helped clear the air between them. “I had a conversation with Puffy the night before Jay,” the Queens mogul revealed. “He gave me a whole new perspective on his actions. He’s like, ‘I understand the way you felt because of what I was doing at the time. But I wasn’t thinking what you was thinking I was. You done hit me nine times. I’m just in the fetal because I understand why you are attacking me. But if I can’t touch bases with you to tell you what I’m thinking or why I did it, then you can’t understand it.’ We created a little clarity out there.” The Home and Home tour continues in the Bronx, New York, on September 13 and 14 at Yankee Stadium. Related Photos Jay-Z And Eminem Make History In Detroit Related Artists 50 Cent Jay-Z

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50 Cent Explains Photo With Jay-Z Backstage In Detroit

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Tagged bennyhollywood, detroit, history, jiggaman, lenny-santiago, Money, motivation, Mtv, Music, News, night, Photos, unit

Dr. Dre Says Leaked ‘Under Pressure’ Was ‘An Incomplete Song’

Posted on June 17, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Dre issues statement about the collaboration with Jay-Z that hit the Internet this week. By Shaheem Reid Dr. Dre Photo: Interscope Records Not this way, says Dr. Dre . He doesn’t want people to hear any of his music before it is done. On Wednesday, an incomplete version of the much-hyped Dre and Jay-Z duet “Under Pressure” leaked to the Internet, and the Doc responded on Thursday (June 17) on the Interscope website. Simply titled “Message from Dre,” the statement reads: “I want to set the record straight for everybody who’s been waiting to hear my music. The song that’s out on the Internet is an incomplete song that I’m still working on. When it’s ready, you’ll be hearing it from me.” “Under Pressure” is a song from Dre’s much-hyped Detox album . Neither the song nor the LP has a release date. In the meantime, Interscope and Dre are focused on releasing the potentially blockbuster project from Eminem, Recovery, which lands officially on Monday (June 22). The bootleg of “Under Pressure” has no chorus, at least not the version that was leaked. Keep in mind, Dre has been known to do a few different versions of his songs before he feels they are ready for public consumption. The leaked version featured the Compton icon batting leadoff. “The long-awaited Detox, bitch,” Dre said to commence the song. “But maybe I don’t wanna stop/ Maybe I don’t wanna quit/ Maybe I like ho’s/ Maybe I don’t want a wife/ Maybe I’m psycho/ … Maybe we need to breathe some life in this sh–/ Maybe we are the life of this sh–.” After a space with no vocals, where the chorus would presumably go, Jay-Z arrives on the song. “Dre, I think I need my sponsor,” he says. “Trying to grow, but I just can’t seem ta/ Having trouble cleaning up, I’m like FEMA/ All these little haters got me back with the nina/ Got me bringing guns to work, Gilbert Arenas,” the Jiggaman adds later in his bars. “I’m in this party/ I’m up to no good/ And I should be ducking these clubs, Tiger Woods.” Besides Jay-Z, the collaborators that Dre has had in the lab with him for Detox have been pretty impressive — as expected. Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, the Game, Nas, R. Kelly, Scott Storch, T.I., Nas, 50 Cent and Eminem have all recorded with Dre over the past few years for the album. What do you think of the leaked version of “Under Pressure”? Is it possible for Detox to live up to the hype? Share your opinions in the comments. Related Artists Dr. Dre Jay-Z

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Dr. Dre Says Leaked ‘Under Pressure’ Was ‘An Incomplete Song’

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Tagged artists, bars, Game, Hollywood, interscope, jiggaman, Music, news article, party, pressure, songs, under-pressure

Eminem’s New Music Will ‘Surprise A Lot Of People,’ Just Blaze Says

Posted on April 2, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Producer also talks about the possibility of reuniting with Jay-Z. By Shaheem Reid, with additional reporting by Adam Stewart and Akshay Bhansali Eminem Photo: Universal It seems like the only time Just Blaze isn’t in the sky these days is when he’s working. Blaze has been DJing at places like the Winter Music Conference when he isn’t busy traveling back and forth and producing for people such as Jay Electronica and Eminem . “I’m working on Eminem’s album still, so I’ve gotta hurry up and get back to Detroit,” Just said. He was fresh off the turntables at club Grand Central during the Fool’s Gold party in Miami, where he spun a two-hour house set. “I’ve been back and forth — Detroit, New York, Detroit, New York, Miami, back to Detroit — for like the past two and a half weeks. [The album], it’s getting there, but we still got a lot of work. So I wish I could stay [in Miami] longer.” Blaze says he’s sworn not to reveal too much about Eminem’s album, but he’s already calling it a classic, one of the ultimate efforts in Slim Shady’s storied catalog. “As far as what’s going on in Detroit, a lot of good music is being made,” Blaze said of Em. “He’s really back spitting. The wordplay is crazy, the metaphors are crazy. He’s really back on his game. He had his ups, he had his downs, he’s back way, way, way up. This is definitely going to be up there with the best of his albums, for sure, for sure. The fact that he’s branched out working with a lot of different people now, collaborating in a lot of different ways that he never has before, I think he’s going to surprise a lot of people.” Other than Em, Blaze has Jay Electronica on his plate, but what about the super-producer linking back with the other Jay, as in Young Hova? Just says he talked to the Jiggaman right before the U.S. leg of the Blueprint 3 tour ended. “Maybe,” he answered with a sly grin about whether or not he and rap’s G.O.A.T. would collaborate again. “You never know.” Related Artists Eminem

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Eminem’s New Music Will ‘Surprise A Lot Of People,’ Just Blaze Says

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Tagged artists, djing-at-places, grand-central, Hollywood, jiggaman, Music, News, news article, shaheem-reid, whether-or-not, winter, winter-music

Jay-Z Talks Lil Wayne’s Surprise Appearance At Madison Square Garden

Posted on March 12, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

‘It was fantastic,’ Hov says. By Shaheem Reid Jay-Z Photo: Bryan Bedder/ Getty Images BROOKLYN, New York — On Thursday, Jay-Z told MTV News he has grand plans to have major musical performances once the new Barclays Center — future home to the Nets , the NBA team Jay co-owns — opens in a couple of years. But the Jiggaman obviously still has love for Madison Square Garden. He’s had numerous historic moments at MSG over the years, and last week was no different. His BP3 tour stopped at the venue , and along with Jay parading out his classic records, his tour guests Young Jeezy and Trey Songz brought out surprises: Lil Wayne , Drake, Nicki Minaj and Trey Songz all came out. “It was fantastic,” Jay said yesterday about his latest Garden adventure, the fond memory invoking a grin. “Again, any time you play the Garden is a special moment. It’s special. Wayne, how that worked out, he was supposed to go away for a year. Somehow he was able to perform that last show. He came out to an incredible reaction. Then Drake, Nicki Minaj — all on Jeezy’s set, which was fantastic. Then Trey Songz and Fabulous. It’s one of those magical nights at the Garden. Once again, one of those magical nights.” Thursday in Brooklyn was dream come true for Jay. He told the crowd how as a young boy in the nearby Marcy projects, he dreamed of playing basketball — and now as a owner of the Nets, he’s bringing the team his backyard. The groundbreaking ceremony for the team’s new arena was attended by Jay-Z, Beyonc

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Tagged artists, Getty Images, governor-david, Hollywood, jiggaman, mayor-michael, Mtv, Music, nba, team

Jay-Z’s NYC Show Will ‘Shut Everything Down,’ Memphis Bleek Says

Posted on March 1, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Hov is returning to Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night. By Shaheem Reid Memphis Bleek Photo: MTV News By this time on Tuesday, Jay-Z and Memphis Bleek should be preparing to go on in their house. Hov’s BP3 tour hits New York’s Madison Square Garden that night — a place where the Jiggaman has astounded thousands of fans with a multitude of guest spots , surprises and even a “farewell” concert . While no one knows what Jay will pull out of his bag of tricks, Memphis Bleek — who always performs with Jay in concert — says to expect an evolution of sound. “This run is gonna shut everything down, because everything is live now. No more playback. The band plays everything. You gotta come check it out,” Jay’s former neighbor in the Marcy Projects revealed. Bleek also said that while Hov parades out an endless array of classics, there are some songs he himself wants to hear that didn’t make the setlist. “Now that’s what I don’t have,” Bleek said about input on what Jay performs. “Jay, he don’t be listening to me. He clips a lot of records, a lot of records Jay don’t do that I be wanting him to do. If Jay did ‘Imaginary Players’ — you know what will happen in that building? ‘Streets Is Watching,’ records like that, they don’t come on. That boy’s hit catalog is crazy.” Over the weekend, Jay, Bleek and opening acts Young Jeezy and Trey Songz hit the Philips Arena in Atlanta. The sold-out crowd saw Jeezy bring out surprise guest Plies; Trey soothed the ladies and Jay threw knockout blows such as “D.O.A.” and “On to the Next One.” Bleek says traveling with Jay from city to city is a lot different for him this time. “For me it’s a new movement,” he said. “They ain’t let me bring my bus out, my Gs out this time — they clipped my bus! They say I gotta ride on the G5 this time everywhere. Usually I’m stuck on the middle of the road, nowhere with my peoples. Now, I’m riding with the A group. “Catch me after tour, I might be acting different,” he added with a laugh. “I’m moving up. I might act different: They say when you blow up, you act different.” After the BP3 tour finishes in Los Angeles late this month, Bleek said he wants to embark on a solo tour to promote his upcoming album, The Process. “We gotta get the music out first,” Memph determined. “Once we get the music out, the shows will come. I turn down a lot of shows because I don’t want to perform old records. I’m tired of singing ‘Is That Your Chick,’ ‘Do My …’ I been doing that. I need to add to the catalog. That’s what The Process is gonna do.” Related Artists Memphis Bleek Jay-Z

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Tagged artists, garden, Hollywood, House, jiggaman, music-out-first, news article, philips, time, TMZ

Drake Says Thank Me Later Only Includes Collabos That ‘Make Sense’

Posted on January 4, 2010 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

‘If I get people’s verses back and they don’t coincide with the vision I have, I’ll do the whole album by myself,’ he tells MTV News. By Shaheem Reid, with reporting by Steven Roberts Drake Photo: Matt Harper/ MTV News Just like Drake won’t just jump on anybody’s song for a guest appearance, he also won’t just accept anybody’s verses for his upcoming debut, Thank Me Later. The 23-year-old MC said his collaborators have to fit into his musical plan

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Drake Says Thank Me Later Only Includes Collabos That ‘Make Sense’

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Tagged Album, artists, collaborators, daily, fact, family-promises, jiggaman, Mtv, Music, news article, unless-it-makes, Videos, vision

2009 mtvU Woodie Awards Announce College Radio Winner KUPS

Posted on November 16, 2009 by Benny Hollywood| Leave a comment

Station from University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington, wins Radio Woodie after 3.1 million votes were cast. By James Montgomery Matt Pinfield of New York’s 101.9 WRXP Photo: Michael N. Todaro / Getty Images The mtvU Woodie Awards are a show made by college students, for college students, so it would only make sense that they should honor college radio too.

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2009 mtvU Woodie Awards Announce College Radio Winner KUPS

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Tagged Hollywood, jiggaman, louise-parker, Mtv, Music, news article, radio, sigel, weather, woodies