Jay-Z Unleashes Obama PSA

Watch the thirty second feature in the clip below. Download an MP3 at bottom.


MP3: Jay Z & Fabolous - Brooklyn

Coldplay Sets Track Listing For New EP

Prospekt's March will feature:

1. Life In Technicolor (II)
2. Postcards From Far Away
3. Glass Of Water
4. Rainy Day
5. Prospekt's March

Additionally, a Jay-Z infused remix of 'Lost!' will see daylight shortly. Last week, Coldplay debuted a clip for the original version of the tune. Visit Coldplay at their official site.

MP3: Coldplay - Clocks

Jay-Z Preps Pair Of Obama Rallies

Catch him this weekend at:

October 4th
Detroit
Cobo Arena

October 5th
Miami
Bayfront Park

For further info, head here.

MP3: Jay Z & Fabolous - Brooklyn

Jay-Z To Perform At Legendary Cali Venue's Reopening

Catch him on 10/15 @ The Hollywood Palladium.

He'll be backed by a 12 piece band.

Further info can be found at Billboard.

MP3: Jay Z - Dirt... (Remix)

Ian Brown Hearts Jay Z

What would Oasis think? Watch his testimonial in the clip below. MP3 at bottom.


MP3: The Stone Roses - Waterfall

Rock The Bells Festival @ Jones Beach (8/3)

This weekend we sent intrepid reporter Jed Garfunkel out to the wilds of Long Island to review the Rock The Bells Festival for us. Here's what he had to say:

Busta Rhymes joined A Tribe Called Quest and Jay-Z joined Nas at the Rock The Bells Festival at Jones Beach last night. The show was more like a big family reunion than your typical hip hop show. Other special guests included Pharoah Monch, Talib Kweli, Slick Rick, Biz Markie, Keith Murray and EPMD. At the end of the night I heard people over and over again exclaiming in disbelief that "everyone was here".

In fact, the festival brought something for everyone: a fan of Jazzy Hip Hop, New York Hip Hop, 90's Hip Hop, Hardcore Hip Hop or just Hip Hop Culture. Sure there was the fair share of "yo, check out my next album dropping on the tip of the year" and "I am the greatest rapper ever, respect me". But something about the abundance of special guests, or the air thick with heavenly smoke lent itself to an over riding theme of "One Love".

Highlights from the day included Spank Rock with Amanda Blank, and obviously De La Soul, Mos Def, Pharcyde, Method Man and Redman, Ghostface and Raekwon. De La Soul played way early to a mostly empty venue, but they did bring out Black Sheep and Biz Markie and sampled "Just A Friend" at the end of their set.

Mos Def was joined by Talib Kweli for the second half of his set. This was one of the few sets not ruined by sound problems. Jones Beach was just not built to balance heavy bass. Even Nas sounded terrible, he had a full band backing him up and most of the set it was all drowned out. Method Man & Redman finally brought the crowd into a frenzy. The energy level jumped and after that point never really fell off. Slick Rick came out for the end of "Ladi Dadi". Keith Murray and EPMD also joined them, but it was all about Method Man, Redman the heavy clouds of blunt smoke and chants for the forthcoming "How High 2", which should be in theaters (or straight to DVD?) next summer.

After a half hour soundcheck which ended with the crowd booing to get started, Nas opened with "Hip Hop Is Dead" and proceeded through a greatest hits set spiced up with songs from his current number one album. Unfortunately at times it seemed he couldn't be bothered to remember all the lyrics and he even left epic lyrics from "If I Ruled The World" to be filled in by the audience. Late in the set Nas introduced Jay-Z by saying, "it's a tough world for a black man, hell, it's tough for any human being - bitch gotta catch a breath". To which Jay-Z burst onto the stage to do a duet of "Black Republicans". All in all I was very disappointed in Nas. His live band took away from the set and his trouble with lyrics kinda irritated me and took away from how awesome he spent half the set claiming to be.

Not to be outshined, A Tribe Called Quest brought all the hits and Busta Rhymes to show how it's done. The crowd went nuts for "Bonita Applebaum", "Check The Rhyme", "Electric Relaxation", "Oh My God", and on and on. It was their first NYC show in 11 years, since breaking up in 1998... and according to the rumors, Q-Tip has said it will be their last. Looking forward, Tribe's set also featured Q-Tip and his solo catalogue with a lot of lyrical assistance from Mos Def. But it was when Phife and Ali Shaheed Muhammad hit their mic's that the whole day really came together. I felt like the entire venue was experiencing true hip hop from its roots to its most modern expression. It seemed like everyone there, white, black, Philippino, Hispanic, entertainer and audience member was singing and dancing and experiencing that one love theme. By the time Busta Rhymes came out for "Scenario" and "Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Can See", I was completely losing my shit. That's what a show should be. Well done, Tribe. Enjoy some photos from the event below.

Jay-Z Covers Oasis At Glastonbury

Enjoy his take on 'Wonderwall' below. Yay or nay? Jay-Z MP3 at bottom of post.


MP3: Jay Z - Dirt Off Your Shoulder (Remix)

The Teenagers Profess Their Love For Jay-Z

Enjoy today's Glastonbury NME Q&A below. Visit The Teenagers on MySpace.


MP3: The Teenagers - Starlett Johansson

Glastonbury 2008 Headliners Confirmed

And they are:

Jay-Z
The Verve
Kings Of Leon

Are you thrilled or disappointed?

MP3: The Verve - Bitter Sweet Symphony

The World Of B-Sides & Rarities, #189

Jay-Z & The Notorious B.I.G. - Allure (Ratatat Remix)

Ahh, yes.

Yet another tip-top reinterpretation by the NYC duo.

Download their entire new remix LP (#2) here.

MP3: Jay-Z & Biggie - Allure (Ratatat Mix)

The World Of B-Sides & Rarities, #117

Justice vs. Jay-Z - Show Me How To D.A.N.C.E.

Simply magnificent!

Download the stellar mash-up below, courtesy of Vice.

Will Justice upset Kanye West (yet again) for top honors at tonight's VMAs? View the full list of nominees via this link.

Who else is (coyly) anticipating Britney's opening number?

MP3: Justice vs. Jay-Z - Show Me How To D.A.N.C.E.

Amy Winehouse: Adored By Jay-Z

So much so that he's gone ahead and remixed the singer's infamous single 'Rehab'.

Word is that he's added some new verses to the original as well as some funky fresh beats. Sadly, there seem to be no plans to officially release the track, although I'm pretty positive that will change within the next few weeks... That, or it'll somehow end up on The Hype Machine for all to enjoy.

Amy tells MTV News that Jay-Z's take on the tune is "really, really good... it is wicked. I'm flattered that the liked the song enough to do something with it."

Check out the original below.

MP3: Amy Winehouse - Rehab

Keepin it Real, Jay-Z Does a Coke Can

This makes me ill.

Jay-Z and his clothing company, Rocawear, have teamed up with Coca-cola to help kill people keep third world countries poverty stricken aid in childhood obesity design their new ad campaign for Cherry coke. The Hip-Hop legend has contracted with the soft drink company to design the new can for Cherry Coke as well as their new tv commercials. On February 7th, Jay-Z will even appear at NY Fashion Week for the can's relaunch (bit of a stretch eh Fashion Week?).

Rocawear's Jameel Spencer says, "Besides just recording, he's making TV commercials and campaigns for brands... who is better than Coke? "They're the biggest. His role is helping brands not get it wrong the way MCDonald's did with African-Americans rapping about French fries. "There's a reassurance that they won't appear like an out-of-touch uncle trying to act cool." [via Contact Music]

Beyonce works for McDonald's and Jay-Z whores out for Coke, now that is a power couple. Jay-Z, you got 99 Problems and this is definitely one.

Jay-Z & American Idol Runner Up Beat The Beatles & U2 On US Charts!

Whoa, across the Atlantic and the same holds true!

Over the weekend, we were stunned to find out that Westlife beat The Beatles & U2 on the UK album charts (for all of their debut weeks). Seems like neither megagroup could topple Daughtry (I guess he removed his first name, Chris, for some sort of appeal, not mine) or the 700+ debuting Jay-Z 'comeback album'.

Not only that but the latest edition of Now also faired higher than the big boys this week!


Here's how the top 5 round up (sales in parantheses):
#1 Jay-Z: 708k
#2 Daughtry: 301k
#3 NOW 23: 298k
#4 The Beatles: 280k
#5 Snoop Dogg: 274k

U2's U218 didn't even crack the top 10! They'll have to settle for #12. Although that could be because they have way too many greatest hits releases as it is. Only The Cure has more (seriously, 5 best-ofs with the same 12 songs over and over? Come on!)

Thoughts on all of this? Predictable? I don't know why it shocks me, but it does.

MP3: U2 - Acrobat (one of my favorite U2 tracks)

Chris Martin & Jay Z Together At Last!

Err... we don't know what to make of this! It seems like the Coldplay frontman and H.O.V.A himself will perform together next week in London.

Can Chris do a mean '99 Problems'?

Can Jay Z throw a beat over 'Trouble'?

I guess we will find out.

MP3s:
Coldplay: 'God Put A Smile Upon Your Face'
Beyonce/Jay Z: 'Crazy In Love'