Tag Archives: Jay-Z

G.O.O.D. Friday: Kanye West – “The Joy” (Featuring Pete Rock, Jay-Z, Charlie Wilson, Curtis Mayfield & Kid Cudi)

G.O.O.D. Friday, ya’ll.  This past week’s joint features Jay-Z, Charlie Wilson, Kid Cudi, and newcomers Pete Rock and the late, great Curtis Mayfield (his 1970s hit “The Makings Of You” gets sampled).  Also sampled is Syl Johnson’s “Different Strokes”.  Preview and download below.  Again, the cover art does contain nudity so hop after the break if you want the uncensored image.

Download: Kanye West – “The Joy” (Featuring Pete Rock, Jay-Z, Charlie Wilson, Curtis Mayfield & Kid Cudi)

[audio: Kanye West – The Joy.mp3]

[Via KWBlog]

Kanye West x Jay-Z EP ‘Watch the Throne’ is now a full length album

Told you the Kanye West news was far from over.  In an interview with MTV, Kanye West revealed that the upcoming collab EP with big brother Jay-Z will in fact be a full length album.  ‘Ye said, “We did like five [songs] so far, and then a few of them kind of were out there, and I put them on my album. Sorry, Jay!”  He’s most definitely talking about G.O.O.D. Friday turned My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy tracks “Monster” (Featuring Jay-Z, Nicki Minaj & Bon Iver) and “So Appalled” (Featuring Jay-Z, Pusha T, Swizz Beatz & CyHi Da Prynce).  West continued, “But we’ve got some more, and we’re going to the south of France at the end of this month just to record our ideas.”  See Kanye fans?  Fantasy may contain a bunch of songs we’ve already heard, but ‘Ye and Jay-Z have many more tunes up their sleeves.  Looking forward to it.

[Via MTV; EW]

G.O.O.D. Friday: Kanye West – “So Appalled” (Featuring RZA, Jay-Z, Pusha T, Swizz Beatz & Cyhi the Prynce)

This past Friday brought another Kanye West track.  “So Appalled” features familiar G.O.O.D. Friday vocals from RZA, Jay-Z, Pusha T, and Swizz Beatz.  Cyhi the Prynce recently sighed to ‘Ye’s label over the summer.  Preview and download the track below.

Download: Kanye West – “So Appalled” (Featuring RZA, Jay-Z, Pusha T, Swizz Beatz & Cyhi the Prynce)

[audio: Kanye West – So Appalled.mp3]

[Via KWBlog]

Kanye West announces Jay-Z collab EP, drops “Monster” (Featuring Jay-Z, Rick Ross, Bon Iver & Nicki Minaj) & “Runaway Love” (Remix) (Featuring Justin Bieber & Raekwon)

Kanye West promised new music every “G.O.O.D. Friday” and so far he has not broken that promise.  On Friday August 27 Kanye released “Monster” and it features an all-star cast including Jay-Z, Rick Ross, Nicki Minaj, and Justin Vernon of indie folk band Bon Iver.  All in all the track is tight, but you want to know who really kills it?  Nicki Minaj, that’s who.  She raps, “You could be the king, but watch the queen conquer.”  She’s quick and has tons of spunk.  Female rappers that go hard like this aren’t in abundance these days; I’m excited to see what she’s going to do next.  In fact, all of a sudden I’m anticipating her debut album to drop.  (Its expected release date is November 23, one week after Kanye’s yet-to-be-titled album hits stores.)  Kanye made sure to mention how much he appreciated Nicki’s contribution to the track.  He tweeted, “MONSTER… can we just talk about Nicki’s verse???????!!!!!!!!! I toooooooooooooooold yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaallll!!!!!!!!!!!!”  Preview and download “Monster” below.

Download: Kanye West – “Monster” (Featuring Jay-Z, Rick Ross, Bon Iver & Nicki Minaj)

[audio: Kanye West – Monster.mp3]

Speaking of Twitter… Nearly three hours before he posted the download link for “Monster” he shared this exciting news: “Me and jay bout to drop a 5 song album called ‘Watch the Throne'”.  I guess we can consider this upcoming 5 track EP a mini-prequel to his studio album.  Along with the download link he tweeted, “[This is] the second song off of me and Jay album!”  It would not be too drastic to think that the first song off the EP is the “Power” remix since that song does feature Jay-Z, but ‘Ye left this up in the air for now.

Fast forward to today and now there’s another new song from Camp Kanye.  Yeah I know, it’s not Friday just yet, so I guess we can consider this next song a special bonus.  About two weeks ago Kanye tweeted that he was listening to Justin Bieber’s “Runaway Love” song from My World 2.0.  The Bieb responded with gratitude.  Next Kanye blurted out this: “Maybe we can do something together. Me, You and Raekwon.”  Bieber’s reply?  “Me, u, and the chef 2gether on a song = EPIC. haha.”  Yeah, this collaboration actually happened.  Kanye West, Raekwon of the Wu-Tang Clan, and teen sensation Justin Bieber (who happens to be signed to Def Jam Records with Kanye) are featured on a remix of “Runaway Love”.  After listening to the track it appears that The Bieb might not have had a hand in making the mix.  Basically Kanye laid Beiber’s vocals on top of the Wu-Tang Clan’s “Wu-Tang Clan Ain’t Nuthing Ta F’ Wit” (1993) beat.  The remix includes one rather short verse from Kanye and two surprisingly explicative-free verses from Raekwon.  And you want to know what?  The song catchy, what with Bieber’s young Michael Jackson-esque sound, the Chef’s old school rhymes, and ‘Ye’s producing.  It’s a nice treat for fans of so many different generations.  Feel free to preview and download the track below.

Download: Kanye West – “Runaway Love” (Featuring Justin Bieber & Raekwon)

[audio: Kanye West – Runaway Love (Featuring Justin Bieber & Raekwon).mp3]

[Via KanyeBlog, here & here; Twitter]

Kanye West debuts “Power” remix, promises new songs every weekend until X-mas

Kanye West dropped the official remix to his super single “Power” over the weekend.  The track features a verse from Kanye’s long-time collaborator Jay-Z and production by Swizz Beatz.  Jay-Z opens the remix strong; he raps about living in the 31st century, makes a Norman Mailer reference, and says this: “In search of the truth, even if it goes through Taylor Swift/Tell her this.”  Yes, this marks the first time a Kanye track alludes to the harsh “imma let you finish” Swift incident from last year’s VMAs.  After Jay-Z does his thing, Kanye hops onto the record with two brand new verses.  In them be brings up topics like social commentary (“Now we’re not all gonna be American idols/but you can at least grab a camera, shoot a viral”) and politics and war (Bring our troops back from Iraq, keep our troops out of Iran/So the next couple bars, I’ma drop them in Islam/They say as-salaam alaikum, say wa alaikum as-salaam/That’s no Oscar Mayer bacon, you should run and tell your mom/Now the question is, how we gon’ stop the next Vietnam/Keep Flex out of Korea, ’cause you know we drop bombs”).  With about 2 minutes left, a Swizz Beatz produced sample of “The Power” by Snap! consumes the track and Kanye goes in for one more verse.  He raps, “Don’t even think you can allude to the rumors/I’m immune to the booze, I’m a prude to you losers.”  When the five minute 15 second track is about to end, Swizzy pops on to kill it: “Chill, ‘Ye, chill/Sh-t’s burnt up already/It’s over.”

Overall the remix is really great.  It does away with the “21st Century Schizoid Man” sample and introduces a different but familiar flow for the chorus.  In many ways the remix is bigger than the original track (Kanye opens up about more topics in the former), but they both hold their own weight.  Be sure to preview the remix below; there’s also a download link for keeps.

Download: Kanye West – Power (Remix) (Featuring Jay-Z & Swizz Beatz)

[audio: Kanye West – Power (Remix) (Featuring Jay-Z & Swizz Beatz).mp3]

Late last night Kanye shared some very exciting news.  He promises to release new music every weekend until Christmas.  On G.O.O.D. Fridays (G.O.O.D. Music is the name of his record label) new songs will be released; he specifies that they may come from him, Jay-Z, and other rappers.  He released “See Me Now” (Featuring Beyonce & Charlie Wilson) last week for the fans, and he realized that the fans deserve new content on a regular basis.  He tweeted: “I know yall need the music so I’m dropping 1 new song every weekend until Xmas. It may be my song it may be a new Jay song etc… I’m calling it good Fridays. Yall know every Friday yall gone have a new joint from our family. We look at the game completely different now. It’s about the fans. No more holding back. That’s why I dropped see me now… It wasn’t about me it was about the Summer the BBQs etc…  Though Kanye has not mentioned what’s on deck for next weekend, many speculate that “All of the Lights”, the planned second single off his upcoming album that he previewed during his UStream chat, might be it.  Kanye is also finalizing a remix to Justin Bieber’s “Runaway Love” with Raekwon, so that’s in the pipeline, too.

Currently Kanye is in Prague working Dark Twisted Fantasy, an artistic film that will accompany the untitled album when it releases November 16.

[Via KWBlog; Twitter; EW-MusicMix; WSJ; Rap-Up]

“NY-Z” is a beautifully shot documentary featuring rapper Jay-Z

Got fifteen minutes to shave off the day?  Sit back and watch this short documentary featuring rapper Jay-Z.

Continuing to collaborate with creative visionaries, ABSOLUT Vodka presents this new 15-minute short film featuring Jay-Z. The documentary, titled NY-Z, was directed by Danny Clinch and paints a rare portrait of the global hip-hop icon. With unprecedented access to Jay-Z the days and moments leading up to, and after, his legendary September 11th benefit concert at Madison Square Garden, Danny Clinch gives us an intimate glimpse into Jay-Z: his childhood, his motivation as an artist, his passion for music, and his muse, New York.

[Thanks, Tim S.]

Music video: Jay-Z – “Young Forever” (Featuring Mr Hudson)

This is the second music video off Jay-Z’s latest album, The Blueprint 3.  It follows “Empire State of Mind” featuring Alicia Keys.  In case you missed that one it’s posted after the break.  Looks like Jay-Z is stuck with the black-and-white scheme for the album’s videos.  Scratch that, how could I forget about “Run This Town?”  It works, so no complaints.  Snag a copy of TB3 if you haven’t already; it’s worth it.  “On to the Next One” premieres next on New Year’s Eve (w/ Carson Daily, NBC).

[Via KanyeBlog]

Continue reading Music video: Jay-Z — “Young Forever” (Featuring Mr Hudson)

DJ Hero Renegade Edition additional tracks revealed

dj-hero-renegade-edition---box-art

We already knew that the special edition of DJ Hero will include a custom turntable, a DJ stand, a carrying case, and tracks from Jay-Z and Eminem.  This week the included tracks were fnally revealed to the public.  Each rapper will be bringing 12 songs to the mix and will be loaded on two separate CDs.  Some of Jay-Z’s songs include “Dirt Off Your Shoulder,” “Show Me What You Got,” “Roc Boys (And the Winner Is…),” “Brooklyn Go Hard (Featuring Santigold),” and “D.O.A. (Death of Auto Tune).”  Some of Eminem’s (hand-picked) songs include “Public Enemy No. 1,” “Say What You Say (featuring Dr. Dre),” “Lose Yourself,” “Say Goodbye to Hollywood,” and “Soldier.”  Keep in mind, though, that these songs are not playable in-game; they are audio CDs soley for listening to.  Bummer, I know!

DJ Hero ($119.99) releases alongside its special edition counterpart ($199.99) on October 27.

[Via IGN]

Music Video: Jay-Z – Run This Town (Feat. Rihanna & Kanye West)

Jay-Z’s latest album The Blueprint 3 drops September 11.  The album will feature Rihanna, Kanye West (on two tracks), Kid Cudi, Luke Steele, Young Jeezy, Alicia Keys, Swizz Beats, Drake, Pharrell, and Mr Hudson.  DAMN!  Look after the break of the album cover and backside for the track listing.

[Via KanyeBlog; DatNewCudi]

Continue reading Music Video: Jay-Z — Run This Town (Feat. Rihanna & Kanye West)