Jay-Z covers “No Sleep Till Brooklyn” (Beastie Boys tribute at APW Fest)

Jay-Z performing at the All Points West Festival. (c) Melanism.com After MCA’s terrible cancer diagnosis and the consequent Beastie Boys canceled tour dates, a lot of APW Fest goers were left disappointed … or were they? Soon after the Beastie Boys had to cancel their appearance at Jersey City music & arts festival, officials announced their replacement will be none other than Jay-Z! The APW fest underwent this weekend, and, as expected, Jay-Z stormed the…

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The Death Knell of music?

It’s been called one of the defining sounds of this era as well as a trend [that became] a gimmick. TIME Magazine acknowledged it as a rare gimmick  that can lead to innovation. Rick Rubin has called its use lazy and argues that using it can remove the emotion from a performance. All this over a simple computer program? Yes, Auto-tune has both captivated audiences and caused tidal waves of hatred usually reserved for Twilight…

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New Coldplay feat. Jay-Z video: ‘Lost +’

I’ve already talked a bit about Coldplay’s “Lost+” remix by Jay-Z, back sometime in October. Like I said before, it isn’t anything too extravagant, like Jay-Z’s ‘Encore’ with Linkin Park, but rather something just different – a well received diversification. The video for Lost+ just came out a few hours ago and frankly, on this department, it’s not at all impressive. What they did was just adding some Jay-Z pseudo-cameos (in a TV-set…), over Coldplay’s…

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Download: Jay-Z – ‘Remember’

Call it foresight, high statistical measurement or simply woman’s intuition, but it seems Jay-Z put his bets right, as far as the recent US elections are concerned. Right after the 5th of November and the consequent Obama presidential victory, there were hundreds of bands flooding the Internet with various victory songs – Jay didn’t go any lower, either. “History” is the title track of his latest song buzzing through the airwaves at the moment, and…

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Download: Coldplay – ‘Lost+’ (remix featuring Jay Z)

Lost is definitely my favorite song off “Viva la Vida,” Coldplay’s latest record, released at the beginning of the summer. It’s somewhat dark vibe, amplified by the beautiful dark church-like organ, makes it beautifully haunting and melodic. “Lost+” is one of the four tracks featured on the Lost single out on November 10 (the other songs are “Lost-” and “Lost@,” and instrumental and a live version, respectively). The song is basically a remix of the…

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Download: Jay-Z – ‘Jockin’ Jay-Z’

Last week’s Jay-Z dope appearance on the Madison Square garden stage, next to Kanye, proved to be a shocker for the whole rap scene. That was the coup de grâce of ultimate marketing stunts. The perfect entry and the perfect announcement for the new album, Blueprint 3. However, in all the commotion and all, I couldn’t get a good fix on the Kanye produced song, off Bluepring 3, titled “Jockin’ Jay-Z.” Well, not anymore, as…

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‘Jocking Jay-Z’ with The Blueprint 3 and Oasis dissing

Boy, that Jay-Z sure knows how to make an entrance. Yesterday night, during Kanye West’s show in NY’s Madison Square Garden, our very own Shawn Carter (Jay-Z for you fools) made his way around the stage on a avalanche of beats and introduced what’s now officially The Blueprint 3, his latest, upcoming album produced by none other then Kanye West. Anyway, here’s the fun part. Kanye and Jay-Z sung what could be the first track…

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Noel Gallagher blames rap singers for awful tix sales

Organizers of one of Britain’s best-known music festivals on Tuesday have backed up their decision to keep Jay-Z as the headline, despite the complaints received from several rock stars, “headlined” by Noel Gallagher. The outdoor Glastonbury festival is really important for brits, and well… most just don’t think it’s right to have a rap artist as a headliner. This of course caused the disappointing ticket sales, as it hasn’t sold out yet, contrary to previous…

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Jay Z: ‘American Gangster’

Artist name: Spice Girls Album name: Greatest Hits Label: Island Def Jam Gender: Hip-Hop/Mafioso Rap Release date: November 6, 2007 ZMErating: 9/10 Website: http://www.jayzonline.com In 1996 [tag]Jay-Z[/tag] came out with a gem called Reasonable Doubt. Tales of hustling, drugs, and money were on the surface of this classic album. Looking deeper you hear tales of infidelity, and sever paranoia. Since then enthusiast have begged Jay-Z to go back to his original way of thinking. Because…

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New Music Monday: 5 November

Not too many shocking releases this week, but there are a few that are certain to hold a central spot on your iPod for a pretty long time. Highlights include [tag]Jay-Z[/tag]’s much awaited post-“retirement” LP American Gangster, inspired by the same titled movie. It seems hip-hop holds this weeks monopoly, in terms of new records, as Jay-Z fellow eastsiders [tag]Infamous Mobb[/tag] release their third studio effort, Reality Rap. Blink 182’s legacy, together with +44, alt…

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