jay-z Archives

Exclusive: Here’s the Real Story About Jay Z And Solange

If you have just clicked this to hear more about the Jay Z and Solange rift that recently exploded all over the Internet, then you have come to the right place but for reasons that may differ from your expectations (but keep reading). Before we begin, ask yourself, "Why did... Read more

May 17, 2014 Food for Thought, Fresh

After Days of Speculation About Their Altercation, Jay Z , Solange & Beyonce Issue a Statement

The Internet and rumor mill have been ablaze since the now infamous footage of Solange's attack on Jay Z was released. After days of speculation, Jay, Solange and Beyonce have released a joint statement addressing the incident, which you can read in full below. As we said, every family has... Read more

May 15, 2014 Fresh

Jay Z, ScHoolboy Q, Drake & Eve Among 2014 BET Awards Nominees

The 2014 BET Awards are scheduled to air live from Los Angeles, California's Nokia Theatre on Sunday, June 29. Six weeks ahead, the network has shared its nominees in the respective categories, including Hip-Hop nods to Jay Z, Drake, J. Cole, Kendrick Lamar, ScHoolboy Q, Future, Eve, Nicki Minaj, and... Read more

May 14, 2014 Fresh

Solange Knowles Attacks Jay Z in an Elevator and It’s Caught on Film (Video)

UPDATED: With the full unedited video and a statement from The Standard Hotel. TMZ has leaked footage from a surveillance camera in an elevator which caught Solange Knowles physically attacking Jay Z multiple times, as Beyonce stood by. It is unclear what prompted the heated confrontation that occurred after a... Read more

May 12, 2014 Video

50 Cent to Diddy: “Ma$e Ain’t Worth $2MM with $2MM in His Pocket” (Video)

Part 2 of 50 Cent's extended interview with Funkmaster Flex is even more revealing than part 1. 50 touches on several controversial topics, including commentating on the Jay Z/Drake beef, Tony Yayo skipping bail, ghostwriting for LL Cool J and tense business negotiations with Diddy regarding Ma$e. Flex interrupts 50.... Read more

May 3, 2014 Video

DJ Khaled Releases His Single with Jay Z, Rick Ross, Meek Mill…Does It Live Up to the Hype (Audio)

Earlier today, DJ Khaled was featured in an interview where he went on a bit of a "tirade" about owning the summer with his anthems for the last 8 years, when asked if he could do it again. Khaled said he his streak would continue because he has Jay Z... Read more

April 28, 2014 Audio

Former Roc-A-Fella Engineer Reportedly Uses Extortion To Give Back Vintage Jay Z Master Recordings

In the late '90s and early 2000s, Chauncey Mahan was a name Heads would certainly find in the insert booklets of their albums. A recording engineer, Mahan was by no means a household name, even to level of an Eddie Sancho, Young Guru, or DURO, but he worked on Jay... Read more

April 22, 2014 Fresh

The Forbes 5 (Hip-Hop): Diddy Remains Hip-Hop’s Wealthiest Artist; Dr. Dre Moves Past Jay Z

Forbes released its annual list of Hip-Hop's wealthiest artists a day after tax day...Diddy remains at the top of the list with an estimated worth of $700 Million. After taking financial hits at both Ruthless and Death Row, Dr. Dre is now securely in charge of his fortune, passing Jay... Read more

April 16, 2014 Fresh

Here’s a Playlist of the Best Hip-Hop to Drop in March 2014 (Audio)

As we ease our way into April, here's a playlist of the best Hip-Hop to drop in March. You'll hear new music from Jay Z, Jay Electronica, Wu-Tang Clan, Crooked I, The Lox, Mobb Deep, Jon Connor, Devin the Dude, Big K.R.I.T., Nitty Scott, MC, Kendrick Lamar, YG, 50 Cent,... Read more

April 6, 2014 Audio, Playlists

Jon Connor’s Annihilation of Devil is a Lie Gets a Video. Connor Season is Open (Video)

Jon Connor took the Devil is a Lie beat from Rick Ross and Jay Z and made it his own. Now, he's released a video for em-pha-sis...Connor Season is open. MC's beware...Check it out. Related: Jon Connor Does Some Flint, Michigan Surgery On A Grip Of Kanye West Songs (Mixtape)... Read more

April 3, 2014 Video

Jay Z & Jay Electronica Drop Jaws & The Gloves On We Made It Freestyle (Audio)

UPDATE: Several years back, Jay Electronica confirmed his signing with Jay Z's Roc Nation, after speculation surfaced that Jay would remain a Decon artist, sign with Just Blaze's Fort Knox, or even ride with Diddy's Bad Boy Records. While the proposed tracklist to Act II: Patents Of Nobility (The Turn)... Read more

March 23, 2014 Audio, Featured-homepage, Fresh

Rick Ross Decries The Devil Alone In This Backstreet Visual (Video)

As a father, husband, sports agent, multi-platinum recording artist and label head, Jay Z is a busy man. Rick Ross' former Def Jam boss missed out on the video for one of his most potent guest spots in some time in "The Devil Is A Lie." That did not phase... Read more

March 20, 2014 Fresh, Video

Planet Asia Breathes Fresh Fire Into a Classic DJ Premier Beat (Video)

If you get on the Rhyme No More beat DJ Premier laced for Jay Z, you better have BARS. Please believe, Planet Asia has got plenty. Check out how he breathes fresh fire into a classic. Related: Guilty Simpson & Planet Asia Switch Seats With Apollo Brown & Gensu Dean... Read more

March 14, 2014 Video

Freddie Gibbs Calls Jeezy a “Wannabe JAY-Z” on His Real Diss Record (Audio)

If you ever had any questions about how Freddie Gibbs feels about Young Jeezy since leaving his CTE label, he lays it out in scathing detail in this new Jeezy diss record produced by Madlib. The track is called "Real" and Gibbs holds nothing back, calling Jeezy a wannabe Jay... Read more

March 12, 2014 Audio

Memphis Bleek Takes Responsibility For Bringing The Jay Z & Nas Beef To A Clash (Video)

Okay, this is interesting. A lot of Rap beefs start indirectly. It was a Source Awards speech in the case of Death Row vs. Bad Boy. It was an association in the case of 50 Cent vs. Jadakiss and Fat Joe. In the case of Ras Kass vs. Alchemist, it... Read more

March 11, 2014 Fresh, Video

Jay Z, Kanye West & Daft Punk Shelved Track Surfaces From Each’s 2013 Sessions (Audio)

Daft Punk, Kanye West, and Jay Z all released albums in 2013. The French Electronic duo's Random Access Memories stole the show at last month's Grammy Awards, while Kanye's Yeezus snagged the consciousness and conversation of Popular music in June. A month later, Jay Z's Magna Carta Holy Grail bogarted... Read more

March 10, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Sauce Money Talks Jay Z’s “Disgusting” Flow, Ghostwriting & Why He Didn’t Sign To Roc-A-Fella (Audio)

It's easy to confuse Sauce Money as a Jay Z protege. After all, many Heads may have heard Sauce by way of Roc-A-Fella Records releases, as well as Jay's support of Middle Finger U. However, those who listened to Big Daddy Kane & DJ Premier's famed "Show & Prove" know... Read more

March 5, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Eminem’s Breakthrough, Hurricane Katrina Covered In Part 4 Of The Tanning Of America (Video)

The final of four parts of Steve Stoute's The Tanning Of America divides its time looking at the emergence of rapper-backed super-brands like Rocawear, Sean John, and Beats By Dre headphones. Additionally, staying close to the Dr. Dre wheelhouse, the hour-long installment focuses on the rise to uber-stardom by Eminem... Read more

February 28, 2014 Fresh, Video

Just Blaze Praises The Super Freak Pied Piper Rick James In This Dope Animated Video Series

Just Blaze gave the music of the late Rick James new life in 2006, when he made comeback track "Kingdom Come" for Jay-Z. Using elements of Rick's "Super Freak," which were already the basis of MC Hammer's smash hit, "U Can't Touch This," Jay had a red carpet re-entrance to... Read more

February 28, 2014 Fresh, Throwback

Beyonce Flaunts Jay Z & Their Vintage Rolls Royce In Partition (Video)

If Beyonce and Jay Z ever run out of ways to make fans wish upon their lifestyle, the world just might stop. In the just-released video for "Partition," Bey' shows off some jewels from the couple's vintage Rolls Royce and Bentley collection, in addition to fit bod. This video is... Read more

February 25, 2014 Fresh, Video

Big K.R.I.T. & June Would Make Pimp C Proud In Their Own Big Pimpin’ (Video)

Although it's clearly not a cover song, June and Big K.R.I.T. clearly considered Jay Z's Volume 3 smash single "Big Pimpin'," which put the faces and voices of UGK's Pimp C and Bun B in front of many new listeners. Raised on the Slab music, Krizzle and June made their... Read more

February 17, 2014 Fresh, Video

Kanye West Has a 3-Some with The Carters on the Remix to Drunk in Love (Audio)

Kanye West has done a true remix of Beyonce's Drunk in Love. Not only has he added a verse, he's also put the track through the Yeezus filter, preserving its overall feel but distorting it and making it feel darker and more aggressive, like many of the tracks on his... Read more

February 15, 2014 Audio

Big L Rest in Peace: 15 Classic Big L Freestyles (Audio)

Rest in Peace to Big L who passed away 15 years ago today. To celebrate his too short life but enduring legacy, NahRight & Up North Trips have assembled a compilation of 15 classic Big L Freestyles. Check out the legendary Big L/Jay Z freestyle below and a link to... Read more

February 15, 2014 Throwback

How Did Pharrell React To Watching Kanye West Rap Never Let Me Down For The First Time? Watch (Video)

With all the attention on Kanye West's College Dropout this month, one track that deserves special mention is "Never Let Me Down." The Jay Z-assisted moment, which closed with a powerful Spoken Word piece by J. Ivy was a stellar album cut on the 2004 Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam Records debut. But... Read more

February 13, 2014 Fresh, Throwback

Macklemore & Kendrick Lamar: How Hip-Hop (Not The Grammy’s) Turned Sunday Into a Fail (Food For Thought)

The day after the Grammy Awards, the conversation about Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’ win for Best Rap Album over Kendrick Lamar’s good kid, m.A.A.d. city (G.K.M.C) grew from a buzz to a roar. Social media platforms and the web, generally, were on fire. The frenzy was fueled in part by... Read more

January 29, 2014 Featured-homepage, Food for Thought, Fresh

Diamonds Are Forever: Jay Z Gives J. Cole His Original Roc-A-Fella Records Chain On Stage (Video)

While J. Cole did not join his Roc Nation leader at Sunday's Grammy Awards, despite being nominated for Best Rap Album, the two reconvened this week. Last night, while Cole took the stage at Madison Square Garden, his fans were treated to surprise appearances by Kendrick Lamar, and Jay. While... Read more

January 29, 2014 Fresh, Video

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Win The 2014 Grammy Award For Rap Song & Album

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis have cause for some early celebration at Los Angeles, California's Staples Center. The Seattle, Washington pair's 2012 album The Heist won Rap Album Of The Year and their breakthrough hit "Thrift Shop" won Rap Song Of The Year. The wins were controversial when coupled with two... Read more

January 26, 2014 Fresh

Mister Cee Opens Up To GQ, Says That Biggie Smalls Would Have Stood By Him

This is a week for the Heads that love to read. Following this week's Kanye West and Steve McQueen conversation in Interview magazine, GQ pulls out the big guns with Mister Cee in a story that's been in the works for almost four months. After the on-air discussion with HOT... Read more

January 22, 2014 Fresh

Jay Z & Beyonce Late Addition To Rock The 2014 Grammy Awards Stages

The Grammy Awards this coming Sunday (January 26) already have an impressive lineup. Kendrick Lamar, Daft Punk, Lorde were already on the books to rock out—with LL Cool J hosting. It appears that husband and wife superstars Jay Z and Beyonce are a late announcement addition to CBS' primetime music... Read more

January 20, 2014 Fresh

Jay Z Originally Had More Songs Planned For Reasonable Doubt & A Different Sequence?

Jay Z's 1996 debut album, Reasonable Doubt, has made an immortal impression on Hip-Hop. The Roc-A-Fella Records breakthrough release featured involvement from The Notorious B.I.G., DJ Premier, Ski Beatz, and Mary J. Blige. Now platinum, the album is still considered Jay's best (including by the artist himself), and spawned many... Read more

January 17, 2014 Fresh, Throwback

Rapsody Catches A Moment In Time With Jay Z

When Rapsody crossed paths with DJ Premier in 2013, Ambrosia For Heads thought it was powerful, important. This past weekend, the Jamla Records artist who dazzled us with She Got Game in 2013, and The Idea Of Beautiful in 2012, stood alongside Jay Z backstage at the Magna Carta Holy... Read more

January 6, 2014 Fresh

Here’s a Video For Pimp C’s Verse on Tom Ford. RIP to the Underground King (Video)

Jay Z got a previously unreleased verse from Pimp C for the remix of Tom Ford. Here's a video for the verse which showcases a lot of rare footage of the underground king. Check it out below. Related: Bun B & Pimp C Wave The UGK Flag With Lil Boosie... Read more

December 31, 2013 Video

Jay Z’s Brand Is Suffering Because People Don’t Trust Him Anymore. Here’s Why (Food For Thought)

Business Insider has done a piece on Jay Z's year as a business, man. According to a survey of millennials done by a branding expert, Hov's brand took some major hits this year, particularly due to the Samsung deal. In fact, the deal was the 2nd least popular of the... Read more

December 27, 2013 Food for Thought

The Top 10 Most Compelling Hip-Hop Photographs Of 2013 (Food For Thought)

The old adage, "a picture's worth a thousand words" often proves to be true. Let's hope so for 2013, which by way of Instagram, Twipic, and some inner-circle released photos, told Heads plenty of stories. From unlikely reunions to time-pieces, to first steps for Hip-Hop kind, what a year... Here... Read more

December 24, 2013 Food for Thought, Fresh

Did Rick Ross & Jay Z Make Their Best Collabo Yet? The Devil Is A Lie (Audio)

For seven years now, Jay Z and Rick Ross have been sharing the booth on various songs, remixes, and posse cuts. Just when 2013 seemed in shut-down mode, the full audio of "The Devil Is A Lie" comes forth. From Rick Ross's upcoming 2014 Mastermind album, he slams his bars... Read more

December 24, 2013 Audio, Fresh

Suge Knight & Snoop Hanging Out?? Yeah, 2013 Was a Crazy Year For Hip-Hop. Here’s a Photo Recap (Food For Thought)

The old adage, "a picture's worth a thousand words" often proves to be true. Let's hope so for 2013, which by way of Instagram, Twipic, and some inner-circle released photos, told Heads plenty of stories. From unlikely reunions to time-pieces, to first steps for Hip-Hop kind, what a year... Here... Read more

December 23, 2013 Food for Thought

Wale Addresses Complex Threat, Says Jay Z & Q-Tip Reacted To The News (Video)

After being silent since Friday (December 13), Wale finally addressed his taped phone-call with Complex magazine Associate Editor Insanul Ahmed. The Maybach Music Group verbally threatened the staff of the site and magazine, urging them to notify security in advance. The dispute stemmed from Wale's The Gifted being omitted from... Read more

December 17, 2013 Fresh, Video

Beyonce & Jay Z Send Kim & Kanye Over A Bottle In Drunk In Love (Video)

Perhaps intimate music videos with your significant other is the move in 2013? Less than a month after Kanye West's "Bound 2" video extensively featuring his companion and daughter's mother Kim Kardashian, Beyonce drops her own similar visual. "Drunk In Love" (deliberately following "Crazy In Love"?) features black and white... Read more

December 16, 2013 Fresh, Video

Beyonce Just Released a Surprise New Album. Here are Details, Videos & Links (Video)

5 months after her hubby Jay Z created #newrules with the app-based release of his Magna Carta Holy Grail album, Beyonce has turned the industry on its ear by releasing a self-titled new album completely unannounced. The album is an iTunes exclusive, includes a music video for EVERY song and... Read more

December 13, 2013 Video

Here’s an Amazing New Lyric Video from Timbaland, Drake, James Fauntleroy & Jay Z for Know Bout Me (Video)

The quality of lyric videos has risen dramatically in 2013. Justin Timberlake kicked it off with Suit & Tie, then Childish Gambino had a cool chat session with Abella Anderson for 3005. Now, Timbaland has created a lyric video that could easily stand as the official video for Know About... Read more

December 12, 2013 Video

Jay Z & Dame Dash Hang Out Again, Backstage At Staples Center

Earlier this year, Jay Z and Dame Dash were photographed together for the first time in nine years, courtesy of a mutual friend's birthday partner. Two-thirds of Roc-A-Fella Records' founders have a speckled history following the dismantling of the label, and Jay's brief retirement. While Dame publicly questioned Jay's loyalty... Read more

December 10, 2013 Fresh

Kendrick Lamar Gets an Album of the Year Nomination from the Grammy’s. Jay Z Gets 9 Noms. Here’s the List of All Nominees in Hip-Hop’s Strongest Showing Ever.

Though he released good kid, m.A.A.d. city in 2012, 2013 has belonged to Kendrick Lamar. In the Spring, he was named MTV's Hottest MC of the Year. By Summer, his Control verse became the biggest story in Hip-Hop in the last several years. In the Fall, he again shook up... Read more

December 8, 2013 Fresh

Who’s Better, Jay Z or Nas? Here’s What Schoolboy Q Had to Say About It (Video)

Here's some extra footage from Schoolboy Q's recent sit down with Peter Rosenberg. In this installment, Q talks Jay Z vs. Nas. Check out what he had to say below. Related: ScHoolboy Q Might Be Having Some GQ Fun On His Version Of Man Of The Year (Audio)... Read more

December 8, 2013 Video

Jaz-O, Mister Cee, Bobbito Appear In New Unauthorized Jay Z Documentary (Video)

A trailer has been released to A Genius Leaves The Hood, The Unauthorized Story Of Jay Z. Not at all endorsed by Jay or Roc Nation, the film features some folks close to Hova's career. Included are early mentor Jaz-O, mixtape DJ and radio personality Mister Cee, as well as... Read more

December 5, 2013 Fresh, Video

How Would You Rank Jay Z’s Albums? Hov Weighs in on His Own Catalog.

Jay Z celebrated his birthday in style. The 44 year-old blogged on his Life + Times his favorite albums from his own personal catalog. The first three may not come as a surprise, given Jay's tackling the question in interviews for some time now. However, Jay's admission of the miss... Read more

December 4, 2013 Fresh

Mister Cee Honors Jay Z With A 44th Birthday Mix (Audio)

All fans of The Black Album know that December 4th means Shawn Carter's birthday. Today, Jay Z celebrates 44 years on the planet, since being born in the P.L.A.N.E.T. Longtime friend and affiliate since the Big Daddy Kane days, DJ Mister Cee, honored H-O-V via HOT 97 airwaves with a... Read more

December 4, 2013 Fresh, Mixes

AFH: Best Hip-Hop of November 2013 (Audio Playlist)

The year is winding down, no doubt, but the good music kept coming in November. Here's a playlist of the best Hip-Hop to drop last month, including songs from Busta Rhymes, Q-Tip, Joey Bada$$, Eminem, Masta Ace, Raekwon, Posdnuos, Rah Digga, Elzhi, Jay Z, Childish Gambino, Mac Miller, Jhene Aiko,... Read more

December 1, 2013 Audio, Featured-homepage, Playlists

This Week in Hip-Hop Video Featured Snoop, Jay Z, N.O.R.E., Young Buck & Game, Alchemist & Evidence, Large Professor, Kanye West, Pharrell and Lots More Dope Footage (Video Playlist)

This week was active in Hip-Hop video. So much so that you might have missed an incredible mini-documentary on Jay-Z's Black Album, N.O.R.E. talking about his first ever rap battle, new music from Large Professor, new videos from Snoop and Fat Joe and more. Click below to catch up on... Read more

November 23, 2013 Playlists, Video

Pharrell, Just Blaze & Irv Gotti Recall The Premature Advertising For Jay Z’s Black Album (Video)

Okay, so there's been a nonstop flow of Black Album 10th anniversary content coming from the Internet. AmbrosiaForHeads even added to that maylay in remembering the LP. In what appears to be one of the final vignettes from this month's decade-anniversary, Revolt has a nice montage of footage including 2003... Read more

November 20, 2013 Fresh, Video

Who’s Better, JAY-Z or KRS-One? Here’s What Brother Ali Had to Say (Video)

Brother Ali connected with Mass Appeal and weighed in on many debates including KRS-One vs. Jay Z, Rakim vs. Melle Mel, Erykah Badu vs. Lauryn Hill and more. Check out what he had to say about each below. Related: Brother Ali – Left In The Deck (Free Album)... Read more

November 16, 2013 Video