Tweet
A lot of rappers say that they’ve got game.
Jay-Z has two: a new videogame featuring his music, and the 2009 World Series.
Anyone who has listened to his songs probably knows that Jay-Z is a lifelong fan of the New York Yankees. He frequently raps about his love of the team, and he often sports a New York Yankees cap in videos.
The rapper was recently selected to perform at Yankee Stadium prior to game one of the World Series between the Yankees and the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday. He plans to perform “Empire State of Mind” with Alicia Keys. Keys will also sing the national anthem (”I can’t help her with that,” says the rapper.)
Jay-Z also contributed songs to DJ Hero, a new videogame from Activision Blizzard Inc., makers of the popular game Guitar Hero, in which players can try their hands at being DJs and mixing together songs. “DJ Hero” is due out tonight at midnight, along with a special version of the game called DJ Hero Renegade Edition with various extras, including two CDs with the music of Jay-Z and Eminem. Jay-Z–wearing a Yankees cap–sat down with Speakeasy today.
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBKck62HCKo]YouTube - Jay-Z Talks World Series, 'DJ Hero' and 'Fela'[/ame]
Jay-Z Talks World Series, 'DJ Hero' and 'Fela'
What kind of input did you have in the making of “DJ Hero”?
I had zero input. I wish I did. They have some genius guys who brought me a demo of the game and I was blown away by the gameplay and by the mixing of genres of music. “Guitar Hero,” which is a fantastic game, is more rock-leaning–all rock-leaning. This one has a blend of all types of genres and music. Which is fantastic for me because I’m of the belief that there’s good music and bad music and everything else is for people to put in a box to make it easier to know what to play on this radio station or that radio station.
You don’t appear as a playable character in this game. Would you like to appear in a videogame someday?
I’d rather have the guys who are really doing it. Grandmaster Flash is a playable character. And he looks pretty much like himself. I’d rather have those guys who are really DJs. Maybe in the MC version I can come in and have a Yankee hat on.
Speaking of the Yankees, you’re going to be performing at the World Series, right?
Yeah.
How did that happen?
We had this song, “Empire State,” and it’s about New York…it’s just one of those things where the timing of everything worked out. We reached out to them. Derek Jeter plays “Empire” every time he comes up to bat…I’m a Yankee fan through and through. So for me, game one of the World Series, I’d probably play that before I’d play the Grammys.
Will “Empire State of Mind” be on a future edition of this game? I know they plan to release some downloadable add-ons.
It’s such a big song, I’m going to negotiate really hard with them…we’re going to perform it at the World Series, so it’ll be even more popular. I’ll just charge them some crazy points and maybe own half of the game. [Laughs]
Do you play video games?
Yeah, I used to be a huge gamer. I was really good…I don’t play as much now…I really believe in this game and the message it’s sending…I don’t want to make it too serious because it’s about a game, but the message to me is the mixing of culture, no pun intended, the blending of genres of music. I really like that. That’s why I made an album with [rockers] Linkin Park. And made a record with [r. and b. singer] R. Kelly. That’s been my mantra. But it’s a game so I don’t want to get too serious about it.
So what’s your business involvement with the game? Do you get a piece of each game that’s sold?
This game sells with or without me and Eminem. We get to expose our music to a wider audience, and we get some free lunch at the Plaza [Hotel]. We don’t own the game. We also get some free cappuccino, which is excellent, I suggest you try it.
Have you talked to Kanye West about the incident at the MTV Video Music Awards where he interrupted Taylor Swift’s acceptance speech and said Beyoncé [Jay-Z's wife] should have won the award?
Of course.
What kind of stuff did you say to him and Beyoncé afterward?
Beyoncé, she was cool. She was alright, y’know? Kanye, I just really told him he has to manage his passions. I know where that comes from. That was Kanye. That was him. He was that way when he first started when he was playing beats for me for the first “Blueprint” album. He would just jump on the table and start rhyming. I was like “Yo man, not now, I’m trying to make a record! I’m trying to finish my album. Wait.” So his passion for what he does, that’s what he really believes in. Of course it was rude, but it’s an awards show. It’s an awards show where a guy came from the ceiling and put his a– in another guy’s face. So let’s not make it like this was a charity. This was not a charity. It was an awards show. It was rude of course, but at the end of the day we’re going to celebrate Kanye for his passion more than we vilify him. That same passion is what caused him to make “Graduation,” and “Jesus Walks” and all this fantastic music. Let’s not be hypocrites here. Sometimes that same passion is going to go left. And we gotta deal with it.
What’s your prediction for the World Series?
I’d say the Yankees in seven. I actually predicted the Yankees in six with the Angels so I’m pretty accurate with this kinda stuff. I think the Phillies are a little tougher and they’ll take us to seven.
Jay-Z has two: a new videogame featuring his music, and the 2009 World Series.
Anyone who has listened to his songs probably knows that Jay-Z is a lifelong fan of the New York Yankees. He frequently raps about his love of the team, and he often sports a New York Yankees cap in videos.
The rapper was recently selected to perform at Yankee Stadium prior to game one of the World Series between the Yankees and the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday. He plans to perform “Empire State of Mind” with Alicia Keys. Keys will also sing the national anthem (”I can’t help her with that,” says the rapper.)
Jay-Z also contributed songs to DJ Hero, a new videogame from Activision Blizzard Inc., makers of the popular game Guitar Hero, in which players can try their hands at being DJs and mixing together songs. “DJ Hero” is due out tonight at midnight, along with a special version of the game called DJ Hero Renegade Edition with various extras, including two CDs with the music of Jay-Z and Eminem. Jay-Z–wearing a Yankees cap–sat down with Speakeasy today.
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBKck62HCKo]YouTube - Jay-Z Talks World Series, 'DJ Hero' and 'Fela'[/ame]
Jay-Z Talks World Series, 'DJ Hero' and 'Fela'
What kind of input did you have in the making of “DJ Hero”?
I had zero input. I wish I did. They have some genius guys who brought me a demo of the game and I was blown away by the gameplay and by the mixing of genres of music. “Guitar Hero,” which is a fantastic game, is more rock-leaning–all rock-leaning. This one has a blend of all types of genres and music. Which is fantastic for me because I’m of the belief that there’s good music and bad music and everything else is for people to put in a box to make it easier to know what to play on this radio station or that radio station.
You don’t appear as a playable character in this game. Would you like to appear in a videogame someday?
I’d rather have the guys who are really doing it. Grandmaster Flash is a playable character. And he looks pretty much like himself. I’d rather have those guys who are really DJs. Maybe in the MC version I can come in and have a Yankee hat on.
Speaking of the Yankees, you’re going to be performing at the World Series, right?
Yeah.
How did that happen?
We had this song, “Empire State,” and it’s about New York…it’s just one of those things where the timing of everything worked out. We reached out to them. Derek Jeter plays “Empire” every time he comes up to bat…I’m a Yankee fan through and through. So for me, game one of the World Series, I’d probably play that before I’d play the Grammys.
Will “Empire State of Mind” be on a future edition of this game? I know they plan to release some downloadable add-ons.
It’s such a big song, I’m going to negotiate really hard with them…we’re going to perform it at the World Series, so it’ll be even more popular. I’ll just charge them some crazy points and maybe own half of the game. [Laughs]
Do you play video games?
Yeah, I used to be a huge gamer. I was really good…I don’t play as much now…I really believe in this game and the message it’s sending…I don’t want to make it too serious because it’s about a game, but the message to me is the mixing of culture, no pun intended, the blending of genres of music. I really like that. That’s why I made an album with [rockers] Linkin Park. And made a record with [r. and b. singer] R. Kelly. That’s been my mantra. But it’s a game so I don’t want to get too serious about it.
So what’s your business involvement with the game? Do you get a piece of each game that’s sold?
This game sells with or without me and Eminem. We get to expose our music to a wider audience, and we get some free lunch at the Plaza [Hotel]. We don’t own the game. We also get some free cappuccino, which is excellent, I suggest you try it.
Have you talked to Kanye West about the incident at the MTV Video Music Awards where he interrupted Taylor Swift’s acceptance speech and said Beyoncé [Jay-Z's wife] should have won the award?
Of course.
What kind of stuff did you say to him and Beyoncé afterward?
Beyoncé, she was cool. She was alright, y’know? Kanye, I just really told him he has to manage his passions. I know where that comes from. That was Kanye. That was him. He was that way when he first started when he was playing beats for me for the first “Blueprint” album. He would just jump on the table and start rhyming. I was like “Yo man, not now, I’m trying to make a record! I’m trying to finish my album. Wait.” So his passion for what he does, that’s what he really believes in. Of course it was rude, but it’s an awards show. It’s an awards show where a guy came from the ceiling and put his a– in another guy’s face. So let’s not make it like this was a charity. This was not a charity. It was an awards show. It was rude of course, but at the end of the day we’re going to celebrate Kanye for his passion more than we vilify him. That same passion is what caused him to make “Graduation,” and “Jesus Walks” and all this fantastic music. Let’s not be hypocrites here. Sometimes that same passion is going to go left. And we gotta deal with it.
What’s your prediction for the World Series?
I’d say the Yankees in seven. I actually predicted the Yankees in six with the Angels so I’m pretty accurate with this kinda stuff. I think the Phillies are a little tougher and they’ll take us to seven.