The 15th anniversary of Jay-Z’s The Black Album was celebrated across Hip-Hop this past week. With the discussion dominating social media, photographer Jonathan Mannion revealed the original photo for the cover of the album.
Many viewed the all-black cover of the album as the ending to a legendary career and for years it appeared Hov was in a t-shirt and a fitted. Mannion has blown everyone’s mind by showing the picture actually edited to look that way and the “Change Clothes” rapper was actually in a New York Jets jersey.
Mannion would detail the picture was a leftover from The Blueprint photoshoot in 2001. Check out the full image and the edit that we all came to love together below.
Jon Platt is having an incredible 2018 and 2019 is shaping up to be just as powerful. It is rumored he will take the CEO position at the world’s biggest music publishing firm next year.
Page Sixis reporting that the beloved executive will replace Marty Bandier as the CEO at Sony/ATV. The promotion would make him the first person of color to hold that title at the prestigious company. It is estimated the new contract will earn him just shy of nine million dollars a year.
The appointment should not come to anyone as a surprise. Known in the industry as “Big Jon” (he is 6 foot 7 inches in height) he has held several titles in his 23 year run within the music industry. He started off as a DJ and worked up the ladder to his most recent job as the head Warner/Chappell Music. He has played an instrumental part in several careers including Usher, Jermaine Dupri and Dr. Dre.
He is also a longtime friend of Jay-Z who presented him the Spirit of Life Award at the City of Hope’s annual gala back in October. The event, which also featured a private performance from Beyoncé, raised over six million dollars to combat cancer.
Grammy-winning producer Timbaland is celebrating the 15-year anniversary of The Black Album by sharing some rare footage. Timbo hit up social media to bless fans with a must-see video.
Tim jumped on Instagram Wednesday (November 14) and showed the moment JAY-Z fell in love with his “Dirt Off Your Shoulder” instrumental.
On Wednesday, JAY’s TIDAL streaming service celebrated the anniversary with statements from key album contributors.
album together, to performing it just weeks later at Madison Square Garden was beyond surreal. And then, to top it off, “PSA” (which almost never happened) ended up becoming one of the highlights of that night. Everyone in the audience knew every word and was losing their minds. I wasn’t surprised, but I was in awe and stunned regardless. For me, the fact that it went on to become one of his hallmark songs is a blessing, but it’s also a testament to the synergy and energy we created in the culture at that time. (TIDAL)
Gloria Carter/“December 4th”: Shawn Corey Carter, You have touched lives and have helped young people achieve their full potential. Keep doing what you do, so proud! Your mom, Gloria Carter (TIDAL)
GLC/Additional Vocals: “Encore”: When we did “Encore” I was off that good green and a lil Hennessy. We were watching some Blaxploitation, Superfly-type film. I was doing impressions of some divine pimpin’ for the ladies in the studio and Ye was like, “Speak that on this record.” Over Kanye’s phenomenal production, I channeled some ’70s pimpin’ and enthusiasm and made the people say, “Hova, Hova, Hova!” It was rewarding as this album was one of two Grammy-nominated albums I worked on that year. Love to JAY, Ye and John Legend for the opportunity as we made history! A lot of people never knew that Don C, Ibn Jasper, Ye, John Legend and myself were the crowd saying, “Hova, Hova, Hova!” When it came out and I heard my voice acting on a JAY-Z record, I looked to the sky and said, “Mama I made it!” #ism! (TIDAL)
9th Wonder/Producer: “Threat”: The album and the placement that changed my career. I learned so much from the session. Probably the biggest thing I learned is that I was working with the Greatest Rapper of All Time…. (TIDAL)
JAY’s epic 2003 album had a ton of memorable hit music videos from “Change Clothes” to “Dirt Off Your Shoulder.”
A patron at Jay-Z‘s 40/40 sports bar claims that he was roughed up there last March and is now taking legal action. The man states that he caught some blows during an all-out brawl at the venue, citing that security in the building was lacking.
Jose Irizarry just filed suit against Hov’s New York-based sports bar and lounge, alleging the venue’s lack of adequate security combined with insufficient crowd control led to him getting seriously f***ed up during a melee that broke out this past March. For the record … Jay isn’t named in the lawsuit.
In the docs, obtained by TMZ, Irizarry claims he was minding his business at 40/40 when all of a sudden a huge fight broke out between some attendants and security … and he became collateral damage.
Irizarry says he was struck in the head and body during the brawl, and endured pain and suffering, lost wages and medical expenses that he wants the club to cover.
The outlet adds that on the same night, boxer Jermall Charlo was involved in a fight and had some expensive items stolen.
It isn’t known what the response is from Jay-Z’s legal team regarding this developing matter.
Music streaming giant TIDAL is celebrating 15 years of The Black Album. The digital platform has acknowledged the project’s anniversary with key contributors.
On Wednesday, TIDAL shared quotes from some of the biggest Black Album contributors.
Just Blaze/Producer: “Interlude”, “December 4th”, “Public Service Announcement (Interlude)”: The Black Album, along with Fade to Black was a career defining period of time for me personally and professionally. From going through the process of recording and putting the album together, to performing it just weeks later at Madison Square Garden was beyond surreal. And then, to top it off, “PSA” (which almost never happened) ended up becoming one of the highlights of that night. Everyone in the audience knew every word and was losing their minds. I wasn’t surprised, but I was in awe and stunned regardless. For me, the fact that it went on to become one of his hallmark songs is a blessing, but it’s also a testament to the synergy and energy we created in the culture at that time. (TIDAL)
Gloria Carter/“December 4th”: Shawn Corey Carter, You have touched lives and have helped young people achieve their full potential. Keep doing what you do, so proud! Your mom, Gloria Carter (TIDAL)
GLC/Additional Vocals: “Encore”: When we did “Encore” I was off that good green and a lil Hennessy. We were watching some Blaxploitation, Superfly-type film. I was doing impressions of some divine pimpin’ for the ladies in the studio and Ye was like, “Speak that on this record.” Over Kanye’s phenomenal production, I channeled some ’70s pimpin’ and enthusiasm and made the people say, “Hova, Hova, Hova!” It was rewarding as this album was one of two Grammy-nominated albums I worked on that year. Love to JAY, Ye and John Legend for the opportunity as we made history! A lot of people never knew that Don C, Ibn Jasper, Ye, John Legend and myself were the crowd saying, “Hova, Hova, Hova!” When it came out and I heard my voice acting on a JAY-Z record, I looked to the sky and said, “Mama I made it!” #ism! (TIDAL)
9th Wonder/Producer: “Threat”: The album and the placement that changed my career. I learned so much from the session. Probably the biggest thing I learned is that I was working with the Greatest Rapper of All Time…. (TIDAL)
JAY’s epic 2003 album had a ton of memorable hit music videos from “Change Clothes” to “Dirt Off Your Shoulder.”
On this day in Hip Hop history Brooklyn’s own Jay-Z released he would-be retirement album The Black Album. Although there was virtually no pause between The Black Album and new Jay-Z music (collaboration albums with both R. Kelly and Linkin Park were released the following year), this album is easily the greatest retirement project of all time.
In it’s entirety, this album sounds more like a greatest hits album than the eighth project of an illustrious career. Starting with the first track, “December 4th”, this album takes the listener on a nostalgic journey. This opening tale of Hov’s origin sets the tone of the album and properly introduces Jay to an industry that he feels has taken him for granted. This album is an opus to Jay’s distaste with the rap game a whole. On numerous tracks, specifically “Encore” and “What More Can I Say”, Hov can be heard stating his frustration with being the one punch man (a fictional super hero who can defeat any opponent with merely one punch causing him to become bored with super hero work) of Hip Hop.
Aside from staking his claim as the greatest, Hov spent this album perfectly juggling his unique brand of bragging with the dropping of street knowledge you couldn’t pay for. Singles “Change Clothes” and “Dirt Off Your Shoulder” are perfect examples of the particular swagger Jay-Z brought to rap. His mature yet flamboyant lyricism is on par with the life described by Robin Leach. As the album progresses, Jay begins more and more to put his would-be competition in its place with sheer will power. From “Threats” to “Lucifer” it seems Jay is directly challenging the rest of the rap world to get on his level before the never again get the chance.
The album ends with two songs that could interchangeably be used as an outro. Both “Allure” and “My 1st Song” show Jay-Z coming to terms with the final chapter of his career coming to a close, even if he was planning a comeback.
Featuring production from Kanye West, Just Blaze, The Neptunes, Timbaland, 9th Wonder, Rick Rubin, DJ Quik, and even Eminem, its easy to see why this album is as amazing as it is. Aside from the prolific production team, Jay-Z put together one of his most successful albums without any features (aside a hook sung by Pharrell) . Commercially, the album peaked at #1 on both the Top R&B/Hip Hop chart and the Billboard 200 chart (where it appeared twice, each for a week). The album also went triple platinum in the United States and made appearances on music charts of eight different countries.
Music mogul JAY-Z‘s 40/40 Club is catching some heat. New reports claim the rap star’s New York venue is getting sued over a recent brawl.
According to reports, a man has targeted 40/40 for not providing ample security when a fight broke out.
Jose Irizarry just filed suit against Hov’s New York-based sports bar and lounge, alleging the venue’s lack of adequate security combined with insufficient crowd control led to him getting seriously f***ed up during a melee. In the docs, obtained by TMZ, Irizarry claims he was minding his business at 40/40 when all of a sudden a huge fight broke out between some attendants and security … and he became collateral damage. Irizarry says he was struck in the head and body during the brawl, and endured pain and suffering, lost wages and medical expenses that he wants the club to cover. (TMZ)
In March, buzz developed about boxer Jermall Charlo having nearly $150,000 taken from him at the 40/40 Club.
The assistant handed one of the women the bag — containing $40,000 in cash and $115,000 worth of bling — to hold during the unsanctioned sparring match, sources said. But when the tiff ended and the Texan light middleweight returned to his seat — he learned the woman had absconded with his pricey pack along with her four pals, according to cops. Police are now on the hunt for the bag thief and her entourage, who were all caught on security camera leaving the club. (New York Post)
Prior to the crime, Charlo shared a pic from Brooklyn’s Barclays Center arena.
The NYPD’s Bomb Squad was dispatched to the Flatiron District Tuesday morning after a bizarre object that looked like an explosive was found in a phone booth outside a restaurant owned by rapper Jay Z, officials said. The device, described by police sources as “a flashing light with wires attached to two pieces of wood” was found in a booth outside the 40/40 Club on W. 25th St. and Broadway just after 7 a.m. (NY Daily News)
Aside from, eloquently stated by The Source Magazine at the time, “[coming] with ill animated lyrics, combined with metaphors that stun; a combo sure to have suckas on the run,” Big L also ushered in two emcees that are very prominent in the culture today: a then-unknown Killa Cam and a semi-established Jay-Z. The track was “8 iz Enuff.”
According to “Funky Technician” Lord Finesse, who had a hand in some of the album’s production, in an interview commemorating the album’s 15-year anniversary, he said this about the track, “With that [song] L just thought he had to do a track with the rappers from his hood. And he definitely wanted to put on [those particular emcees]… We looking like, ‘How you gonna put eight niggas on one track?’ [And he was like], ‘Don’t worry, I got this.’”
He definitely had it too.
Unfortunately, it would be the only album released by L in his lifetime as he was fatally shot in Harlem in 1999.
Music mogul JAY-Z has fans scratching their heads. The hip-hop icon pulled through this past Sunday to attend a huge NFL game amid speculation of Young Hov boycotting the league.
A pic has surfaced of Jigga hanging out in California to check out the Los Angeles Rams take on the Seattle Seahawks.
Hova — one of the biggest critics of the league’s treatment of Colin Kaepernick — took in the Rams vs. Seahawks game from the sidelines over the weekend, which has some fans confused. If you remember, Jay famously turned down performing at the Super Bowl halftime show on behalf of Kaep, then boasted about dissing the league on his song, “Apes**t.” The video featured people kneeling during Jay’s verse, so it’s obvious his stance was about Kaepernick, who still doesn’t have an NFL job. (TMZ)
Recently, JAY’s longtime pal Jermaine “JD” Dupridefended working to promote the NFL’s Super Bowl LIII in Atlanta.
“I mean, for me, this don’t have nothing to do with football. This has something to do with people coming to my city and, um, leaving with a mindset that Atlanta was the best city to have a Super Bowl in. That’s what made my decision. It’s really not about the game.”
The same week, reports emerged about R&B superstar Rihannabacking out of performing at Super Bowl LIII in support of ex-NFL player and Black Lives Matter activist Colin Kaepernick.
“The NFL and CBS really wanted Rihanna to be next year’s performer in Atlanta,” the insider reveals. “They offered it to her, but she said no because of the kneeling controversy. She doesn’t agree with the NFL’s stance.” Kaepernick, who once admitted to having a crush on Rihanna, was the first NFL player to kneel during the national anthem in protest of police brutality and racial inequality. (Us Weekly)
New York rapper Swizz Beatz knows how to make a true hip-hop head smile. The rap heavyweight has shared an epic shot of himself in the recording studio with music moguls JAY-Z and Nas.
Swizzy went to Instagram Friday with the must-like pic of the two kings of New York.
@jonathanmannion. Repost responsibly… WITH PHOTO CREDIT. When you’re able, always ask permission for ANY photographer’s work that you enjoy. We work as hard as anyone else in this industry and, humbly presented, deserve that respect.
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#TBT photo by @kodaklens
