"TALK OF THE WEEK" 8/7-8/13: Jay-Z & Kanye Do It Big For WTT

What a week for Jay & Kanye.....



Watch the throne is finally here...and when Jay and Kanye put out an album they do it big!



Not only did it not get leaked because they gave their album engineers all Rolex's to keep it top secret....these guys really opened up

a "watch the throne" store in Soho NYC to sell their CD!





Beyonce, Swizz Beats & More Stop By Jay-Z & Kanye West's "Watch The Throne" Store --- Yes, We Said STORE! (Photos/ Video)







A lot of you have been telling us how you feel..some are calling it an instant classic while others are giving it mixed reviews..



How do you like it? Did you hear it yet?





Jay-Z & Kanye West "Watch The Throne" Is Finally Here! Take a Listen...







Insiders are saying WTT could reach up to 500,00 in sales the 1st week ---which would earn them gold plaque.



and that's not all Jay-Z earned this week. He is now the richest rapper ..







Jay-Z Tops Forbes Hip-Hop Rich List --- See Who Made The Cut







Jay Z came in at a cool 37mil this year on Forbez Hip-Hop's Richest list .........what recession? lol.....this is like Jay'z 4th time being #1 on the list....Kanye's on their

too at #3...





Check out the "Talk Of The Week" w/ Lady T below:

NEW MUSIC: Jay-Z & Kanye West "Otis" Off New Album, Watch The Throne (#MP3)

The net went in a frenzy tonight when we got our hands on the second single from Jay and Kayne's joint album, Watch The Throne!

The album has an unconfirmed released date of August 1.

This one's called "Otis" - Check it out below...





RELATED LINKS:

Jay-Z & Kanye West In The Studio w/ Beyonce, Rihanna, Swizz Beatz & More For "Watch The Throne" (PHOTOS)

Jay-Z & Kanye West Album Tracklisting Surfaces!

SHOTS FIRED! Drake Takes Jabs At Jay-Z and Kanye West!

Jay-Z & Kanye West In The Studio w/ Beyonce, Rihanna, Swizz Beatz & More For "Watch The Throne" (PHOTOS)

Jay-Z and Kanye have been working hard behind the scenes on their new album...let's take a look inside the studio with them!

Jay-Z and Kanye West have 15 No. 1 albums between them, and Jay-Z recently passed Elvis Presley as the artist with the second most No. 1 albums of all time, 11, second only to the Beatles, who have 19.

So why not bring it all together? Their new album, Watch The Throne" may not have a date set yet but we are about to take you inside the studio with Jay and Yeezy as they work w/ lots of big names from Beyonce to Rihanna.....and inside their private listening party in NYC!







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Jay-Z held a private listening session for Watch the Throne, his highly anticipated collaborative album with Kanye West, Thursday, July 7 in New York City.


The listening was held in a suite on the second floor of the Mercer Hotel, in SoHo, and lasted for roughly three hours, with Jay-Z playing eleven songs from an Apple laptop for a select group of music journalists and two teenage fans who had won access to the session for being the first two customers to pre-order the album through Jay-Z's lifestyle site, Life and Times, which began accepting pre-orders on Monday, July 4. West did not attend. (Wow those are two lucky fans!)

Following the eleventh song, Jay-Z invited those in the room to have an informal conversation that lasted for about an hour.

"We can have a conversation,"

he said.

"I don't want to do an interview. Put your pads away - we can talk all night."

He then played snippets of at least three other songs, including one featuring producer Swizz Beatz, that may or may not be included on the album. Other songs that have been rumored to be on the album, including the single "H*A*M," which was released in January, and "That's My B*tch," which appeared online late last year, were not played. Frank Ocean, the Def Jam singer and Odd Future affiliate, appeared on two of the initial eleven songs played, while Jay-Z's wife, Beyonce, appeared on one.

Jay-Z suggested that a video for the song featuring Beyonce, tentatively titled "Lift Off," could appear, but that he was reluctant to follow a traditional, single driven release for Watch The Throne. Jay-Z would not confirm a release date for Watch The Throne, saying only that the album would come "soon," and no information was given regarding how the album would be released or through what label or combination of labels.

Jay-Z also said that he already had two songs completed for his next solo album and four additional concepts in mind. Ocean appears on one of the songs already completed, and Jay-Z said he hoped to capitalize on the burst of inspiration provided by the Watch the Throne and continue recording for his next solo project. He would not speculate as to when that project might arrive. He jusat said "soon."

The Watch The Throne album was first said to be arriving in March, and then in June, it was announced that the album would arrive on July 4.

Jay-Z sat at the head of the room and played songs from a Mac laptop. Guests were served champagne from the house that Jay-Z owns, Ace of Spades, and offered cheese and crackers. Before playing songs, Jay-Z asked those in the room to introduce themselves and then asked if those standing in the entryway wanted to come in, joking,

"Sit on the floor, we can make it like camp."

"I think we should just play some music,"

he said, by way of introduction, and then he played eleven songs back to back without breaking to offer any details on specific songs.

Although many guests at the listening session had been given the impression that they would be able to live-tweet the event and their reaction to the album, those in attendance were told not to use Twitter during the session and to avoid quoting direct lyrics in their reviews, as songs and presumably verses could still change. Guests were encouraged to take notes, however, and were offered RocNation notepads and pens. The session was briefly interrupted when one media rep was removed from the room shortly after the session began for live tweeting his reaction to the songs being played.

The songs were dramatic and boastful, with Jay-Z often taking the lead lyrically, and the collection showcased the differences between the two artists - Jay-Z, the technical marksman, and West, the emotive chest beater. Jay-Z said the two began recording the album last year in England and had recorded in Australia while Jay-Z was on tour, as well as in New York, Paris, and Los Angeles, often in hotel rooms. At least one of the songs played was recorded at New York's Tribeca Grand.

Following the eleventh song - a dramatic record about loyalty featuring several sonic shifts, closing in a barrage of strings that spike to an abrupt end - Jay-Z said

"that's how the album ends,"

and then he opened the floor.

"Watch The Throne" is set to be released August 1, check out the artwork and tracklisting...

Kanye tweeted,

Watch The Throne cover by Riccardo Tisci. Pre-order album at www.watchthethrone.com

1. No Church in The Wild (Feat. Frank Ocean)
2. Lift Off (Feat. Beyoncé)
3. Niggas in Paris
4. Otis (Feat. Otis Redding)
5. Gotta Have It
6. New Day
7. Prime Time
8. Who Gon Stop Me
9. Murder to Excellence
10. Welcome to The Jungle
11. Sweet Baby Jesus (Feat. Frank Ocean)
12. Love You So (Feat. Mr Hudson)

Beyonce, Jay-Z, Kanye West and More Perform at the Cosmo Hotel In Vegas!! (VIDEO)

Jay-Z, Beyonce, Kanye West and more perform on stage at Marquee Nightclub’s New Year’s Eve bash on Friday New Years Eve at the Cosmopolitan Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada! According to reports, Jay and Bey made a cool million for this performance and it sure was epic.

During the show, Jay, Kanye and Coldplay frontman Chris Martin performed “Homecoming,” Beyonce joined Jay for “Forever Young,” and Chris accompanied Bey on keys while she sang “Halo.” Epic!

Also celebrating at the show: Blake Lively, Diddy, Cassie, Samantha Ronson, Kings of Leon bassist Jared Followill, Olivia Munn, and Forest Whitaker.

Watch below as Jay-Z and Beyonce sing “Forever Young”… the audio is horrible but you get the idea ;)

CLICK HERE TO WATCH FROM YOUR PHONE



Check out Bey and Chris Martin performing "Halo"

CLICK HERE TO WATCH FROM YOUR PHONE

MTV VMAs: Winners, Photos + Live Performance Videos

Check out the winners below...

Best Dance Video: Lady Gaga “Bad Romance”
Best Collaboration Video: Lady Gaga featuring Beyonce “Telephone”
Best Female Video: Lady Gaga “Bad Romance”
Best Rock Video: 30 Seconds to Mars “Kings and Queens”
Best Male Video: Eminem “Not Afraid”
Best Pop Video: Lady Gaga “Bad Romance”
Best Special Effects: Muse “Uprising”
Best Art Director: Florence + the Machine “Dog Days Are Over”
Best Hip Hop Video: Eminem “Not Afraid”
Best New Artist: Justin Bieber
Best Collaboration: Beyoncé featuring Lady Gaga "Telephone"
Best Video of the Year: Lady Gaga "Bad Romance"

- Not too off from my rumored list - here!

THE CAST OF THE JERSEY SHORE

(Is that Angelina in that blue satin dress? Wow)

HERE'S MORE RED CARPET PICS:

SHOW PHOTOS:

WATCH SOME PERFORMANCES BELOW:

EMINEM AND RIHANNA



TAYLOR SWIFT



NICKI MINAJ (OUTSIDE- PRESHOW)





DRAKE , MARY J. BLIGE, SWIZZ BEATZ



KANYE WEST

Kanye West f/ Jay-Z, Rick Ross & Nicki Minaj "Monster" [MP3]

Kanye West f/ Jay-Z & Swizz Beatz: "Power" Remix [MP3]

CLICK THE PLAYER BELOW TO LISTEN/ DOWNLOAD!

Kanye West Says Nicki Minaj Has Potential To Be Best Rapper of All Time, Behind Eminem!

The ever-controversial Kanye West made a very daring proclamation while visiting Angie Martinez on Hot 97 today. Yeezy pointed out that Nicki Minaj has the potential to be “the #2 rapper of all time” behind Eminem as far as sales and impact.


Check out what he had to say below:

This is such a big statement and such a big thing to fill but I think the scariest artist in the game right now is definitely Nicki Minaj and I think she has the most potential out of everyone to be the #2 rapper of all time because nobody’s gonna be bigger than Eminem is the #1 rapper of all time.

DO YOU AGREE?? LOL

Me, personally, I like Nicki. Much respect to her. She is very creative and versatile...she's doing it right now! Especially for the ladies. But of "all time" Kanye?


CHECK OUT WHAT SOME OF MY TWITTER FOLLOWERS THOUGHT:



Jerzeyboii

@DJLADYT hell no! Em is good but not number 1 ! Kayne better then both of them n Jay Z, Wayne , T.I. n Luda run the lyrical game

MsMoto

@DJLADYT I never thought Kanye ever did hard drugs until that Nicki statement.

CrazeeSexy

@DJLADYT absolutely not. nicki minaj is hot - physically. lyrically i feel she's making a mockery of hip hop.

IamJarren

Fuck no!! Kanye is retarded!! @DJLADYT

CLICK BELOW TO HEAR THE INTERVIEW AND KANYE'S NEW SONG W/ BEYONCE:

Kanye West Sits Down w/ Angie Martinez For Exclusive Interview & Drops New Song w/ Beyonce! [MP3]

Director Describes Meaning Behind Kanye's "Power" Video/ Snippet

Artist/director Marco Brambilla and rapper/producer Kayne West recently released West’s video “Power,” a 1:15 minute clip that places Kanye in the center of a moving painting. And it's causing a ton of controversy!

Here's an interview with the director Brambilla to tell us what this video really means.

There are a lot of allusions and historical references in the “Power” video that you directed. Where did you draw our inspiration and what does it all mean?

I think the visual inspiration for me was definitely the frescoes in the Sistine Chapel; they are kind of bombastic and iconic. Then the tonal reference was really “How do you visualize a symbol of power that’s almost timeless?” This video is almost like a portrait, a video portrait of Kanye as this symbol of power. The video is actually one continuous shot – it comes out from a close up of Kanye and gradually reveals this decadence and sexuality around him. Once we come to the wide shot, we challenge that position of power.

The narrative within it is a moment of transition. It’s almost like the precarious nature of power, the epic portrait of power. In one sense it’s both the rise and fall of a celebrity in a way and that’s one of the things that interested me about working with Kanye. I wanted to use some of his baggage in terms of the year he’s had coming into this and releasing his first single in a long time. I wanted to use the kind of public perception of him and have fun with that and the concept of him being a celebrity and what he’s gone through recently.

What was it like corresponding and working with Kanye?

I think we’re fairly similar in terms of the fact that we are both perfectionists and we are both fairly hyperactive people. The set was quite energetic, but there was a seamless communication.

I like to improve quite a bit onset and I went into it with a photomontage; I shot all the models and the positions in which I thought I’d need them for the composition at the casting sessions ahead of time. Once I had those shots I also improvised with a lot of different variations.

So when it came to shooting and directing the video, how did it go?

We only had one day to shoot, and it was a very frenetic kind of day. I remember that we shot Kanye in two different wardrobes, once at the beginning of the day – the very first shot – and then in a different wardrobe at the very end of the day, and it was really interesting to get the same kind of intensity from what we shot at 10 in the morning versus what we shot at 3 in the [following] morning.

He’s just so professional and so there and present that there was virtually no difference in the intensity he had from the morning shoot to the night shoot. It was a very kind of organic process. I’m used to working with actors that have a certain celebrity so it’s not new to me but he was certainly one of the easier ones to work with.

How did you originally get involved?

It began with “Civilization,” the piece I did for The Standard [Hotel]. I think he saw the piece when it was first installed in the elevators and he put it on his blog then very shortly after I heard from my gallery that he wanted to meet and I think it was based on his interest in that piece. I think from his point of view, he wanted to do something that would have a similar kind of visual language as “Civilization,” using this kind of video collage technique that I developed for that piece. The rest of it was a little bit more open.

How was it more open and who came up with the idea of him in the center of a moving painting?

I thought I should just do a portrait of Kanye and it should be like a video portrait, which we did in extreme slow motion and then we took his image and kind of blew it up all out of proportion. And then we surrounded him with every kind of icon of decadence, sexuality and excess and kind of exaggerated all that, Then I contextualized it into a neoclassical painting, and that’s when it all clicked. I showed him a lot of references of different painters - [Michelangelo Merisi da] Caravaggio, Michelangelo, [Peter Paul] Rubens…So a lot of the references were classic lighting and very elegant color palettes and he likes that kind of visual as well.

[Kanye’s] really visually sophisticated, so once I showed him the first collage I did he called me and said “Oh my god I really like this, it’s what we should do,” and at that point that’s when I started casting and preproduction on the piece.

How long was the back and forth between you two?

It was probably about three weeks of me sending collages and references and having conversations and meetings and then we shot fairly quickly after that. Post-production was really intensive because the final video has 100 layers of video channels in it. And because it’s one continuous take it’s really hard to manipulate any individual thing without going back and redoing the whole thing. So the post-production took about a month. It’s only 1:15 but if you think of that with 100 video channels then all of a sudden you know you are dealing with a very complex collage.

In the past Kanye has worked with Takashi Murakami and other artists. He’s got a unique eye for what he wants and what he wants to display. So what does it mean to you to be a part of his work?

For me a lot of my work has dealt with what it means to be at the center of the universe and how alienating and kind of seductive it is. A lot of my work is very aggressive and very visual, but at the same time it has a lot of tension in it and makes you kind of uncomfortable sometimes. So for me the concept was “let’s explore what a moment of transition for a celebrity.” And the music obviously underlines all the themes and the lyrics within the song itself, which are very much about that kind of contradiction of wanting to be in the center of the universe and then finding that to be a very distracting and unfulfilling place. So the concept of it is what really attracted me to working with him because I thought A) he’s an artist not a constructed pop act, and B) he has an integrity that a lot of other musicians don’t.

I don’t usually do music videos or collaborations but in this case it was a theme I really thought would be consistent with what I was attracted to in the past. There’s also the opportunity to have a little bit more reach into the mainstream and kind of subvert an image of someone and subvert it in a way that is playful and fun hopefully.

This video is short but powerful. What do you predict the interpretation of the public will be? How do you think it will be seen?

I think it shows the end of an era and maybe the end of an era of celebrity. Maybe end of era for figure of power, maybe it’s a moment of transition for society in general. It has all these kind of ambiguous messages, but it’s something that you can visually experience. It has so much imagery within it hopefully people will react to it on a purely visceral level. But also what I would hope is that they see the kind of subversive qualities of it where it poses these questions about power, celebrity, sexuality decadence that kind of thing.

To hear what others are saying about this video and to watch it, click below:

Kanye West: "Power" [MUSIC VIDEO]

Kanye West: "Power" [MUSIC VIDEO]

The video is basically a 1:15 minute clip that places Kanye in the center of a moving painting with what many say show symbolic meanings. You can already guess how much controversy this is causing. Check out what some youtuber's are saying:


jalen2222

okay time to clear the bullshit!

We all know Kanye west if different than most, pretty much every thing he does is out of the ordinary. you see the angels and the swords, theres a reason behind all that, and its nothing devilish or illuminati-ish, its the story of the Damocles & Dionysus. look this up you will truly understand everything. if you dont well that makes you one of those people who just dosnt like kanye west, and wants him to be a devil worshiper instead of knowing the truth.

msleslieee

beyonce's video was better

WHAT DO YOU THINK????


CHECK OUT WHAT THE DIRECTOR SAID BELOW:

Director Describes Meaning Behind Kanye's "Power" Video/ Snippet

"We Are The World" f/ Lionell Richie, Jamie Foxx, Barbara Streisand, Kanye West, Justin Bieber + More!! [OFFICIAL VIDEO]

"We Are The World" f/ Lionell Richie, Jamie Foxx, Barbara Streisand, Kanye West, Celine Dion, Usher, Justin Bieber + More!! [OFFICIAL VIDEO]