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Jay-Z’s at the Center of Glastonbury Music Festival Controversy
June 28th, 2008
America’s “President of Hip Hop” has some British knickers in a bunch. Some diehard fans of the U.K.’s famous Glastonbury music festival are upset that the headliner of the show this year is rapper Jay-Z.
This is the first time an Urban music artist has been selected as the main act of the show, a sign to many festival-goers that the event is straying from its Rock and Roll roots.
Some are even blaming Jay-Z for the last 200 tickets (out of tens of thousands) not being yet sold. Even Trip-Hop artist Tricky (Yes, Lynn’s music partner and boyfriend on the TV show “Girlfriends” has chimed in. In an interview on Friday with the U.K.’s National Post, he said “I can understand in some ways, because an American artist headlining Glastonbury is probably a bit weird for people. And the fact that it’s an urban artist – and he’s not actually that good. If it was like, Public Enemy or Rakim, you might get away with it, because Rakim’s an extreme talent, and Public Enemy changed the face of music. People in England would probably relate to that more. But the ‘Bling-bling, I’m God’ sort of bulls—, English people ain’t into that.
Jay-Z, on the other hand, has no shortage of supporters, including several English artists like neo-soul sensation Estelle and others. “
“I’ve never ever had a show that’s caused this much stir so I’m really looking forward to it,” says Jay-Z. “I know we don’t all play guitars but we all have to respect each other’s music.It’s beautiful that people feel passionate about an event, you have to have an opinion about who should perform there, but the world changes and we have to embrace the change.”
Do you listen to music or do you just skim through it?
If you take the time to sit down and REALLY listen to Jay-Z’s albums (not singles) – you will realize that the man is a lyrical GENIUS!
Tricky? Thats a Joke!!!!Jay-Z is probably laughing at him
O.K. listen: first of all, all you people who don’t know anything about England should just shut up and fall back quietly. There’s no point in thinking that the minority who don’t want him there represents the whole of England. Whoever said “Jay-Z is the hottest rapper on the planet…and an American Gangster….and a Black Millionaire…so its understandable that The English are hatin…” is just a fool. The English are not naturally racist; you got confused/mixed up: that’s the Americans.
The only reason that certain haters are hating, is because it’s not quite catering to the audience of Glastonbury Festival. It’s not really a big deal, Jay is now just being challenged to prove every single hater wrong.
Respect this music,
Peace,
HipHopSupporter
#1)Public Enemy had their time to make a “statement” and they did just that…in the 90’s. #2)Rakim is an extreme talent I agree #3)Jay-Z is also an EXTREME talent and deserves to headline this show…we embrace so many English performers that come here to top the charts…and we don’t “hate” on them! no matter how screwed up they are (etc. Amy Whinehouse). We all need to just accept and enjoy change…here in the US and across the pond. BTW…who the hell is Tricky??? And why should we care what he thinks????
JayZ is big enough and ugly enough to defend himself. He’s getting paid a fat wedge to get his ass up on that stage, so he won’t mind what the critics say…
The English are just a little concerned that an American rapper is headling an English rock festival, but I agree change is good.
However, to say that the US embraces UK acts would be a little untrue, ‘cos lots of artists have gone to the USA and haven’t been given a chance…
Its a 2 way street, so we got to give and take – but I’m sure JayZ will go down fine!
If the folks in charge of the Glastonbury festival (who of course keep their eyes, ears and minds open to whats new and hot) courted him to go perform then their must be more than enough merit to the decision in making Jay-Z the opening act/headliner, whatever! Tricky….Please b!?ch witcha two or three hits. The man you’re criticizing is a couple lifetimes ahead of you in musical acheivements little boy! You better wake the hell up and come on in out the damn woods!!! Jay-Z is a globally infuential, trend setting, profitable musical entity…PERIOD!!! Please, what if we stopped supporting British artists hunh? SERIOUSLY??? They’d all be griping about it(and most of all missing those big faces). Artists need to be real cautious when they take it upon themselves to criticize a much more successful “peer”. Tricky STFU man!!! For real….
too hhs,jay-z is a black millionaire,amer.gangster and more.you should listen to his music all of it.i did and found it very good,by the way i’m 60!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jay-Z ain’t that good??? that had me dying!!!
And who the F**K is Tricky??? I can’t even remember his character on Girlfriends and I loved that show!!! As a black man he should be ashamed of himself, but as someone who claims they’re some type of artist… he needs to get smacked!!! Jay-Z is one of the best to do it EVER!!! He’s right up there with Big Daddy Kane, Rakim, Tupac, Public Enemy & Biggie… just cause his flow might be a bit different from them does NOT take away his important and status as the BEST RAPPER ALIVE!!! hands down… everyone loves Jay and those who don’t are just bitter!!! And I know for sure it just ain’t a North American thing either. ‘Nough said… Tricky got my blood pressure rising… he needs one SLAP!
Perhaps this tricky is right, I mean, I don´t think that England apreciate Hip-Hop so much as we do but you can´t compare Jay-z with Public Enemy because they had their good times.
In other point of view, I don´t know much about Glanstonbury the only thing I know is that is for Rock & Roll performances and havin´Jay-z there… I don´t think so.
As for Americans not supporting UK artists… Bono, Elton John, Leona Lewis, Estelle… etc… they all have either had ridiculous success in the US or have gotten ridiculous play on the radio. It’s a damn shame when black people can’t even defend one of their biggest and brightest STARS. Jay is proof that young black men in the struggle can make it. But y’all would prefer to support artist like T.I., Snoop, Game, 50, Beanie, etc. who have not learned from their mistakes. No Jay hasn’t always been squeaky clean but he has learned from his mistakes. When have you last heard of Jay getting arrested or doing some dumb stuff to be up in the news? Thank you! Black people, we will never be able to over come the stereotypes put on us by other races if we can’t come together and stop hating one another.
Change should be embraced I agree with jay Z on that. Brooklyn in the house yo and kick it like you know. Time teaches if we don’t. Peace.
The people in England should be honored that Jay would even grace the stage at their festival. Tricky, when you get a platinum album, and sell out arenas, then you can talk. Until then keep doing what u do best…being a nobody.
they should just get over it and enjoy some good music, instead of the usual….
woteva we british hear american artists music ALL the time trust me!! weve alrede embraced it and i guess (although im not into rock n roll) this festival thing is just something we have.
Who is in the hell is tricky. He is known best as lynns boyfriend what the fu*k. Jay is the man he sell out arenas n is one of the best rappers alive
Stop drinking Hater-Aid……WOW 200 tickets are left. Jay-Z and many others could buy the 200 tickets and give them away. Sounds like their PR/Advertising/Sales people are not doing their job.
What people (THEY) fail to realize is that Jay-Z is so versatile with his style of Rap/music. He is into the the rock thing as well and with the right arrangement he will flip the script and add a rock band in the background of his rap and the rest will be history.
Shut Down J
Show’em What U Got.
Good for Jay-z. But I want to talk about this so called hip hop v.s america….First of all those people on the panel made good points but i still feel like they didn’t come to a solution as to why black women are being exploited in music videos and why the majority of the fmenales in these videos are a light skinned complexion and really no darker skinned females are not in these videos?? I think they could’ve gotten more in depth with the topic instead it turned out to be a David Banner show v.s everybody on the panel. I wuold like to see some real everyday people on that show and maybe B.E.T can stop making these pointless shows. It’s just entertaining and not educational at all. B.E.T here is a little advise for you… If you want to see a change and you want some answers then I suggest you start by cutting out all these stupid shows and retarded music videos. Cause you don’t see mtv having these discussions!!!
I had to post my comment somewhere
i betcha it some white folks, when we gone leave em alone
they should be honour to in the present of greatness jay-z is the man i wish i could be there.ithink jay-z should go and show those people what the rock stand for dj carson from jamaica