RSS Feed
Newsletter
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.”
im front dominican republic this beatiful.
Jay who? Just because you sell a bunch of records doesn’t mean you are the greatest. There are so many great rap lyricist out there right now. Listen to Black Thought from the Roots or Talib Kweli or Lupe Fiasco. Now that greatness. These brothers are not trying to exploit the hood but elevate the hood. When listening to these artist you can tell that there is more than pimping on there minds. They give you food for thought and elevate the mind to a higher state. By the way, if the festival is a rock and roll festival why would he want to be there anyway. EGO????
Thier not racist if they love public enemy but I do find that most other countries like our older rap like the EPMD’s or the Rakim’s Wu tang maybe jay isn’t that raw older straight hip hop like they love in also places like Japan.
if you don’t know what your talking about shut up and keep moving.
Jay you a trouper….don’t sweat them haters, the whole God complex thing works for you and not for every one I know…but the europeans need something to shake em up a bit..Cousin Jay you tha truth!!!
Time to embrace change…like you said
The reason why people don’t want Jay-Z there is because he is associated with the materialistic, mysogynistic, homophobic, volence glorifying, emotionally retarded face of modern rap music. The kind of attitudes that have now permeated throughout youth culture in britain and have resulted in a generation of self obsessed, vain, extremely violent, gangster wannabees. Read the british newspapers. It’s nothing to do with racism just a reaction against a dumb, self limiting, weak, kop-out, irresponsible culture. Music should be about freeing your mind and your soul and breaking down walls. The whole posturing and ‘I’m a bad ass’ attitude of rap music is like anti-music, building walls, being defensive, closing your mind. Give me Smokey Robinson over P-Diddy, Jay-z and 50p any day.
I wish ppl would quit calling Jay the best rapper alive. His last 2 albums were far from his best work. He’s definitely the most successful in the biz though by far & very talented. As far as performing at the festival, there’s a time & place for everything. We need to look at the rest of the lineup & see if Jay even makes since to be on that bill. It’s not always “hatin”.
i think personaly,everybody’s and artist,these people r probably stuck n there own slot machine 2 where there affraid 2 get out and venture,it’s nobody matter but those few listen,vibe and get out we can learn alot from eachother.sincerily josh back home
man ya’ll stop it, i love hova,aka jay-z. but…..think about. his music i love it but not no. but hopefully he pull it off n embrace da people n dey learn 2 love him 2.
what is this ignorant to hip hop music, lost in the sauce dude named tricky talking about.has che even listened to a jay-z album.get uducated first then speak.
I love Jay-Z, and I’m happy he’s coming to London while I’m studying abroad (from Milwaukee, WI.USA)in London. It was shocking to see how many people don’t listen to Jay-Z and of course they are not from the States. They want to see the other acts…who I never heard of, but that’s cool. There are about a total of 2 other students that want to see Jay and 1 is from Canada and the other is also from Milwaukee.
I plan to see a great concert in Hyde Park, because he turned it out in Chicago.
Jay do as you always do….leave people talkin!
I’ve got your back at the castle!
I’m ready to jam, to dance, and rap-along with you.
I can’t wait…July 3rd.
Jay-Z is the best act on that WHOLE line-up…check it out…
Who is this “tricky”?? I’m not a big Jay-Z fan, but I respect those who have talent. I thing that England who be open to change..it gonna happen weather they like it or not. Their singers come here to play their music and they want to be excepted…(Beatles)..they need to get over it. (Jay-Z) in my opinion is not the Greatest Rapper Alive….wrong answer..Everyone have a right to their own opinion…
Jay Z is Hott but we need New Fresh Talent.
He’s been hott forever
hirollamusic is Hott up on myspace
HEY I LIKE JAY-Z. HE IS ONE OF THE BEST SELLER RAPPER IN AMERICAN. THE PWOPLE IN ENGLAND NEED TO COME HERE AND SEE HIM IN CONCERT NOT JUST BECAUSE HE AN AMERICAN. HE GOOD IN WHAT HE DO SO IF THEY DON’T LIKE AMERCIAN.. THEY NEED TO KISS OFF. HERE IS ALSO HARD TO GET TICKETS FOR ANY OF HIS SHOWS. I TRYING PURCHASING TICKETS AND HE WERE SOLD OUT … HE JUST DON’T NEED TO GO BACK IF THEIR A PROBLEM.. STAY HOME JAY-Z WE LOVE YOU AND KEEPING MAKING MUSIC…
HIP HOP IS ALIVE IN THE UK….. CHECK OUT http://WWW.BBC.CO.UK/1XTRA URBAN SITE FOR UK-LONDON. THIS IS WHERE MOST OF THE AMERICAN HIP HOP ARTIST FIND THE NEW FLAVOUR IN THE UK- EG- ESTELLE,KANO & DIZZEE RASCAL. UK HAS THE SAME SOCIAL/ECONOMICAL PROBLEMS AS THE STATES -ONLY DIFFERENCE IS THE ACCENT:)
TO HELP YOU ALL UNDERSTAND THE SITUATION BETTER– THINK ABOUT AN EVENT IN U.S. THAT NORMALLY CATERS TO HIP HOP ONLY AND THEN ONE YEAR THEY DECIDE TO HAVE AC/DC OR METALLICA TO BE THE OPENING/HEADLINER ACT – I’M SURE MOST OF US DIE HARD HIP HOP FANS WOULD HAVE ‘OUR PANTIES IN A BUNCH’. CHANGE/DIFERENCE IS ALWAYS A CHALLENGE TO EMBRACE!!
1LUV
LMAO…I’m not a hater and I’m American but I completely agree w/ those who realize Jigga-Man needs to get over himself. There are several great poetic lyricist out there that have yet to take the sell-out, misogynistic route which escalated him to high record sales and fame. J-Z is lucky. He is lucky to have the gift of lyricism but he is also proves his lack of conscience when he exploits AA culture into a morsel of it’s true depth for a dollar-bill. Flossing an EGO and not the elevating the people is suspect. Obviously some Brits are just not into feeling a non-rockin-roller headlining and they have that right. They don’t have to recognize or fall-in-line w/ his “embrace change” sentiment…maybe they will embrace it but discerning the change is perfectly respectable.
Maybe he will perform with Linkin Park and Gnarls Barkley, and still do two with Beyonce to put a cap on his performance. That wood be something that they would like. And it’s still rock music. Whaddya think?
I’m not a Jay-Z fan, to me anytime you consider yourself God, I have a problem with that. And to add, England is not racist, go back in history, and see that we received more medals for WWI, WWII, and other wars. So England being racist, is not the case. To me, I love poetry but I do not consider JZ all that, rhyming is not his thing.
who is tricky and who does he think he is sayin jay is not that good news flash tricky you #*@~*?@ suck go beg for scraps or something nobody cares about your damn opion because you dont matter you talentless piece of garbage
I am not a big fan of Rap. I have listen to Jay -Z and I think he is awesome for what he do. People have the right to accept or decline what they would like to hear. “Courage” is having the will to go into the unknown and perform. The producers think he might be a hit – he might not. Let the market decide. Jay-Z know he is not God and anyone using that as a reason is stupid or a coward – afraid to say why they will not give him a chance – RACIST??????? I would not buy a ticket – but I never brought a ticket for the Beatles either.