Inside Jay-Z's next album: Magna Carta Holy Grail

JT x Jay-Z, "Suit & Tie (B-Rock Keep Dancing edit)"

Hidden Gem: Jay-Z, "Can't Get With That"

Jay-Z, "Can't Get With That" download

A B-side track from the "In My Lifetime" 12" that features a young Jay-Z before dropping his first and classic album Reasonable Doubt.

Absolut presents Jay-Z in "NY-Z"

The cinematography and editing in this mini-documentary is ABSOLUTly gorgeous! It doesn't hurt that it features the one of the greatest emcees of all time.

Epic

That piano, New York, the aerial shots, Hype Williams, shutting down Times Square, Alicia Keys... oh, Alicia Keys. She's so beautiful. Her new album The Element of Freedom drops December 15th, the same week as Mary J. Blige's Stronger.

Lookbook, "Over and Over" music video

It's no secret that I have a huge crush on Maggie Morrison. In all honesty, I'd probably post a video of her even if the music was terrible and the video was shoddy. This video, though, is simply amazing. One of the best music videos I've seen all year. It ranks up there with Jay-Z's east-coast Mad Max blockbuster, "We Run This." Plus, I'd rather stare at Maggie than Rihanna any day.

Hip-Hop Thursday @ Spring Street Tavern

If you haven't noticed, Jay-Z's Blueprint 3 is slowly being leaked track-by-track to the big-dog blogs [rhymed without even trying]. So far, the tracks have been disappointments. Instead of provide you with links to these so-far mediocre tracks, I'm going to share a track that also has been posted up on the definitive hip-hop blogs... and is fire on that late-90's NYC tip. In other words, it's my joint.

Let me (re)-introduce you to Bekay (pronounced "BK"). Hailing, obviously, from Brooklyn this Jewish emcee has been making moves for a minute but hasn't ever blown up. Some may remember him from his battles on 106 & Park back in '02, others from MTV's short-lived MC battles around '03. I haven't heard much of him, but if this viral track if him holding his own with Masta Ace is any indication of what is to come, I'll be on the lookout.

Bekay, "Brooklyn Bridge feat. Masta Ace" produced by Babu

If I had some Bekay wax, I'd rock it tomorrow (Thursday). But I don't. I've got crates of other quality hip-hop, though that I'll be throwing down tomorrow night at the Spring Street Tavern with DJ Trey. Come holler at your DJ!

New York

I'm off to make my annual pilgrimage to the mecca of hip-hop, culture and art: New York, New York. The city so nice they named it twice. I won't have my laptop handy, so I bid you adieu until August. I'll leave you with a taste of the Big Apple...

Jay-Z, "The City Is Mine"

Evidence, "Down In New York City"

Jay-Z/Sinatra, "I Did It My Way"

Jay-Z wins before it even starts

Here's a freestyle from Jay's performance at the Palms. Rumor has it that it's the intro to Blueprint 3. Names are dropped, speculations are crushed, and he's not "bringing it back" because he's "better than before, why'd [he] do that?" Game, set, match.

Jay-Z freestyle at the Palms, Las Vegas (warning: recorded at high volume)

Hip-Hop Father's Day!

Here are the songs that first came to mind when trying to find songs about fathers. They're all hip-hop tracks, but they cover a wide spectrum. They range from dedications ("Faheem"), to open letters ("Little Man"), to tragedy ("Meet the Parents"). Enjoy!

Atmosphere, "Good Daddy"

Jay-Z, "Meet the Parents"

El-P, "Stepfather Factory"

Cecil Otter, "A Hundred Fathers"

Atmosphere, "Little Man"

Brother Ali, "Faheem" (if you haven't been fortunate enough to witness Ali perform this track acapella in concert, it's truly chilling - much better than the album version)

Hov!

In case you missed it on nahright, this footage is bonkers!  I got chills watching hands from the crowd just trying to touch his pants (around 4:41).  How can you not call him "God-emcee"!?!