“Never underestimate the power of hip-hop – what it can do, what we can do,” says Jay-Z defiantly.
He is, of course, talking about his controversial headline slot at this weekend’s Glastonbury Festival, a booking that’s been the talking point of the summer.
The first rapper to headline the festival in its 38-year history, his booking has been met with criticism and blamed for poor ticket sales after the three-day event failed to sell out.
But tomorrow night, Jay-Z — who festival organiser Emily Eavis describes as “the greatest living hip-hop artist” — is hoping to silence his critics when he takes to the Pyramid Stage.
Interviews with the Brooklyn rapper are rare but he’s agreed to an exclusive chat with us and when he calls from Norway, where he is headlining Hovefestivalen, SFTW find him in a confident mood.
He says: “I am excited about playing Glastonbury. I feel like a new artist again, playing in front of new people as an unproven artist. I love that. I love going out there to show a new crowd just what you can do.
“I just want people there to have an open mind. Don’t judge me ’til you see me. Don’t knock the power of hip-hop.”
When it was announced in February that Jay-Z would top the Glastonbury bill, it seemed everyone had an opinion. Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher was the most vocal saying: “Glastonbury has a tradition of guitar music. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it.
“I’m sorry but Jay-Z? No chance. I’m not having hip-hop at Glastonbury. It’s wrong.”
But Jay-Z doesn’t care what Noel thinks.
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“When someone makes judgments like that, they are kind of ignorant. Yeah, I have heard Noel’s music, but I have never seen him or Oasis play so I can’t say whether his show is rubbish. Until I see him perform, I can’t really give an opinion on him.
“But I don’t think he has ever seen me perform — I should send him a ticket.”
And Jay-Z — real name Shawn Carter — isn’t letting the commotion dent his enthusiasm for his big night. He explains: “I have a saying, ‘What people think about you is none of your business’. That’s why I am not taking notice. I’m ready for my show and the rest is ridiculous.”
While he won’t disclose whether new wife Beyonce, Amy Winehouse or good friend Coldplay’s Chris Martin will be joining him on stage, he coolly reveals that he hasn’t felt under pressure to change his show.
“I will pretty much run the same set because I’ll have just started the tour. I’ll probably move things around a little bit based on which songs work.
“I usually play a couple of nights and then move the order, just trying to find the magic flow. Once I find that flow I’ll just go with that set.”
Read the full interview here
Source: www.thesun.co.uk
