S. Samuel
After Jay-Z buzz developed heading into the weekend suggesting the rap mogul would make a huge Philadelphia announcement tomorrow (May 14), a new report now decodes what will likely be unveiled.
If all goes accordingly, Young Hov will be announced as a headlining act for an upcoming Philly event.
On Monday, it is expected to be announced that Jay-Z will be the curator of and headlining performer at the first Budweiser Made in America music festival, a two-day event that will bring as many as 28 musical acts to Fairmount Park in Philadelphia on Sept. 1 and Sept. 2. (Sorry, Brooklyn, but hasn’t Jay-Z done enough for you already?) The festival, which will be produced by Live Nation, is to be formally unveiled at a Monday morning news conference with Jay-Z and Mayor Michael A. Nutter of Philadelphia and will assemble an eclectic lineup of “rock, hip-hop, R&B, Latin and dance” musicians, according to a news release from its organizers. No other acts chosen by Jay-Z were immediately announced, but when you have Kanye West on speed dial and share a home with Beyoncé, presumably opportunities are rife. (New York Times)
Details of Jay’s speculated “City of Brotherly Love” announcement hype developed on Friday (May 11).
Jay-Z will join Mayor Nutter atop the Art Museum steps at 10:30 Monday to announce a multi-day concert festival called Made in America over Labor Day weekend. It is unclear whether the event will be held on the Parkway or elsewhere. Jay-Z posted this video featuring the Philadelphia skyline, screaming fans and a microphone, on his website Friday. Made in America was the name of a track from Jay-Z and Kanye West’s album “Watch the Throne.” (Philadelphia Daily News)
This all comes just days after Philadelphia-bred emcee Meek Mill signed to Jay’s Roc Nation management team.
“That’s the new deal I put together,” Meek said in an interview. “Me coming up in this rap game, I was always an underground artist coming up by myself and making all of the moves by myself. And my manager – he’s just like me, we’ve been coming up in the streets by ourselves. So we just decided to partner up with Roc Nation and take things to another level.” (Life + Times)
Outside of music, Young Hov recently helped launch a new cognac line.
Looks like Jay-Z may be expanding his empire to include cognac. Last night in New York at an ultra private event he helped introduce D’usse (pronounced “dew-say”) a cognac being produced by Bacardi that is expected to compete with Hennessy. Don’t worry, you won’t have to break the bank to drink this stuff it will go for $44.99 for a 750-ml bottle – but don’t be surprised if there is a super expensive version. Will you buy it off the name drop or do you need a taste? (The LIFE Files)
