Jay-Z had some encouraging words for his ‘Little Brother” this week as he sat down and answered a few questions. With “Graduation” projections suggesting that he could notch as many as 900,000 CDs sold in its first week when Nielsen SoundScan numbers are released tonight — leaving 50 Cent’s Curtis in the dust with a still-respectable figure of more than 600,000, Jay was all smiles.
“It makes me proud as someone who’s watched his growth from the beginning, when he came in as a hungry producer, to now he’s a rock star. I’m happy for him on that level. And I’m excited for creativity as well, because I think that’s a win for that as well. You know, people mimic success. And in order to mimic that success, you have to put in a lot of work. You have to really care about the music.”, Jay said.
When asked about what factors he think came into play to have Kanye on top of 50 Cent , as far as sales go, and why fans really connect with him, he said, “It’s pretty much how much he cares about it. It’s not done for any other reason but to be the best music out at that specific time. You know, at times you could hear [other] people’s music, and you hear, ’’Okay, that’s your girl single, that’s the thug single, that’s the…’’ No, it’s none of that. Every single song he makes, he makes because he thinks it’s the best record at that specific time. He may not think it next week, but that week, he thought that was the best record that he could make. We have 75 mixes of ’’Stronger.’’ Who does that? When I was sitting in mastering to make sure the album got done, he was somewhere in Sweden sending through mixes of ’’Good Life.’’ Sixteen different mixes of the song! Who does that?”.
Jay also explains how he feels about the track “Big Brother” and if he feels that that is a fair portrayal of him. “I think it’s a fair portrayal from a little brother’s perspective. You know, you’ve got your big brother and you want to go out with him, he’s like, ’’Nah, get back in the house!’’ Things like that, until you come of age. At Roc-A-Fella, we’ve always lived by tough love. Everyone knows that. It’s nothing given. Everyone has to work for theirs, and that’s how you make strong individuals, by not carrying them. That’s how you make a Kanye West. You make him fight for his position.”
The Brooklyn representative was asked on why he didn’t drop a verse on this new album and he stated, “Well, I was going to do ’’Barry Bonds,’’ but it was late in the day, so I didn’t get to do it.”
Lastly, Jay spoke about his verse on the “I Get Money (remix)” and explained, “I just wanted to show that we’re not enemies. 50 Cent called me to ask for the remix, and I told him he couldn’t put the remix out until the first week came. I didn’t want it to affect any type of numbers. [Laughs] So as you see, it came out the 17th, when the SoundScan cycle is finished. So just to show, I’m still competing! We’re not enemies, we’re just competing.”
COMMENTS
i wish he was on barry bonds
Jay-Z, L.A. Reid Weigh In On Kanye/50 Sales Battle
Kanye West
September 19, 2007, 4:25 PM ET
Hillary Crosley, N.Y.
With Kanye West's "Graduation" (Def Jam) having trumped 50 Cent's "Curtis" (G-Unit/Interscope) in debut week sales, Def Jam honchos Antonio "L.A." Reid and Jay-Z are celebrating. But they acknowledge West's numbers (957,000) were bolstered by the competition, and that another sales war is not in their plans.
"We all know that the battle was a one-off," Jay-Z tells Billboard. "That's not a template on how to do business. We know that we have challenges ahead of us [in regards to the industry's downturn] but we also know that the consumption of music is at an all-time high as well."
For his part, Reid is "really optimistic about the state of the industry. When you look at these numbers, if I add in [West's] catalog sales, he's sold 1 million records in one week. That seemed to be a thing of the past and everyone had written it off, saying that people no longer bought albums in these numbers."
Both executives maintain Def Jam didn't do anything out of the ordinary to promote "Graduation." And both agree that West's music was the catalyst for the album's meteoric sales.
"The No. 1 reason for the success was Kanye's genius [and] No. 2 was the music and the videos," says Reid. "The one thing I know for a fact is that when I listen to the record, it's amazing."
West's camp is currently choosing the album's next single, which Jay-Z says is between his favorites "I Wonder," "Champion" and "Flashing Lights." West's Glow in the Dark tour will most likely begin in early spring, and Jay-Z is considering appearing on spot dates.
As for what Def Jam's artist roster can learn from West's success, Jay-Z suggests it's all about creativity. "Artistry wins," says Jay-Z. "If you're going to emulate something, then emulate art. Because you can emulate a record or a trend, but that doesn't win at the end of the day."
Jay-Z went on to say that 50 Cent hit a misstep when he focused too narrowly on his previous sales and not on his current songs.
"50, in his arguments, focused on his numbers and sales," says Jay-Z. "Kanye focused on making the best art that he could make at that time. He wanted to go with 'Can't Tell Me Nothing' and 'Stronger,' and those records worked
Now you see who really runs the city.....
"50 Cent called me to ask for the remix, and I told him he couldn’t put the remix out until the first week came. I didn’t want it to affect any type of numbers. [Laughs] So as you see, it came out the 17th, when the SoundScan cycle is finished."
Boss for real!
In case ya forgot New York is still mine
lil wayne and jay on the same track? NOT gonna happen
yeah cuz people would stop listening
It woulda been nice to hear wayne and Jay on the same track. I believe if Jay woulda got on it, Wayne would have really stepped his bars up on there bcuz I gotta admit, Ye killed him on that track but after all, it is Ye's track
Kanye and Wayne gotta do another track together...best rappers alive
You a bigger clown the doct P..putting Ye name in the same sentence as Wayne
Stupid......you need to get "Hip-Hop for Dummies"....and don't come back until you've finished it.
it would have been funny if jay jumped on the the track kanye would have probly took wayne off of it
DO IT JAY SO YOU CAN MAKE WAYNE SWITCH HIS VERSE AND STILL KILL THAT SHYT!
I respect Wayne verse on Barry Bonds...he did his thing! ya know
Congrats to Ye on the million sold...might as well say it...Its like having 95 cent...its really a dollar lol
Now, THAT'S equality, Jokesta.
no, equality is when I delete your stupid ass comments
Well, do what you do playboy... More people big up my comments than damn near anyone... So fuck u 2!
hehe DAMN lol
If you consider telling you to "shut the fuck up" and "you're an idiot" as big-up's, then yeah, keep babbling you retarded, schizophrenic, e-motional homo
Clowns love telling jokes; that's what they do. Then they go and Superman it it til they get tired. Regin, "Now I mean youuuuuuuuuu...!" Gotta love it.
See, cousin, you may not wanna admit it, but I get more responses than most defsounds veterans... or just as much.... NOT to toot my own horn cause it ain't that serious at all.. just statin the facts...
But on the real, in the words of my boys Wyclef & The Rock, IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW people respond, whether favorably or UNfavorably, it's the point that they DO respond... Trust me, YOU of all people should KNOW THIS... Your personal tally is 2 and counting...
Actually, I don't comment much unless someone keeps babbling on and on and on. You are like the DS chatterbox. You dont shut the fuck up. So I had to address that. Mark my tally up to 3 now.
WUTTTAHH HEEELLLL.......... WHY IS NO ONE REMEMBERIN DAT 50 SAID HE WULD RETIRE IF KANYE SOLD MORE. HAHAHH IT GIVES ME JOY DAT HIS COCKY ASS GOT SMOKED! HAHAHAHA,NOW HE GON COME WIT SHIT HES TIRED OF RAPPIN. BULL! ///....................................................... DONT 4GET 50 SAID HE WULD RETIRE IF KANYE SOLD MORE,............NO IM REQUESTIN FOR DAT RABIT TEETH GORILLA TO RETIRE. IM DEMANDIN IT.
YEAH 50 should hang up the DOO RAG if he is a man of his words lol.Quit with that emotional bullshit so people buy that bullshit album "SAME OL 2 STEP". He probably didnt sell much cause people want him to fuck off.KANYE'S GOT ONE UP ON 50 HA HA HA HA
yo...then he stated...HE SAID IT cuz its not gonna happen...its just impossible! lol
RETIRE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ya digg!
50 won't retire, he's not finish crying
And he said he was gonna, hahhahaa, put out an album everytime ANYONE from Defjam put out an album....
There's approximately FIFTY artists on Def Jam.. Go get emmmmm! Now, I'm actually ROOTING for Fif! For my own personal entertainment.... Make it happen, cousin!
well Nas droppin next on Def Jam...he the next important release for the 4th quarter...NOW WHAT lol
Reign u got to admit...Mistah FAB killed Royce! right...i feel u on deleting post
Well, then he got mad posts to start deleting... Mad posts... it'll be a full time job.
still kind of shitty that jay diddnt do a remix with yeh though. if they got 75 differnt version of stronger or 16 mixes of good life he should jump on one of those and do a remix with it. if he does one he should do that good life. song is crazy and the video is even crazier.
Yeah Cmatic...did u see that battle
i think Royce fell off since being out of jail
Royce who? The 5'9"??? Duke could walk past me in the street right now and I would have no idea who he was? The only reason I've even HEARD of him is because he used to have those one page ads in The Source, back when I was a reader! I'nt think I've EVER heard'eem rap and didn't see the battle. But if Fab worked'eem over, then that's ANOTHER 1 Up for the East.
I love it!
P.S. Tomorrow, 9/20/2g7, is BLACK THURSDAY for all black people. Wear all black! Free the Jena 6!
yeah im upping my all black tee with Free Jena 6 and Genarlow on it on myspace
4 sho
For those who said 50 gotta retire because kayne beat 50 in us sales. He cant retire because he still has a contract with interscope. His contract with interscope is a 4 album contract on which he must abliged to. So there will be one more 50 cent album comin out. Its suposed to be out in April or may. After that he said might do what em and dre do and let the music comin naturally. So for all u 50 hatas he still goin be around. I'm just stating the facts people. Peace!!!!
I don't think anyone is hating on 50 but when you make a promise to retire if Kanye outsells you and then he does then be a man and stand by your word and don't come up with a bullshyt excuse. So tell your boy to do what every other rapper do when they have one more album on their contract which is a greatest hits album.
US SALES RITE BUT OVERALL 2MIL 50 WORLWIDE KANYE AINT FUCKEN WIT HIM
JAY-Z SHUT DA FUCK UP ALREADY AND DIE!!...HIP HOP KILLER!
hold up, why you talkin filthy about the god mc, he, j hova?
hip-hop killer??..nigga u stupid...jay-z is fukkin hip hop...he's the best in the fukkin game...50 is a jealous ass nigga that used all this shit as publicity for the album cuz even he knew it sukked ass...lil wayne is a fukkin retard that says the same shit every damn song...hip hop killer...bitch please...
We have 75 mixes of ’’Stronger’’, damn Kanye really puts in work to make that good product.
charismatic and hateme are the weirdest mofukas on this site. u guys on this main page like its your job, why rnt u two in the forums?
oh ya jayz the goat i run it
cuz i remember when nyggaz said that Ye would lose...I said if he didnt win IT WOULD BE CLOSE...instead Ye won and it wasnt close
I think the frenzy is getting to a fever pitch! Rumor has is Jay-Z will be calling his next album Boss Hova. Now, from what I have been told that’s the name of the album for now, but he’s also considering several other names too. That’s the name of the month. Anyway, I’m not sure when Jay-Z plans to release it, but I am hearing some interesting things. I heard that Jay intends to adopt a more retro feel that will remind fans of the Golden Era of Roc-A-Fella. I heard that he’s got a song with Beanie Sigel and Bleek that is already finished. I don’t know how far he’s in, but fans can expect production from lil’ bro Kanye, Just Blaze, 9th Wonder, and DJ Toomp (my fave producer of the moment).
But Jay-Z is the best...
if he go back to at least when he did an album like the Blueprint or Reasonable Doubt or fuck it Black Album...he do the same numbers and more to at least 4 to 5 mill
thats not what i was sayin really, but why rnt u in the forums? u coulda been readin this shit yesterday
50 and jay-z should both call it quits, for real, and just retire
NAW NAW JAY-Z DIDNT PASS ON BARRY BOND HE MIGHT AS WELL ADMIT THAT BOTH OF DEM LAID DOWN A VERSE FOR THE SONG AND LIL WAYNE'S WAS BETTER SO YE DENIED HIS OW BIG BROTHER CUZ WEZZY LEFT THE SONG WITH BAND-AIDS LOL
I hate when people let there pet monkeys used their computers, they never turn off the damn caplock.
saying Wayne is better than Jay is like saying Cassidy is better than Nas
like they good BUT legends NEVER!
have u ever thought of ya real top ten...the only 2000 beyond artist would be there is Eminem!
YEA I THOUGHT ABOUT THE REAL TOP TEN AND LIL WAYNE ALWAYS GONNA BE #1 HE DONT EVEN HAVE TO PROOTE AN ALBUM WITH VIDEOS AND HE'S GONNA GO PLANTIUM
THIS DUDE HATEMEBYTCH IS A PUSSY ASS NIGGA AND ALWAYS THINK HIS OPINIONS ARE RIGHT I JUST HAD TO GRILL HIS ASS ON THE "CURTIS SELLS 2 MILLION WORLD WIDE" RUMOR....... DUDE GROW THE FUCK UP IF YOU WANNA TALK ABOUT THE MUSIC INDUSTRY THAN APPLY FOR VIBE OR XXL OR THE SOURCE MAGAZINE OR SUMTHING CUZ YOU AINT GONNA GET PAID TO POST SHYT ON DEFSOUND.COM........... STUPID
PLZ GOD LET ME HEAR WAT 50 GOTA SAY BOUT ALL THIS? lol retirement ?
Since Jay Z and Nas are coming out in the fourth quarter. They should do what Fif and Kanye did, do a battle. (Not no beef, just lyric battle). Both should come out the same day. With Nas Album (NIGGA) and Jay Z Album (American Gangster) I would definetly think that is another think that would be good for Hip Hop. "MORE UNITY". Sound scan will defintely have big numbers with these powerful artist coming out together. (PREDICATIONS : JAY Z - AMERICAN GANGSTER 1 MILLION SOLD WEEK NAS - NIGGA - 950,000 SOLD FIRST WEEK )
if that goes down it would be off the chains...
talk about a big day for Def Jam
hip hop is dead barely went platinum...now how is he gonna do 950,000 in the first week...hahaha
That was Hip Hop is dead album. Who was to say that Kanye West would do numbers like that and then to beat 50 cents. Who would have known. But NAS can sell those numbers by heavy promotion. Come on look what heavy promotion did for kanye West and 50 cents!
geeuuhh
FUCK JAYZ WACK ASS SELF!
Barry Bonds Is horrible! & Wayne was horrible on that shit!
J is off that shit, i really think that Kayne and def jam bought some of his albums, cause theres no way Kanye can beat 50, there is no fucking way. Because jay z said that 50 got 4 mill from vitamin water and he should have bought him some albums too, so what does that tell u !?
i dnt have much to say for fif. all that really comes to mind is that sometimes that cockiness doesnt win the battle. n the shit is embarrassing... all that shit talkin n then it jus backfires.