Jay-Z: 'Glastonbury controversy is ridiculous'

Jay-Z

Rapper says hip-hop 'should be respected like any other art form'

Jun 20, 2008
18 Comments
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Jay-Z has hit out at critics of his headline slot at this year's Glastonbury Festival, branding their comments "ridiculous".

The rapper, who is set to perform on the festival's Pyramid Stage on June 28, also told his detractors that hip-hop should be respected like any other style of music.

Speaking to Tim Westwood on BBC Radio 1, Jay-Z said: "It's ridiculous, if we don't embrace what is new, then how do we progress? I've never actually experienced anything like that before. It's 2008, what is that about? That's such old school thinking, that's not even how the world thinks anymore. So I was really taken aback.

"I think that hip-hop is music and an art form, it's poetry and it should be accepted and respected like any other art form. It's just coming from a different perspective."

Jay-Z added: "I listen to all types of music and that's what should happen, that's what the world should be about, mixing culture. There's only good music and bad music."

High-profile stars have criticised Jay-Z's headline placing, including Oasis' Noel Gallagher, who called the decision "wrong", and Dizzee Rascal, who claimed that the rapper doesn't have the "crossover element" of musicians like Kanye West and Eminem.

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Comments (18)

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DaddySangBass

Jun 23, 2008

I'll be there, knee deep in mud, as I have been for all the other Rick Rubin produced artists who have never failed to rock like fun, whatever the genre. Well said Jay-Z!

okcomputeristhebest

Jun 23, 2008

There's only good music and bad music and hip-hop is bad music.

Jordan C

Jun 23, 2008

Glastonbury has always been known for all sorts of music as there is more than the three main stages to see acts at. Jay Z puts on a good show and just because he isn't a rock god shouldn't mean he gets dismissed.The problem is as much to do with the over commercialisation of Glastonbury than anything else. Jay Z headlining simply compounded it for glastoheads who have decided to stay away this year!

thomasclarke17

Jun 23, 2008

I agree, Glasto is supposed to be known for its diversity so why such uproar? Jay-Z is a very successful artist, respected and known globally to be a good musician and performer, his musical genre shouldn't really be an issue for the Glasto crown and their "open minds".

thebeaver123

Jun 23, 2008

liam gallagher should butt that monkey every where oasis are the kings

Barcroft

Jun 23, 2008

I am not a fan of Jay-Z but it doesn't mean to say I think different types of music shouldn't be allowed at Glasto. I don't understand what the problem is. If you don't want to go and see him at Glasto then go to a different stage. The headliners are not the be-all and end-all, they are from it!

Hannah_Smith_

Jun 23, 2008

Jay Z is gonna be amazing. Just because he isn't what people consider to be an obvious headliner, they are critizing it. But he is so entertaining as a rapper, and if it weren't for him people like Kanye West wouldn't even have a career.People don't know what they're talking about he'll be amazing

crisspey

Jun 23, 2008

Imagine if Radiohead was headlining a hip hop/rap festival... Do you think people would "embrace" them? No chance. I'm not sure why he's "taken aback" and acting so surprised.

qcardy

Jun 23, 2008

he's absolutely right, only good music and bad music....why doesn't he understand that his is bad music?

LiamCottrellAcoustic

Jun 23, 2008

Personally, I think that for the rest of time, Glastonbury's line up should be: Friday - Coldplay (10 hour set), Saturday - Radiohead (10 hour set), Sunday - Oasis (10 hour set). There will be only these three bands. No other genres will be considered. There will be only one stage, other than a small tent where purveyors of non guitar/indie music will be ritualistically sacrificed to the Gods of John, Paul, Ringo and George. So endeth the lesson.

GonePhysco

Jun 23, 2008

I really don't get all this controversy. Jay Z is one of the best artists around at the moment. I'm sure that the people making all this fuss have never heard one of his albums. It's just snobbery and elitism, people seem to have it in their heads that rock is the purest of all music. I can't make it to Glastonbury but I look forward to watching it on tv, especially Jay Z. People should just get off their high horses and give the man a chance, they might be pleasantly surprised.

wonkeykong

Jun 23, 2008

its ridiculous to cuss glasto fans for not being open to new types of music - the artists and fans alike are as diverse as you can get. every genre is represented - in fact if you look closely enough there's a rapper playing in the park who was such an important part of the scene in the 80s and 90s, to some real hiphop fans he's a lot more influential (kool keith from the ultramagnetic MCs). the difference here is that jay z is universally considered to be shite, both musically and content-wise. the issue isn't even with hiphop - if an artist was decent, he'd get recognised regardless of genre, with glasto at the fore-front of picking up new emerging talent. look at dizzee rascal, emerged from the east london grime garage scene but embraced by indie kids just as much. jay z makes awful music and is the epitome of the fake gangsta westwood shizzle that everyone with sense hates. who is willing to sleep in a tent, walk around in wellies and crap in a steel chamber for the best part of a week only to be told by some noncey twat that he has ice and bling and spaced out rims. maybe in the fancy mayfair clubs, but that shit dont swing with festival fans. how can he consider himself to be on the same pedestal as radiohead etc? all he does is recycle lyrics over another man's looped, sampled beat.how can he refer to hiphop as new in his argument? its been going for 30 years and has been well established in the charts and mainstream for about 20-odd years.house/dance music is newer and has been embraced by glasto for some time. and anyone who has ever encountered a rap fan knows how closed-minded they are when it comes to music, rap heads are infamous for being unreceptive to every other type of music, for all the rap fans i know, only about 7% ever bother to listen to anything outside the 'urban' umbrellain his own head, he is the greatest artist ever to walk this earth, sadly no amount of booing and shouting on saturday will change his egotistic view.....but we'll have fun bottling his with warm piss!

blakboy1212

Jun 24, 2008

Jay-z is such a terrible rapper. I dont care about his fame or fortune. He has no substance lyrically. He does'nt make his own beats.

AdamShanklyUK

Jun 24, 2008

Thebeaver123... "Liam Gallagher should butt that monkey everywhere..."Regardless of what you think about his music, why did you have to bring in racist comments. Completely uncalled for and totally unacceptable. TheBeaver123 has just confirmed exactly what I suspected Oasis fans were like... racists.

xraybaby

Jun 24, 2008

This whole story stinks of thinly veiled white middle class racism. What i want to know is whether these idiots are also going to go and bottle Jimmy Cliff, Massive Attack, Lightspeed Champion, Eddy Grant and the countless other black artists performing across the stages? Don't hide your hatred behind the name of hip-hop - stand up and speak the truth, if you have the balls. If you don't get the whole concept of diversity then you shouldn't be at Glastonbury.

Totti The King

Jun 24, 2008

'There's only good music and bad music and hip-hop is bad music.'This from someone called 'okcomputer...' Move on loser. Jay-Z's got more soul than Thom Yorke will ever have

glasto05

Jun 24, 2008

J-Zee stated hip-hop is an art form & is poetry. Well why doesn't J-Zee headline in the Poetry Tent at Glasto instead where he maybe appreciated more? He states hip-hop should be respected. I wonder if he realises that respect is earned & not an automatic given right just cos he sings.(poetry) In an interview with Westwood he says that music should be about all kinds/types, & he tends to listen to all types, then contradicts himself by saying "there's only good and bad music." So what is the bad type of music then J-Zee? Good & Bad music only makes 2x types to me. J-Zee is critical of others who say hip-hop is not for Glastonbury, yet he is saying there is "Bad Music." Why can he state this & others can't? J-Zee's agent also stated that J-Zee is to venture around the festival site prior to his performance, to get a feel of the place but he will not be visiting the Stone Circle as Hippies is not his thing. Well all I can say is, this man is not helping himself by speaking out publicly like this, he's digging himself one big hole. After all the critics are not saying his music (hip-hop) is bad, what they are saying is, it's just not for Glastonbury Festival.

Bluered319

Jun 28, 2008

If Bob Marley or Jimmy Hendrix were alive today, would Noel Gallagher really have anything to say? I would dare him in this day and age, to come up with such a simplest comment to their faces. Is that as controversial as he can really get? Not everyone who has played at Glastonbury has held a guitar in their hand Noel; look back at the history of the festival. And if his â€˜debateâ€™ is about being a true â€˜Britâ€™, well R.E.M, White Strips or Nona Hendryx to name a few, are not British. So, sit down, dry your eyes, break bread and get off your ego, id and the superego, super star trip. Peace Glastonbury lovers, one love.