NME Festival Guide 2008
Glastonbury

Jay-Z goes head-to-head with Noel Gallagher at Glastonbury

Jay-Z Pic: PA Photos

There are no guests, but HOVA is in fighting form on Pyramid Stage

Jun 29, 2008
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Jay-Z headlined Glastonbury tonight (June 28) in front of one of the largest crowds the Pyramid Stage has ever seen.

The rapper tackled the controversy over his top slot billing head-on from the first moment of the set.

Before taking to the stage, the stage's video screens played Noel Gallagher's recent statement, "I don't want hip-hop at Glastonbury" (see below).

It ended with Gallagher saying, "Jay-Z? no fucking chance", as the rapper took to the stage and mimed along to Oasis' 'Wonderwall'.

He then launched straight into '99 Problems', which was spliced with AC/DC's 'Back In Black' guitar riff.

Introducing 'I Know', Jay-Z then told the crowd: "For those who didn't get the memo, I'm Jay-Z and I'm pretty awesome!"

The crowds booed as a big picture of US President George Bush appeared on the big screens, as Jay-Z then freestyled about the US government's slow response to Hurricane Katrina's impact on New Orleans and its effect on poorer black communities. He ended his rap with a definitive "fuck Bush".

A picture of Democratic hopeful Barack Obama then appeared on the screen, and Jay-Z dived into a version of 'Takeover'.

Following it with 'Dirt Off Your Shoulder', he then sampled John Carpenter's 'Assault On Precinct 13' soundtrack for 'Punjabi'.

"Shit, put some light back," asked Jay-Z after performing 'I Just Wanna Love U (Give It To Me)'.

"I can't see how many people are out there, everybody in the field make some noise! Shit this is too crazy, everybody in the field help me out."

He then set about getting the crowds and flags to sway together as he teed-up 'Excuse Me Miss', declaring "that's so beautiful out there".

Later, during 'Girls, Girls, Girls' the first real rap-a-long of the night kicked in, as the audience joined in with the chorus, before a freestyled rap followed, with Jay-Z rhyming: "Show me your knickers/I might let you do it if you don't tell the Mrs". He then added he was just "taking the piss".

Rihanna's 2007 worldwide smash 'Umbrella', co-written by the rapper, followed, with the singer's vocal played over the PA as Jay-Z added his rap live.

"So here we are, are you having a good time tonight?" he asked, ahead of 'Big Pimpin'', before demanding the crowd "make some noise" before he kicked the track off properly.

"So they say you guys don't want me to be here tonight," Jay-Z told the crowd during a pause between songs. "They say you're not into hip-hop, I've got one question - where's the love?"

A version of 'Heart Of The City (Ain't No Love)' followed, which sampled U2's 'Sunday Bloody Sunday'.

With the rapper declaring it was a "beautiful moment" he kicked into the Linkin Park version of 'Encore', although the band themselves were not present.

Despite intense speculation, there were no celebrity guests during the set, although the star's wife Beyonce Knowles watched from the side of the stage with festival organiser Michael Eavis.

Read Jay-Z's response to Noel Gallagher and headlining Glastonbury on NME.COM now.

Jay-Z played:

’Wonderwall’
'99 Problems'
'Is That Your Bitch'/'Smack My Bitch Up'/'Rehab'
'Takeover'
'U Don’t Know'
'Say Hello'
'Roc Boys'
'I Know'
'A Milli'
'Blue Magic'
'PSA'
'Dirt Off Your Shoulders'
'Jigga What'
'Izzo (HOVA)'
'Can I Get A'
'Punjabi'
'I Just Wanna Love U (Give It To Me)'
'Show Me What You Got'
'Excuse Me Miss'
'Song Cry'
'Girls, Girls, Girls'
'American Boy'
'Umbrella'
'Big Pimpin'
'Hard Knock Life
'Heart Of The City (U2 version)
'Encore'

Keep up with all the action from Glastonbury this weekend (June 27-29) as it happens on NME.COM. For news, pictures and blogs keep checking NME.COM's Glastonbury Festival page. Plus make sure you get next week's issue of NME on UK newsstands from July 2 for the ultimate Glastonbury review.

For even more Glastonbury coverage visit our sister site at Uncut.co.uk.

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Comments (10)

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noelbest

Jun 29, 2008

Jay-Z, Grow up you damn baby. Get over it and move on.

jbhitter24

Jun 29, 2008

what a douchebag. who goes to freaking england to push american politics? jay-z does not belong.go cry about it.

xraolibx

Jun 29, 2008

As an American who did not go to Glasto this year specifically because Jay Z was Sat nite headline, let me offer some thoughts:Lets be honest: there is nothing magical, nothing transcendent about Jay-Z. He is a fantastic entertainer, to be sure. And as a rapper, he is one of the best. HOWEVER, rap will never, ever have the ability that rock n roll has to take you out of yourself and create a "moment." I am pretty wasted right now so I am sure I am fucking this argument up and making no sense but, when all is said and done, rap is: msagonistic, violent and materialistic. Nothing that Jay-Z offers, as talented as he may be, can present the same opportunity for transcendence as a fantastic rock n roll band can. Why you ask? First off, rap is a medium based primarly on samples; i.e., the work of others. And what a fantastic indictment of 21st century music when someone who DOES NOT COMPOSE their own music headlines Glasto. Now look-I am not offering any other alternatives to Jay-z. For example, Oasis, in their current state, certainly do not offer anything resembling enough vibrant originality to qualify as a headline act over Jay-Z. But fuck that-just because no one else had yet to pick up the mantle dropped by the Roses or the Libs, that doesn't mean Jay-Z is the answer. He is Bull. Shit. There is nothing-I repeat nothing-rock and roll about Jay-Z. He endorses product lines-liquor and clothing. For fuck's sake, he owns part of a basketball team (New Jersey Nets.) I'm not saying Jay-Z hasn't made some amazing CDs (see Reasonable Doubt. Blueprint). What I am saying is: JZ is the wrong choice for Glasto. He is the wrong choice to the standard bearer for Rock n Roll. Materialism soaks everyone of his songs-he could not be further from a Cobain, a Vedder, a Doherty/Barat or even a Gallagher. This is not meant to be a list of who should have headlined over JZ. But it is meant to encourage everyone to take a look at JZ's body of work and question, regardless of what Emily. Michael or NME tell you, if Jay-Z and the vision of music as pure commerce, is what Glasto is all about.Thanks for endulging me....Have a great weekend everyone! R

noelbest

Jun 30, 2008

Jay-Z needs to grow up and let that go. Noel's message was taken out of context. Noel just thinks that Glastonbury should stay true to its roots by having mainly guitar based music. Noel thinks its a great place to go to listen to great rock bands from all over the world. Jay-z should be used to the media taking a comment and making it into something that its not. Its Noels preference to want only rock and roll at a festival that historically has been only guitar based music. You know, if a Keith Urban or The Dixie Chicks headlined a festival that historically has been rap-R&B, you all know that they would not be welcomed with open arms. Noel made a comment about his booking, boo hoo, it was just a comment about his booking. Jay-Z has made many comments about Noel. I think Jay-Z is a great artist, but he needs to grow up, not everyone wants to see him live and thats perfectly ok. We are aloud our opinions and preferences.

meg.rah15

Jun 30, 2008

I thought all of these comments would have been about Jay-Z and how great he was and his balls or something, but I'm glad I'm not the only one who thought this was ridiculous. He went too far, it's as simple as that. Like, okay, Noel made a comment, a 20 second comment or something on a fucking radio show, and Jay-Z now wants to put it all over the screens at Glasto and through the speakers? It was over-the-top and not in a good way. It made him look immature, especially after he articulated himself so well (NOT sarcasm) before the show about Noel's comments. He just went overboard, simple as that.xraolibx, I am also an American who didn't go to Glasto this year because of this. Glasto is a sort of escape for Americans (and I'm sure people from other countries, too) from rap music and stuff we see on American MTV 24 hours a day. To make Glasto about hip hop this year just seemed wrong to me, and really disappointed me.

meg.rah15

Jun 30, 2008

and also I thought it was ridiculous that he went to the UK to talk about politics, which he NEVER does over here in America. He had English people booing Bush and cheering for Barack (which is what I do all the time) but it was the wrong place to do it. How about you grow some balls Jay-Z and speak your mind over in OUR country, which is where stuff like that MATTERS.

fenton1990

Jun 30, 2008

Jay-Z's opening song just proved why a band like oasis should have been playing instead of him.

bamusbatisbarns

Jul 1, 2008

All these comments still going on about whether he is good or not, or right or not, and people commenting who didn't even go... I went, I was there in the field, with however many tens of thousands there were there, all of us dubious to start, but by the end, every single person I passed and talked to afterwards all agreed that it was one of the best shows of the whole event. I was doubtful about going, but he just pulled something amazingly special out the bag. I am not usually into hip hop, rap and all that jazz, but he just blew everyone away that gave him a chance. Glastonbury is one of the biggest festivals in the world because it is all inclusive, something for everyone. Manu Chao isn't "traditional Glastonbury", the Smiths weren't at the time, but they are all great musically. Glasto is progressing, for all the right reasons, and in all the right ways. Jay Z was given a chance, and pulled off something outstanding. Watch on your tv and criticise with a dubious mind, or just let go and just accept that music is music is music. And Glastonbury is music.

AlexG89

Jul 1, 2008

I thought the intro was pretty fuckin funny. Jay was clearly poking fun in a light hearted manner... I don't think he cares too much about the adversity. I daresay Noel would have pulled out something equally as tongue in cheek if someone had raised issue with Oasis.. or maybe not, maybe he'd have just told someone to fuck off.

jumbo999

Jul 1, 2008

Hang on a sec. Why doesn't he have the right to respond? As far as im aware Jay-Z hadnt made any previous comments on Noel's remarks. And i beleive it was tongue in cheek. You could tell that - well you could from where I was standing - maybe you didnt pick that up as YOU WATCHED IN ON FUCKING TELLY.Re the politics - well Glastonbury is a political event. The festival promotes environmental and human rights issues. The big screens between performers on the pyramid were constantly showing drop the debt and water aid campaigns. Thats politics dudes. Whether you like it or not. And Jay-Z's views on American politics are welcomed as far as i'm concerned. If you weren't affected by Hurricane Katrina, you have no soul. Simple as that. And whether you like it or not, American politics is important to us. You probably WATCHED IT ON THE FUCKING TELLY, cos you couldn't afford to go. America sneezes. We catch the cold. Watch the news. It's important.But the main thing is the show - which was excellent. Entertainment from start to finish. A lot of doubters had their minds changed. People around me were dancing like fuck. You don't go to any hip hop show to sing along to crowd pleasers. Why would you? Ever considered going to see Outkast and trying to keep up on the delivery of Ms Jackson. No chance. You go to DANCE. To shake your fucking ass. As i did. The Verve have the singalong Brit rock crowd-pleasers. Incidentally, I went to see them too, and sang my heart out. It is possible to do both you know.