[Video] Jay Z Talks Commercialization, Competion & More With Elliott Wilson

While this summer has seen it's fair share of Hip Hop releases from the likes of J. Cole, Kanye, Wale, and Mac Miller, Jay-Z's Magna Carta Holy Grail has proven to be the biggest. With first week sales of 528,000 --not including the 1 million copies sold to Samsung weeks before it release-- and the first rap album to hit #1 on Billboard two weeks in a row, Jay has a lot to be proud of.

After giving The Breakfast Club and Angie Martinez a moment of his time with a pair of very telling interviews, Jay Z sat down with Rap Radar's Elliot Wilson to discuss #FactsOnly. Watch Part 1 below as Jay discusses his love for art, performing at Yankee stadium, and more.


Part 2 after the jump!

[Music Video] Bridget Kelly ft. Kendrick Lamar - "Street Dreamin"

Almost more exciting than my two favorite artists Bridget Kelly and Kendrick Lamar crafting a track together is the fact that Roc Nation is actually giving the amazing vocalist a real push leading up to her debut album. "Street Dreamin" has been doing well on Atlanta radio, and now the Clifton Bell directed visual has premiered on VEVO. Watch the video to "Street Dreamin" below, which was shot in my home state of NC. Greensboro, I see ya!



Shout out the Bruhz as well!

Previously:

• Bridget Kelly ft. Kendrick Lamar - "Street Dreamin"
• Black Hippy - "U.O.E.N.O." (Remix) + G.K.M.C. Tour Dates

[Album Stream] J. Cole - 'Born Sinner'

A Dollar And A Dream Secret Show Dates & Cities

Much like the reactive strategy used for Cole World: The Sideline Story, J. Cole and his team responded quickly to the leak of his sophomore album Born Sinner with the launch of an official stream of the project. At the end of the day, whether you grab the leaked version or not, this is just one of those albums that you should purchase based on sheer quality alone.  June 18, 2013.

Stream Born Sinner below!


Previously: J. Cole ft. TLC - "Crooked Smile"

J. Cole ft. TLC - "Crooked Smile"

For every "Feds Watchin," there should be a "Crooked Smile." J. Cole, never one to shy away from substance, tackles deep subject matter while cracking a few jokes on himself in the process.

I know you (and clearly Cole himself) have seen the Cole World eyebrow and dental slander, and to make a single that superficially references his aesthetic flaws is genius. Let's not forget that J. Cole tapped T-Boz and Chili, R&B artists cemented in history, to contribute their vocals to the inspirational "Crooked Smile."

Cole's Born Sinner will battle Kanye's Yeezus on June 18th. With "Power Trip," "Niggas Know" and now this on the tracklist, my money's on NC's finest....




Previously: [FreEP] J. Cole - 'Truly Yours 2'

[FreEP] J. Cole - 'Truly Yours 2'

J. Cole put the internet on pause Monday when he dropped off the freebie "Cole Summer," and to keep the momentum leading up to the June 25th release of Born Sinner high, Cole presents the second installment of his Truly Yours EP series for his fans.

On TY2 J. Cole surprisingly hands off the production duties on a few songs-- Canei Finch ("Westside Right On Time," "The Jig Is Up (Dump'n)" and the highly accomplished Jake One each lent their talents. Stream the project below, which features Young Jeezy, 2 Chainz and Bas.

Download: J. Cole - Truly Yours

[Music Video] J. Cole ft. Miguel - "Power Trip"

J. Cole is one of those artists you can always depend on. Even if he's dropping a record made for radio or the club, there will always be a deeper meaning or feel to the track than your average hit.

J. Cole takes his new single "Power Trip" a step further with the Nabil and Mike Piscitelli directed visuals. Watch below as he and Miguel meet under unfortunate circumstances back in Cole's hometown of Fayetteville, NC.

Born Sinner is currently slated to hit stores on June 25!



As a bonus, hit the jump to see J. Cole and Miguel perform "Power Trip" together for the first time during Miguel's latest show at Brooklyn's Barclays Center.

Kendrick Lamar ft. Jay-Z - "Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe" (Remix)

First previewed at SXSW by Young Guru (video after the jump), Kendrick Lamar is joined by his former Def Jam boss on the remix to good kid, m.A.A.d city favorite "Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe." Listen below as Jay-Z goes back to his rapid fire flow of his early days while Kendrick demolishes his two verses.


Kendrick Lamar ft. Jay-Z - "Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe" (Remix) Lyrics

Hit the jump to watch Young Guru break the record at SXSW.

[Music Video] French Montana ft. J. Cole & Rick Ross - "Diamonds"

French Montana's been busy promoting his upcoming debut album, but he showcases the standout from his mixtape Mac & Cheese 3 as J. Cole and Rick Ross join him in the visuals to "Diamonds."

J. Cole ft. Miguel - "Power Trip"

"Miss America" was a nice introduction to Born Sinner, but J. Cole's finally put out the single that he'll hopefully be riding comfortably with through radio waves for quite some time.

Check out his new single "Power Trip" featuring Miguel, which serves as retribution for Cole's assistance on Miguel's debut "All I Want Is You."



Previously:

• J. Cole - "Truly Yours" [FreEP]
• [Video] Miguel & Wiz Khalifa Perform "Adorn" At the 55th Annual Grammy Awards

J. Cole - "Truly Yours" [FreEP]

Can you say best surprise ever????

J. Cole's been pretty lowkey regarding his next moves musically, but today he took to his blog DreamVillian to release the EP Truly Yours. Peep the letter to his fans after the jump!

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Alt Download (Sendspace)

[Music Video] Melanie Fiona - "Wrong Side Of A Love Song" (Co-starring Omari Hardwick)

There's way too much fine in this video for my eyes to handle. And to make things more difficult, Larenz Tate was behind the camera directing the action in Melanie Fiona's latest video for "Wrong Side Of A Love Song."

Watch below as she reflects on a love lost, and hit the jump to view the amount of chemistry Melanie and her on screen beau Omari Hardwick had while shooting. The MF Life is in stores now!

Bridget Kelly ft. Meek Mill - "In The Morning" (Remix)

I had the pleasure of meeting Roc Nation talent Bridget Kelly last week, and was pleased to hear that "In The Morning" would be one of the few tracks from her Every Girl EP to make it on to her debut album. The Ne-Yo penned track is something all of us drunk dialers can relate to, and to take the single to the next level, Bridget recruited Roc companion Meek Mill for the remix.

Stream the remix to "In The Morning" below, and make sure you request her single "Special Delivery" at your local radio stations. Her new album is CRAZY.

Bridget Kelly & I at her Atlanta meet & greet at Kandi's TAGS II store. (01-26-13)

Previously:

• Bridget Kelly - "Special Delivery" [Music Video]
• Juelz Santana ft. Meek Mill, Rick Ross & Fabolous - "Soft"

[Music Video] Santigold - "Girls"

Santigold, her dope dancers, and NYC represent for all the "Girls" out there in the visuals to the title track of the HBO series' official soundtrack. This video's sure to make you laugh, and appreciate all the shapes, colors and sizes we women come in.

Be sure to catch Girls every Sunday at 9PM Eastern time, and purchase the indie soundtrack HERE on iTunes. (If you're against Lena Dunham nudity on every episode, let us stand together!)


Directed by Weird Days

[Brooklyn Vegan]

Previously: Santigold - The Keepers [Music Video]

Casey Veggies - "Fuck Witchu"

Casey Veggies plans to hit us with his debut studio album Life Changes on January 22nd.  Along with releasing a promo video for the project, he dropped "Fuck Witchu," a freebie produced by Terrence Clayton.

Elijah Blake - Bijoux 22 [FreEP]

If you're not familiar with Elijah Blake as the songwriter behind Keyshia Cole's "Enough Of No Love," Usher's "Climax," and more, don't worry. You'll get familiar soon.

The Roc Nation signed songwriter also has a promising career as an artist, being featured on "Presidential," one of the standouts from Rick Ross' God Forgives, I Don't. Get more of a feel for who Mr. Blake is on a more personal level as he presents his new EP Bijoux 22, which further shows how deep of a roster No I.D.'s Artium/Def Jam collective is.

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Bridget Kelly - "Special Delivery" [Music Video]

I may not be a woman scorned, but there's plenty to appreciate about Bridget Kelly's "Special Delivery." The songstress, who's been signed to Roc Nation since 2008, is finally getting the recognition I feel she's deserved for years as she took to BET to present the visuals to the powerful ballad.

Watch the video below and be sure to download her latest project Every Girl if you're not familiar.


[Rap-Up]

Previously: Bridget Kelly - Special Delivery

J. Cole - I'm A Fool

J. Cole gave us a first listen of "I'm A Fool" at Rock The Bells, and he utilized a creative release strategy by allowing a fan to premiere the track on Twitter. Cole's been on a tear lately, murdering guest features for Big Sean, Lil Wayne and DJ Khaled, and I'm so glad to have some new solo J. Cole to ride to.

Stream the Cee-Lo and Melanie Fiona sampled "I'm A Fool" below, and hit the comments with your thoughts! I'm back Gangstas!!!

J. Cole - "I'm A Fool" Lyrics

[2DB]

Previously: Rita Ora ft. J. Cole - Love & War

Rihanna ft. A$AP Rocky - Cockiness (I Love It) (Remix)

Rihanna and A$AP Rocky first met at Coachella and rumors surfaced that the two were dating. That may or may not have been true, but what is true is that they hit the studio to remix one of Talk That Talk's most addicting records. Listen below as Rocky sets off "Cockiness" with a new verse, and hit the comments with your thoughts on the remix."



[CoS]

Previously:

• Rihanna Brings Out Jay-Z Live At Hackney Weekend [VIDEO]
• A$AP Mob - Lord$ Never Worry [New Mixtape]

Jay Electronica Performs At The Made In America Festival [VIDEO]

Jay Electronica is certainly the most illusive member of the Roc Nation family, but he came out to the Made In America Festival and shut s*it down. Watch below as he performs "Exhibit A" and "Exhibit C" and cross your fingers that Act II: Patents of Nobiliity is really hitting stores this year.



[Yardie]

Previously: Jay Electronica – Dear Moleskine (prod. Just Blaze)

Jay-Z - Made In America Festival (Full Set) [VIDEO]

This weekend was all about Jay-Z and Budweiser's 1st annual Made In America Festival, and who else closed out the 2 day festival than Hov himself? Courtesy of Yardie, check out Jay-Z's full set below, which included a message from President Obama, a surprise performance from State Property, Memphis Bleek and more! Bet you'll be in Philly next year. I'm definitely gonna try.



Previously: Rick Ross ft. Dr. Dre & Jay-Z - 3 Kings [Music Video]