“The Blueprint 3 Was The Most Difficult Album That I’ve Ever Made”
GENERAL By Gotty™ on January 14, 2010 at 8:27 pm
I can already hear the bags rustling as you reach for tomatoes to throw. But this excerpt of Hovito’s sitdown with Interview gives a fuller explanation than the headline depicts. The whole interview is actually a good read if you have time to kill today.
Mitchell: If you think about all the guys in hip-hop that you came up with, you’re one of the only ones who is still here—and part of the reason is that a lot of those guys didn’t break out of that box you’re talking about. In fact, most of them are still in it.
Jay-Z: I think a big part of that is insecurity. You know, successful people have a bigger fear of failure than people who’ve never done anything because if you haven’t been successful, then you don’t know how it feels to lose it all. You don’t have that fear. So why do you think people get stuck in those boxes? It’s that fear of going back down. “I had success. I had a number one record. I had a number one album. I have to make this kind of record again or else I’m going to lose it all.” So that’s how you end up making the same song over and over. People find their zone, a place that’s comfortable, and they say, “I’m not gonna try that other thing. What if I fail? Then I’ll have to go back! What if I can’t get in the club anymore?” [both laugh] It’s difficult for me as well. The Blueprint 3 was the most difficult album that I’ve ever made.
Mitchell: Why is that?
Jay-Z: Well, what I was trying to do with this album—which is the same thing I was trying to do on Kingdom Come [2006]—is go somewhere that hadn’t been gone before, to try to chart a new territory in rap. The reason I’ve been grounded, though, and able to make albums, is because I’ve allowed my friends to come with me and voice an opinion. That’s who keeps you grounded—the people who have known you longest. People who don’t know you, you don’t know their motives. They smile at you all day, “Oh, that’s great. You’ve done it again! You’re the greatest!” And that’s not good for an artist. You’ve gotta keep the people that have been around you, who saw you when you didn’t have anything, so they have the confidence to say, “Get out of here. That shit is bullshit!” I welcome that.
[Via]
Posted in GENERAL — Tags: Interview Magazine, Jay-Z, The Blueprint 3
21 Comments
Hov!
next step, Jay-Z/Coldplay fusion ish
pssshh, not nearly as difficult as getting him back in the studio with Primo.
what, he can kick a freestyle over Snoop’s song that’s been out for months, but he can’t…man, never mind. dead horse.
amp hate coming in 3,2,1..
good thing this interview is in print.
On camera, it’s so evident his responses are measured & calculated. VERY political. I wonder about his sincerity sometimes, and one is less likely to question that when it’s lost in translation in print form
Power to him, maybe he realises that what he did on Kingdom Come and Blueprint 3 wasn’t his best work, but he’s done it all… The way I see it, the way he snuck American Gangster in there is proof he’s currently the best doing it, considering it’s in my opinion his third best piece of work (Reasonable Doubt, Black Album… I don’t rate the Blueprint like most people.)
Whats this I hear about a kerry hilson nipslip?
^ that’s what I’m tryna see right there, fuck the bullshit
BP3 was a good album. That’s it. Nothing to write home about though. Definitely had some bangers though: Already Home, Thank You…ok, two bangers.
I used to be the biggest Jay fan in the world but I don’t know if I started expecting too much from him or I just outgrew his music. His stuff doesn’t move me anymore.
Ah well…”on to the next one”
“his responses are measured & calculated. VERY political.”
Couldn’t agree more, this dude is all about business. He’s wants to be respected as an “ARTEEST” and not another rapper with a buncha cash. He wants the respect of the MMoA crowd so he can get them on his jock too.
Couldn’t agree more, this dude is all about business. He’s wants to be respected as an “ARTEEST” and not another rapper with a buncha cash. He wants the respect of the MMoA crowd so he can get them on his jock too.
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Why else would he be doing an interview with Interview Mag? LOL
*Yawn*
This album was not nearly as good as all the press about it warrants.
Not even close.
You’ve gotta keep the people that have been around you, who saw you when you didn’t have anything, so they have the confidence to say, “Get out of here. That shit is bullshit!” I welcome that.
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With that being said, why cut ties with Dame Dash??? I feel that Jay was making better music when Dame was present (American Gangster being the only exception).
***Throws first tomato***
Man this interview is so false.
Why does he pretend his albums are so “different”? They aren’t. He works with the same producers that everyone else does!
The reason I’ve been grounded, though, and able to make albums, is because I’ve allowed my friends to come with me
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Dame, Biggs and some others aint with him. He just dissed a dead rapper who contributed some of his best lines. Like Bleek realy gonna speak outta turn..uh huh riiight. sit down Jay
Jay is like one of the grumpy old men of hip-hop…
He just dissed a dead rapper who contributed some of his best lines.
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^Eh come off that. The lines are already drawn in the sand with Jay-Z. Either you like him at this point in his career or you don’t. Saying he’s dissing Biggie with that line, though? If it suits you I guess.
Just tell me why, after all these years of championing B.I.G., he would diss him now?
And I agree with your statement Teef. Jay has always come off real measured and calculated. But so do a lot of other big artists (The Notorious D.R.E. is the first to come to mind). Truthfully as far as images go I’d rather take that extreme over someone like Cudi’s antics or Kanye in bitchmode.
Like I said though, either you like Hove 3.0 or you don’t.
Kingdome come 2 available on I tunes now…
On camera, it’s so evident his responses are measured & calculated. VERY political. I wonder about his sincerity sometimes, and one is less likely to question that when it’s lost in translation in print form
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He’s my favorite rapper but THIS was spot on. Well said.
What other rapper can have the internet buzzing with one line from an average verse. Agree with his statements the problem with our culture is that we don’t applaud success. Jay went overground and no matter how many ubits hip hop artists sell they aren’t really welcomed into the rock and roll fraternity as Jay has been.
“On camera, it’s so evident his responses are measured & calculated.”
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I for one believe that is a lost art.
Case in point? Twitter.
Another example? How rappers (and people in general) say whatever comes to mind. I have learned that not only in this business, but also in life, that it is far wiser to be careful with your words.
It can many times even save your life – forget money, fame, and power – how valuable a trait is that?
Anyone can say whatever pops into their head, but bite your tongue… think about what you say before saying it, and you will find one of the most difficult things to do in life.
Being careful with your words, in my opinion, is a trait of the wise and invokes longevity in many aspects and regards.
Feel free to disagree. But I would rather someone think about what they say… than to be subject to those whom do not and end up doing things such as this:
http://cdn.tss.uproxx.com/TSS/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/chris-brown-tweets.jpg
And that is just one fine example.
“The Blueprint 3 Was The Most Difficult Album That I’ve Ever Made”
^^^
Word?
****rEAL ANNONYMOUS*****
Couldnt have said it better myself duke..
Sometimes I feel like its nothing but 13 year olds on a playgorund here
With tens of millions of dollars at stake, you cant be talking shit to cameras like youre in a room full of family.. everyone and anyone will snake you so you have to play the role
Malcolm Gladwell said in WHAT THE DOG SAW that the truth lies in the middle of organizations, not at the top, because the top dogs have too much to lose… the folks in the middle know the nitty gritty and dont have the supreme-ruler-role to lose from NOT being calculated
ya diggg