Jay-Z: Encyclopedia II - Jay-Z - Later years

Jay-Z - Later years

In 2003, Jay-Z toured with 50 Cent, Busta Rhymes and Sean Paul while finishing work on what was announced as his final album, The Black Album (debuted #1). The album featured the Top 10 singles "Change Clothes" and "Dirt Off Your Shoulder," one of a number of Jay-Z singles produced by Timbaland. The Black Album featured many respected producers including Rick Rubin and Kanye West who has now distinguished himself as a popular (although sometimes criticized) rapper in his own right. The Black Album was an autobiographic album which took Jay-Z "from Marcy to Madison Square."

In 2004, an a capella special edition of The Black Album (which sported a red CD cover) was released with the intention of allowing others to create remixes. The most controversial of the ensuing remixes was by DJ Danger Mouse, entitled "The Grey Album." It combined the a capella version with instrumental samples of The Beatles' White Album. DJ Danger Mouse was sent a cease and desist order from EMI, The Beatles' record company, due to illegal sampling. As a result, many copies were destroyed and an original is now a rare find.

On November 25, 2003, Jay-Z held a legendary concert at Madison Square Garden, which would later be the focus of his film Fade to Black. This concert was his "retirement party." All proceeds went to charity. Other performers included The Roots, Missy Elliott, Memphis Bleek, Beanie Siegel, Freeway, Mary J. Blige, Beyonce, Twista, Ghostface Killah, Foxy Brown, Pharrell and R.Kelly with special appearances by Voletta Wallace and Afeni Shakur, the mothers of Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac Shakur. The concert was viewed the culmination of one of the greatest rap careers of all time and was the first all rap concert that Madison Square Garden allowed in years.

Jay-Z and R. Kelly released a follow up to their Best of Both Worlds album in October 2004 entitled Unfinished Business (debuted #1), which includes 11 previously unreleased tracks by the duo. This release was timed to coincide with the Best of Both Worlds Tour, which played half of its dates before R. Kelly was booted off the tour in November 2004 after his unpredictable and unprofessional behavior. The tour was then changed to "Jay-Z and Friends" and completed its run with artists such as P.Diddy, Mary J. Blige, T.I., Busta Rhymes, and fellow members of the ROC accompanying Jay-Z.

On June 18, 2004, Jay-Z appeared live with the jam band Phish at KeySpan Park in Brooklyn, performing some of his hit singles with the band while the "jam-band hippie" audience sang along - a defining moment of Jay-Z's popularity.

On November 30, 2004, Jay-Z released Collision Course, a collaboration with Linkin Park. It features remixes of songs from the rock band's two studio albums, Meteora and Hybrid Theory; and also several from the rapper's albums including his latest, The Black Album. It debuted at #1 in the US Billboard Album Charts, #12 in Australia and #38 in the UK. The lead single "Numb/Encore" debuted at #14 in the UK, and remained on the charts for nearly six months.

On January 3, 2005, Jay-Z was appointed the new President and CEO of Def Jam Recordings. Damon Dash had left Roc-a-Fella Records in late 2004 to pursue other ventures; the label will be retained as a Def Jam imprint.

On July 2, 2005, Jay-Z made an appearance at Live 8 with Linkin Park performing songs from Collision Course and the song "Public Service Announcement".

ON October 27, 2005, Jay-Z performed at New York's Power 105.1 annual concert, Powerhouse. He had previously announced that he would "declare war" on other rappers taking subliminal shots at him. Surprisingly, he ended his famous beef with Nas, bringing him on stage to do the chorus to Jay-Z's song, "Dead Presidents." Nas also performed songs of his own. Also present on stage was P. Diddy and The Lox, who had a simmering beef relating to The Lox departure from Bad Boy Records. Rappers Freeway and Beanie Sigel jumped on stage as well, along with Kanye West, Sauce Money, Paul Wall, Teairra Mari, Young Jeezy, T.I., Peedi Crack, and Memphis Bleek. The last time Jay-Z declared war, he went at Nas and Prodigy of Mobb Deep on the song "Takeover" at Hot 97's annual concert Summer Jam. Jay-Z also performed for Philadelphia radio station Power 99 on October 28, at the Wachovia Center.

In December 2005, it was reported that wrestler Diamond Dallas Page filed a lawsuit against Jay-Z for illegally adopting the "Diamond Cutter" symbol as his own. Currently Jay-Z is working on his new label Roc-A-Fella West (the west coast branch of Roc-A-Fella records) and his new artist Immense. There is also heavy speculation that he may come out his "retirement" to record & release a new album in 2006, 10 years after his 1st album was released. However, this is only speculation as nothing has been confirmed or denied, though Kanye West 'let it slip' that he is producing for Jay-Z in '06 on MTV's New Years show.

In January 2006, rapper Cam'ron released a song titled "You Got to Love It", attacking Jay-Z. He claimed Jay-Z was born in 1968, making him 37 years old as of 2006, and he insulted Jay-Z's attire. Cam'ron also suggests Jay-Z stole Kanye West, Roc-A-Fella and Rocawear from Damon Dash's new entertainment company. The allegations claim that beef arose when Damon Dash wanted to appoint Cam'ron Rocafella's president in Jay's absense. Cam'ron went on to claim that the "I Declare War Concert" in October was originally aimed at him and his crew, but lacking damaging photographic evidence, Jay bypassed those plans and went on to make it more of an olive branch venue than a new theatre of war.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Later years", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki