For all the love, devotion and accolades heaped on Shawn Corey Carter, better known in the hip-hop world as Jay-Z, he keeps his public remarks to a minimum.
But in the rare interviews he has given of late, Jay-Z has made it clear that President-elect Barack Obama is an idol of his.
“Rosa Parks sat so that Martin could walk. Martin walked so Obama could run. Obama is running so we all could fly,” goes a slogan attributed to Jay-Z.
Indeed Jay-Z and his wife Beyonce were both expected to give several area performances prior to and following Obama’s Inauguration, to show their support of his presidency. Although many of those performances will be invitation-only or have already sold out, 1,847 fans in Washington, D.C., have a chance to attend what promoters call a “once-in-a-lifetime, up-close-and-personal concert,” by Jay-Z.
True to form, Jay-Z declined interviews in advance of this show. Ever since the one-time chief executive of Def Jam Recordings and Roc-A-Fella Records made a 2003 retirement announcement, he’s conducted few interviews. That’s remained true even since his 2006 comeback with the album “Kingdom Come.” In fact, it was months before either Jay-Z or his bride would confirm their April 4, 2008, nuptials.
But, really, who can blame the man who grew up in some of the poorest projects of New York’s Bedford-Stuyvesant and honed his musical skills to become one of the wealthiest, most highly regarded hip-hop artists of our time? Perhaps his thoughts might be summed up in the lyrics he wrote: “I’m not a Businessman, I’m a Business … man. Let me handle my business, damn!”
For a good part of the past year, Jay-Z’s business was getting political during concerts, leaving no doubt that he was an Obama supporter.
No matter what you think about Jay-Z’s political statements or the way he expresses them, it’s clear the music community and fans are glad he stepped away from the business side of music and back into the spotlight where he truly shines.
“There were no faults, no missteps,” wrote Jed Heneberry, managing editor of Boston Music Spotlight, of the Jay-Z show performed with Mary J. Blige the same day Jay-Z inked a $150 million deal with Live Nation. “The show’s production values were top-notch, the backing bands were superbly musical, and the crowd had high energy throughout … thanks to Jay’s $150 million deal, we can look forward to nights like this for years to come.”
If You Go
Jay-Z
When: 8 p.m. tonight
Where: Warner Theatre, 13th St., Between E & F streets NW
Details: $100 to $500, a limited number of VIP tickets that include a pre-concert reception will be available; 202-397-7328; ticketmaster.com
