0 Director Of "On To The Next One" Speaks on Video's Controversial Imagery + Jay-Z Addresses Illuminati Claims

The Jay-Z/Illuminati theories aren't anything new. In fact, it seems ever since HOV got his money right and started throwing the diamond up, conspiracy theorists have speculated about his possible involvement in a secret society. On new years day 2010, however, rumors of Jay-Z's Illuminati involement soared to new heights after the release of his video for "On To The Next One" Ft Swizz Beatz. Within hours of the videos release, conspiracy theorists began running wild citing the videos abstract imagery as "the smoking gun", proving Jay-Z's ties to Freemasons, Illuminati, Secret Societies etc. Sam Brown, the videos director recently spoke with Vibe to clear the air:

There’s been a lot of talk about Jay’s video containing Freemason imagery such as the horned animal head, an eagle and skull. What are your thoughts about such talk and why do you think music fans are so quick to believe a conspiracy narrative?

I’m aware of the stir the video has caused and what people are saying. I think when you’re dealing in abstract imagery people are going to want to draw lines between things and make sense of it. However, I’ve always felt that the viewing public was, in general, extremely visually literate. They don’t always want or need things to be spelt out for them. One of the great things about music videos are they can be enjoyed purely visually—it doesn’t need to mean anything or make any sense. Conspiracy theory is another thing entirely, and seems to me to be about projecting pre-existing beliefs and desperately looking for things that confirm them. There is imagery in this video that is drawn from all over the place. None of it is owned by any one culture or belief system. You can connect anything if you try hard enough, and make it mean anything you want it to.

In addition, Jay-Z himself denied any connections to any secret societies and even discussed his views on religion during a pair of interviews with Ed Lover and Angie Martinez, which can be heard below.

(On Angie Martinez Fast Forward To about 2 minutes)

(On Ed Lover fast Forward to 4:00)

So there you have is folks.... "Jay-Z Conspiracy Theories" #WeoffThat


Props RR for the Audio

0 Jay-Z Ft. Swizz Beatz “On To The Next One” (Music Video)

Peace out 2009, we on to the next one!!! Happy New Year!

0 Kanye West In The Studio Making "A Star Is Born"

KanYe making Everyday A Star is Born for Blueprint 3 from Dillaman on Vimeo.

Dillaman showed me this footage a few months prior to the release of Jay-Z's Blueprint 3. I wasn't sure if it was going to end up on BP3, but I knew the instrumental was knocking.Here we find Ye in the studio with GLC, Really Doe, Don C, Shon Bonds and others previewing the track before it was completed. I think I like it better in this form, actually......

Props FSD

0 Jay-Z Ft. Alicia Keys - Empire State Of Mind (Music Video)

0 Jay-Z & Alicia Keys Perform Empire State of Mind Live at Yankees Stadium (Video)

Jay-Z makes history as the 1st rapper to ever to perform at the World Series!!!

0 J COLE INTERVIEW W/ STRAIGHT SPITTAS DVD

J. Cole Talks staying focused, his appearance on BP3 and names some of the new artists he is feeling....

0 Jay-Z : Answer The Call Concert @ MSG (Full Show)

Click Continue Entry For Part 2.

Props Yardie

Part 2

0 Jay-Z Speaks On The Blueprint 3 Leaking

MTV Shows

0 Empire State Of Mind Ft Alicia Keys + A Star Is Born Ft J. Cole

And...These will be my lasts leaks from The Blueprint 3. Go out and BUY the album!!!!

Jay-Z - Empire State Of Mind Ft. Alicia Keys

Jay-Z- A Star Is Born Ft J. Cole

0 Jay-Z Covers XXL's October Issue

Here are a few excerpts taken from Jay's interview with XXL:

ON CRITICISM OF “D.O.A.”
“I’m not hating on young people. Like, when people say that, I’m like, What are you talking about? It’s just stupid. I’m not hating on young people… I’m not Bill Russell, [saying] Michael Jordan ain’t shit. I’m saying Lil Wayne and Kanye are like LeBron and Kobe. My job as someone at the forefront of the game is to leave it in a better position than when I came in. Same way that Russell [Simmons] left it to me. ’Cause this thing saved my life. Literally. So I have a responsibility to it karmically. And after that it’s on you. I did my part. I made ‘D.O.A.’ I said it. I made the statement. I made the push. Here, y’all take it from here.”

ON HIS LEGACY AS FORMER DEF JAM RECORDS PRESIDENT
“So if you ask me to grade my performance as the president, I’d say A-plus. No one can bat a 100. It’s impossible. I mean, everyone is looking at my shit. But if we really looked under the hood [of] every single [record exec] and the acts they put out in that time, I’d be comparable to anyone.”

ON HIS STANDING IN THE GAME
“But when I say I’m the best, I don’t say that outta my ass. I say that with all my stats behind me. I put that against anybody. I mean anybody. I really believe that… I believe in a lot of things. 
I believe that ‘SportsCenter’ is the best thing on TV. I shouldn’t have to prove it. But I do have these stats to prove it. I’m talking about real run. I’m not talking about years off. I’m talking about straight—boom, boom, boom—back to back. We’re not talking about heritage acts either. We’re not talking about respect what I’ve done. I’m talking No. 1 [albums] 10 times. The Beatles is the only one [to have more 
No. 1 albums]. They got 19, and if I get a surge of creativity, I could make nine albums next year.”

On Newsstands September 15th!!!

0 Jay-Z -Venus Vs. Mars (Prod. By Timbaland)

I MAY post ONE more BP3 track if it leaks, but after that, yall just gonna have to buy the album on September 11th....

Jay-Z -Venus Vs. Mars (Prod. By Timbaland)

Props NMC

0 Jay-Z - Reminder (Prod. Timbaland)

Jay-Z - Reminder (Prod. Timbaland)

Reminder: The Blueprint 3 is in Stores September 11th

Props Mr. X!!

0 Jay-Z Ft Drake - Off That (Prod. By Timbaland)

Jay-Z Ft Drake - Off That (Prod. By Timbaland)

0 Jay-Z Ft Kanye West & Rihanna - Run This Town (Music Video)

Jay-Z - New Music - More Music Videos

Yeah B4 You Saw It On BET You Saw it on FWDF. One of The best videos I've seen this year...

0 Jay-Z - The Blueprint 3 Tracklisting

0 Jay-Z Brings Oprah To The Hood

While I not sure the purpose of the occasion, Mr. Carter himself was recently spotted in Bed Stuy, Brooklyn with non other than billionaire and TV personality, Oprah Winfrey. Jay-Z was on site holding a copy of Eckhart Tolle's book: "Awakening Your Life's Purpose". Hmmmm....I wonder if Oprah is starting to warm up to rappers now....Only time will tell....

**Update** So Word is Jay-Z will be one of the few rappers to appear on The Oprah Show to promote his new album "The Blueprint" 3.

Spotted @ RapRadar

0 Jay-Z Talks Blueprint 3 Artwork

MTV Shows

Previously: The Blueprint 3's Cover Art

0 The Blueprint 3's Cover Art

Dopeness!!!!

0 Drake Speaks On Not Landing Jay-Z's 1st Single

In early June rumors began to surface through out the web that the Toronto bred MC Drake, would be featured on The Blueprint 3's first single on a song called "Off That". However, much to the surprise of Drake enthusiasts around the globe, Jay-Z actually chose "Run this Town" featuring pop star, Rihanna and rapper, Kanye West as his albums lead single.


The Boombox recently spoke with Drake, who shared his thoughts on the matter:

"I don't know who came up with that rumor to be honest, but I always knew what Jay's first single was going to be,"... "Me and Jay did a lot of work together. Maybe at one point he was considering doing it and someone got over-excited and put out a press release that I was going to be on the first single."

Drake, who is still earning kudos from the hip-hop community for his mixtape, "So Far Gone", offered his thoughts on "Run This Town", while remaining optimistic that his song with still make the album. "I think Jay made a great choice," he says. "I think the 'Run This Town' song is phenomenal. I think Kanye kills that s---. I actually heard that song when it was a Rihanna track." ..."We have more than one record to pick from. Jay-Z is one of those guys that's just too good. I would be definitely disappointed if I wasn't on it. I think it's going to be a legendary project. I have my fingers crossed." -

0 DJ Semtex Interviews Jay-Z

JAY-Z | BREAKING DOWN THE BLUEPRINT [AUDIO] from DJ SEMTEX on Vimeo.

In This interview Jay-Z breaks down the Blueprint 3. Jay talks producers on the album, who he has worked with for the album and who he is trying to work with. Jay also talks his favorite blogs/sites and confirms J. Cole and Wale's signing to Roc Nation, but says Mickey Factz is NOT signed to Roc Nation.