Posted on 07/03/2008
Okay.  This story is too big for us not to cover and we don't run your typical type of blog where we just post everything one at a time as it comes.  For those of you who read the blogs religiously, most (not all) of this might be considered old news.  However, you know we always put our OkayTwist on everything we do which often means giving you perspectives directly from the artists and musicians.  OKP has compiled all the videos related to Jay-Z's European romp as well as a few other clips from the gargantuan Glastonbury festival we think you may care about.  Check out the table of contents and prepare youself to be here for a while.

Table Of Contents:
01. Words From Omar Edwards (Music Director, Keys Player in Jay-Z's Band)
02. Illadelph Horns (Jeff Bradshaw & Matt Cappy) Interview with DJ Neil Armstrong
03. Site Seeing In Norway w/ DJ Neil Armstrong & 2/3 the Illadelph Horns
04. HOVE Festival, Norway: Jay-Z "Encore"
05. Jay-Z Interview on Friday Night With Jonathan Ross
06. Glastonbury: Lupe Fiasco Full Performance
07. Glastonbury: Lupe Fiasco "Hip-Hop has a place in this world" Speech
08. Glastonbury: Amy Winehouse "Rehab" + Various Fuckery
09. Glastonbury: Behind The Scenes w/ DJ Neil Armstrong
10. Glastonbury: Jay-Z Interview with Tim Westwood before performance
11. Glastonbury: Jay-Z Performance Intro Video
12. Glastonbury: Jay-Z Performance Parts 1 and 2 of his Full Set


- Words From Omar Edwards

"Glastonbury! Once again Hip-Hop knocked down another barrier. The first Hip-Hop act EVER to headline the festival in it's 37 year history.  The only way for me to describe that day is Historical, Legendary, never duplicated! And everyone there that represented Hip Hop was up for the challenge. I saw the culture at its most confident place. Hours before the show there was this unspoken code that was so inspiring. Who better to make history than Jigga himself (who arrived hours before which was inspiring in itself to see how ready he was).  Grand opening. Grand Closing. Amazing!"  - Omar Edwards (Music Director for Jay-Z)

- Illadelph Horns (Jeff Bradshaw & Matt Cappy) Interview with DJ Neil Armstrong



DJ Neil Armstrong interviews Matt Cappy and Jeff Bradshaw of the illadelph horns while walking around the Old Quarter of Stockholm, Sweden.  Not present here, Lamont Caldwell who plays saxophone.

- Site Seeing In Norway w/ DJ Neil Armstrong, Matt Cappy, & Jeff Bradshaw before the HOVE Festival



"One of the few times we got to actually do some touristy stuff.... When you get a chance on tour its real dope, helps you maintain a balance." - DJ Neil Armstrong

- HOVE Festival, Norway: Jay-Z "Encore"



If you are a fan of Jay-Z, you will enjoy the follow interview with UK late night personality Jonathan Ross. They are both pretty funny and your boy, as always, is very charismatic. If you aren't a Jay-Z fan, what are you doing here?

- Jay-Z Interview on Friday Night With Jonathan Ross (most of it)



- Glastonbury: Lupe Fiasco Full Performance



- Lupe's "Hip-Hop has a place in this world" speech

- Glastonbury: Amy Winehouse "Rehab" + Fuckery



Amy punches a fan for reportedly pulling on her weave.  Winehouse also stated during her set "Let’s hear it for Jay-Z. The man has got bollocks to come here, and play the tunes you don’t even know you remember. Imagine if it was a cunt like Kanye West. ‘Cunts like Kanye’ - that should be his next album title.”  She reffered to 'Ye as such during at least one of her songs as well.

In an interview with MTV, Jay-Z responded by saying "I don't agree with [what she said]. He's my brother and the biggest artist on Roc-A-Fella right now. I don't know what the problem is. I don't know where that came from."  Kanye responded on his blog by adding "THIS JUST IN... AMY WINEHOUSE HATES ME!!! NOW I'VE REALLY MADE IT!!! LOL!!!!"

- Glastonbury: Behind The Scenes w/ DJ Neil Armstrong



Now you know the story.  Back in April, while on the Heart of the City Tour with Mary J Blige, Oasis lead singer Noel Gallagher made statements that Jay-Z should NOT headline the Glastonbury Festival. Gallagher primarily based his argument on Glastonbury's tradition of "guitar music" while attributing slow ticket sales to the hip-hop headliner.  In his words - "I'm not having hip-hop at Glastonbury. It's wrong."  By the day of the festival tickets were close to sold out.  Following a two minute video montage (below), Jay-Z fired back by taking to the stage with a guitar over his shoulder to perform a rendition of Oasis’ hit song “Wonderwall” before launching into a fierce “99 Problems” (presumably dedicated to any haters, but especially Gallagher).  Ironically (or not), both "99 Problems" and "Wonderwall" have enjoyed sales boosts since the performance.  Music retailer HMV reports that Oasis' What's The Story (Morning Glory) registered an 18 percent pick up in sales, while the single "Wonderwall" is poised to re-enter the official UK Singles top 200.

Before his set Jay-Z told UK Radio personality Tim Westwood- "The world should be all about mixing culture.  Hip-hop is music in its art form. It should be accepted and respected. It’s all the same thing, it’s just coming from a different perspective." Watch that interview below, although the sync is off.

- Glastonbury: Jay-Z interview with Tim Westwood Before His Performance



- Glastonbury: Jay-Z Performance Intro Video



- Glastonbury: Jay-Z Performance Parts 1 and 2 of his Full Set





Special thanks to Omar Edwards, Matt Cappy, and DJ Neil Armstrong for helping contribute to this article.  We see you guys up there having a blast!  What up Mr. Bradshaw!