Radio Ro Blog

It's been said that Jay-Z is the reason we didn't see Chris Brown on stage at the BET Awards.

At tonight's BET Awards, a collection of artists came together to commemorate Michael Jackson's career and the legacy he left behind. Rumor has it that Chris Brown was among those who were to take part in the tribute, but was pulled at the last minute.

The rumor was fueled by one of Chris Brown's dancers, who tweeted "Jay-Z is mad childish. Never keep a person from paying there respect."

The award show's producer, Ron Weisner, told Billboard.com, "A day and a half ago, we had one show and today we have a whole other show. Overnight, literally, it changed. The show was completely rewritten, we booked additional people - we're trying to address a very unfortunate situation."

"It's something we had to deal with at the very last minute," Weisner added. "I wish we didn't have to, but it's just a fact of life."

Joe Jackson, Michael Jackson's father, made an appearance at the awards show, saying, "I just wish he could be here to celebrate himself. Sadly, he's not here, so I'm here to celebrate for him."
Source: Examiner

Jay-Z finally has a release date for the blueprint 3. It's been set for September 11th. The first Blueprint was released eight years ago on that day. In addition, it'll be the anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attack.

Since most of Jay's albums have had quick turnarounds, fans were expecting Blueprint 3 to be released much sooner. However, Jay has explained in interviews that he was taking his time and actually didn't like not having a deadline to meet. The MC recently parted ways with his longtime label, Def Jam, clearing the way for him to release Blueprint 3 via a different company. Last week reports emerged that Jay was in the process of negotiating deals with both Sony Music and the Warner Music Group. MTV News has confirmed that Blueprint 3 will be coming out via Roc Nation. WMG/Atlantic will be handling the distribution, marketing and promotion.

Neither Jay nor his rep has released a statement. Jay - who gave a surprise performance in Los Angeles with Eminem on Monday - kicks off his tour with Ciara in Las Vegas on July 3.
Source: MTV

Jay-Z has never failed us when it comes to music . We're definitely looking forward to something incredible.

Jay-Z has recently confirmed he is now "a completely independent artist" after buying out the remainder of his contract with Island Def Jam for a reported fee of $5 million.

"I can honestly say, working with [Island Def Jam's] Doug Morris and LA Reid has been a unique and fulfilling experience and I respect them immensely. I've been in the family for almost my entire career," Jay told Rap Radar. "Doug and I spoke directly and had one of the most unique ‘negotiations' ever. Doug won the toss but, we both won in the end. I thank him for allowing me to be a completely independent artist. Not every artist can say they own or are given the opportunity to own all of their music."

Great way to set the standard for all artists Jay-Z! Jigga is now free to release The Blueprint 3 on his new Roc Nation label.

It's OFFICIAL... Ci Ci and Jigga will be touring for the first time together!

Ciara revealed on her Twitter page:

"I will say it because the information has been leaked. Me and Jay-Z will be doing a 10-city tour run together! More details coming soon!"

Not all of their tour stops have been confirmed but so far, July 3rd and 4th will be at The Pearl at The Palms in Las Vegas, July 10 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Connecticut, and July 12 in Atlanta.

Hmm... Why don't Beyonce and Jay-Z tour?

In an attempt to clean up the plague in urban America, Jay-Z now claims that being "gangsta" is irrelevant now that Barack is in office...

Hip-hop icon Jay-Z says that President Barack Obama's election marks a decline of the "gangsta" image in the black and Latino communities.

The rapper and businessman made the comments during a wide-ranging interview with Cigar Aficionado magazine.

"Obama represents so much hope for blacks and Latinos," the rapper told the magazine.

"The hope he represents is bigger than any of the huge problems he could possibly correct," he said. "When you have positive role models, you can change your life for the better. The day Obama got elected, the gangsta became less relevant."
Source: Redding News Review

With the Aaliyah biopic in production, buzz has spread across the Internet about "baby girl" playing a possible love interest to both Jay-Z and Dame Dash igniting their ongoing feud...

Former best pals and business partners JAY-Z and DAMON DASH fell out over their love for late R&B beauty AALIYAH, American producer/director CHOKE NO JOKE has suggested.

Roc-A-Fella Records co-founders Jay-Z, Dash and Kareem ‘Biggs' Burke parted ways in 2004 after a number of disagreements.

Jay-Z took control of the established rap label and later went on to become president of Def Jam, while Dash and Burke formed their own imprint, DDMG (Damon Dash Music Group).

However, filmmaker Choke No Joke insists the bitter relationship between Jay-Z and Dash extended beyond business and spilled over into their personal lives.

He alludes to the pair both enjoying close relationships with singer, actress and model Aaliyah, and that Jay-Z became unhappy when Dash started publicly dating her in late 2000, up until her untimely death in 2001.

He tells Hip Hop Weekly, "Both Jay and Dame was involved with a certain R&B singer, who I'm not gonna say her name out of respect 'cause she ain't around to defend herself, but I believe that was a part of the initial friction.

"I was seeing Jay with her back around 2000, then Dame was with her after. All you have to do is look at the movie they did, Death of a Dynasty. In the movie they were fighting over a model. In real life she was a model, but singing is what she was known for first." Rumours of a romance between Jay-Z and Aaliyah were never confirmed; the hip-hop superstar is now married to R&B beauty Beyonce Knowles.

My thoughts about who #1 is in the industry varies. If you are talking about who is the hottest through having the top of the charts, the most songs on the radio and selling the most, of course you would have to say Lil Wayne.  And I am not taking anything away from the lil nigga. But I do think he is overrated. He spits very clever similes and metaphores but as far as making sense line by line, I gotta give it to my nigga Jay. He may be lacking slightly right now because of the shallowness of the game and the requirements of the entertainment industry to sell a record, but he is by far the most creative and thought provoking MC, in my opinion. Others that are on his heels are NAS, Kanye, Jadakiss, and Outkast as well as others but I just believe that he spits that shit. Gotta go wit a winner.... Just check out his second verse of this song, "Hovi Baby".