As rumors, speculation and anticipation continue to mount, the day before Jay-Z’s headlining appearance at Glastonbury Festival on June 27, 2008, he has stated his intentions in an interview with filmmaker Jeremy Marre, director of the 2007
Classic Albums “Jay-Z – Reasonable Doubt” documentary.

There’s only two types of music,” says Jay-Z. “Good music and bad music.”

The New York rapper (name pronounced “Jay-Zee”) has been a controversial choice to headline the Glastonbury festival, which starts tomorrow. But he’s not too bothered by the discord surrounding his appearance, the fact that the event is not sold out, or Noel (“however you pronounce his name”) Gallagher’s public protests that a hip hop artist is unsuitable for a “guitar-based” festival.

“Ridiculous. We have to respect each other’s music and move forward. The world has to change. I’m going to rock that festival.”

Emily Eavis, daughter of the event’s founding farmer Michael Eavis, hurried to Jay-Z’s defence, describing the rapper as “the greatest living hip hop artist”. He’s more relaxed about it, viewing British audiences as “a rowdy lot”, and describes his imminent live show as an “art form”, a live connection to his audience’s emotions and energy. It is, he says, the creative “pay-off” to his studio recordings. There are rumours that he will be assisted by his partner Beyoncé Knowles, his sometime collaborator Chris Martin of Coldplay, or even Martin’s wife Gwyneth Paltrow.

The interview continues, and Jeremy Marre discusses Jay-Z’s background and road to success which was the focus of the
“Jay-Z – Reasonable Doubt” documentary.

For five days we celebrated the making of an album that announced the coming of a new rap superstar. This record is the closest, he admits, that the showman known as Jay-Z ever came to the real Shawn Carter, and its lyrics are an intimate window into his early life and the events that shaped him.

The songs on Reasonable Doubt evolved from his childhood love of writing. He would sometimes beat out the rhythm of the words against the wall with his fists. “I’d write every day without fail, for hours and hours until I fell asleep. It helped me technically, and it was good therapy.”

Barry Michael Cooper, director of black films such as New Jack City adds: “He was the first one to be bare-naked and honest with the realities of what the street can bring. His writing gave a voice to the crack dealers and hustlers.”

But Jay-Z’s memories of his childhood are far from grim: “My pops and mom had Afros,” he says with a shy grin. “So I had the super-cool house. And they each had their own record collection. They shared a house, they shared the kids, but they never shared those records. Each had their name on the covers. That’s how serious it was.

Source: Jay-Z: I’m going to rock Glastonbury

Earlier this week, on June 23, 2008, Jay-Z performed in Norway at the Hove Festival for what was, from all reports, an appreciative audience.

Jay-Z performed a remix version of Amy Winehouse hit ‘Rehab’ at Norway’s Hove Festival – a warm-up for his Glastonbury gig this weekend. The rapper remixed the Rehab track last year and the result would lend itself to a duet with Winehouse, reports the Sun. She plays Glastonbury’s Pyramid Stage before him and a duet is possible – provided she has recovered enough after being diagnosed with emphysema.

His headline performance at Hove in Arendal also included reworkings of ‘Umbrella’, ‘Smack My B***h Up’ and ‘American Boy.’ During the middle of the set, a stage visual of George W. Bush morphed into presidential candidate Barack Obama, which prompted cheers from the crowd.

Source: Jay Z remixes Winehouse hit

The Wombats have said that Glastonbury headliner Jay-Z will prove those who doubt the credibility of his booking wrong.

Speaking to NME.COM, the band, who play the Other Stage at the bash on the same day (June 28), said that they enjoyed Jay-Z’s recent performance at the Norwegian Hove festival, where they were also playing.

“I loved it [Jay-Z's performance],” drummer Dan Haggis said. “He just kept dropping samples from hits, you couldn’t help but dance. Especially at a bit of Jackson Five. I really enjoyed it. Any doubters will be swiftly deafened.”

Source: The Wombats: Jay-Z will deafen Glastonbury doubters

Photos: Jay-Z at Hove Festival, Norway (Photo credit: Tim Cochrane)

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In just a matter of hours, with Jay-Z’s Glastonbury performance, all of the needless controversy will be behind us.

Jay-Z on Glastonbury: “I’m going to rock that festival”