Jay-Z archive
Watch Where Are Your Musical Blind Spots?
February 6, 2012 – Ever feel guilty about not appreciating music you know you should?
Watch 50 Favorites Of 2011: K-R
December 5, 2011 – The list of our 50 favorite albums includes Kanye West And Jay-Z and more artists from K to R.
Listen Wrestling With 'Watch The Throne'
August 12, 2011 – We start listening and try to make sense of the year's most ambitious hip-hop release.
Listen Jay-Z And Kanye West: Stuck In Cruise Control
August 9, 2011 – Watch the Throne is one of the year's most anticipated albums. But does it live up to the hype?
Read 100 Songs That Messed With Texas KUT
July 11, 2011 – Hear an eclectic mix of music born and raised in the Lone Star State. KUT
Read In Other News: Susan Boyle And The Beatles Sell, NYC Critics Rap
November 29, 2010 – Sales and chart numbers, new reviews, and other news you may have missed while you were eating.
Watch Jay-Z: The Fresh Air Interview
November 16, 2010 – The rapper and record mogul discusses his childhood and the stories behind his most famous songs.
Listen You Ask, We Answer: What's A Hook?
October 15, 2010 – What is a song's "hook?" It's that part that sticks in your mind -- whether you want it to or not.
Read Def Jam's 25th Anniversary: Songs We Love
December 31, 2009 – Def Jam's box set contains some of the most amazing music released since the dawn of hip-hop.
Read The Decade In Music: Rihanna's 'Umbrella' (2007)
November 18, 2009 – The summer jam of 2007 can be summarized in seven syllables: "ella, ella, ay, ay, ay."
Read The 50 Most Important Recordings Of The Decade: C-J
November 16, 2009 – Our 50 most important recordings of the decade continues, from Kelly Clarkson to Jay-Z.
Listen Jay-Z Stays Fresh On 'The Blueprint 3'
September 9, 2009 – Thirteen years after the release of his first album, Jay-Z proves he's still standing and striving.
Listen Rapper Feud Mirrors World Politics
July 22, 2009 – Jay-Z, like the U.S., is the dominant force, but has a lot to lose if he engages with a challenger.
Listen Urban Desi: A Genre On The Rise
October 15, 2008 – Urban desi blends South Asian pop culture and American hip-hop.
Listen A Pricey Investment, Even for Jay-Z
April 11, 2008 – A reported $150 million deal between the rap mogul and Live Nation is nothing if not high-stakes.