Video: Jay-Z Explains Why He Didn’t Do “We Are The World 25″
At Jay-Z & LeBron’s 4th annual All-Star weekend “Two Kings” dinner, MTV asked Jay why he (wisely) chose not to participate in the We Are The World remake.
I have a interesting take on that. I know everybody is gonna take this wrong: “We Are the World,” I love it, and I understand the point and think it’s great. But I think “We Are the World” is like “Thriller” to me. I don’t ever wanna see it touched. I’m a fan of music. I know the plight and everything that’s going on in Haiti. I applaud the efforts. Like 1 out of 2 Americans donated through text to Haiti. That’s amazing. So I appreciate the efforts and everything, but “We are the World” is untouchable like “Thriller” is untouchable. Some things are just untouchable. It was a valiant effort, but for me, it’s gonna be untouchable.
Jay said he felt that a new song should have been written instead:
I would have loved that idea better. I have tremendous respect for Quincy Jones. Of course, I think he’s genius, as everyone else does. But I think it’s time for us to make a new song, our take on it… I tried to do that with “Stranded” [the song Jay, Rihanna and U2's Bono and The Edge premiered at the 'Hope for Haiti Now' telethon.]
Nipsey Hussle mentioned to XXL that he heard Jay-Z & Eminem had gone to the recording before he got there, so it seems like they gave it a chance before turning it down.
Hit the jump for photos from the Two Kings dinner. Guests included Diddy, Russell Simmons, Drake, Cortez Bryant, Dwayne Wade, Chris Paul, Steve Stoute, Gayle King, Michael Eric Dyson, Terrell Owens, Jason Kidd, Regina King, and more.
February 14th, 2010 at 10:43 pm
anything would have been better than Shakira
^^^
Ghey
^^
lol nah, readily available porn renders my need to put up with attractive females shitty musical performances obsolete
February 14th, 2010 at 10:46 pm
so anyone hear anything about the crowd going apeshit at the mos, doom show in the chi ?
February 14th, 2010 at 10:49 pm
I agree with Jay….remaking a classic like that is just a bad idea.
February 14th, 2010 at 10:49 pm
so anyone hear anything about the crowd going apeshit at the mos, doom show in the chi ?
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I was there. My boys were the opening band. The crowd was in a shitty mood at 8. Mos didn’t go on til 1230, DOOM was an impostor. It was crazy, I was hoping for a full on riot, but alas.
February 14th, 2010 at 10:50 pm
I wonder why touches everyone else’s sh*t.
February 14th, 2010 at 11:09 pm
Nas > Jay Z
*chuckles*
February 14th, 2010 at 11:11 pm
I don’t get the concept of sending an imposter in your place for a show. Its bad business. You piss off fans, promoters/managers and the venue. Shit its not like dude has a ton of projects on his hands.
February 14th, 2010 at 11:12 pm
the first pic with drake and diddy
and the one with jay-z drake and chris paul are suspect
February 14th, 2010 at 11:28 pm
Olivia Munn is bad.
February 14th, 2010 at 11:36 pm
Come on hov be honest. You didn’t do the song cause there’s no I in we
I don’t run rap I run the map(c) hov
February 14th, 2010 at 11:39 pm
# verses Says:
February 14th, 2010 at 11:09 pm
Nas > Jay Z
*chuckles*
^ ^
Ok, so we all know that you can ignore this, right??
It doesn’t have to turn into a 2OO comment debate. . . again. . . for the 2,342,952,706,846th time. [Yes, I've been counting]
February 14th, 2010 at 11:42 pm
Wade is the most overrated player in nba history
February 14th, 2010 at 11:46 pm
curling > allstar game
February 14th, 2010 at 11:49 pm
>> Cortez Bryant
Wireimage called him DJ Cortez Carter… *dead*
February 14th, 2010 at 11:53 pm
*takes bait*
Son u crazy how u gonna say jay_z»»nas
Iww, illmatic, stillmatic»»»bp,rd,black album
I’ll give it to jay
Bp2»»sd
But I’m sure
Dr»»»best of both world
Jay was on his way to being GOAT until he woke up the sleeping lion in 2001
February 14th, 2010 at 11:56 pm
Sleep Says:
February 14th, 2010 at 11:53 pm
*takes bait*
^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Don’t because I was being facetious.
February 15th, 2010 at 12:11 am
I’m mad I missed all the Nahtroversy… I’m watching the all-star game, and these niggas complaining with nation about commentaries and message boards…smh
February 15th, 2010 at 12:14 am
So this is the Carter administration in 2010 -
yfrog.com/13jayzxxldrizzyp
February 15th, 2010 at 12:17 am
Nation, I say y’all just keep doing what y’all been doing. Nah blew up for a reason, no need to make any changes now. As you pointed out, hip-hop fans are never pleased, anyway… Nah Right BBQ 2010!
February 15th, 2010 at 12:23 am
I see you D-Block, running around unchecked who the fuck let you off your leash???
I’d like nothing more than to place my ballsack on your mother’s head but then I know she’s got a bigger dick than me which makes the whole thing awkward.
February 15th, 2010 at 12:24 am
And let’s get this nahright BBQ happening for fucks sake. This shit has been talked about since ’06. Less talk more action.
February 15th, 2010 at 12:27 am
>> And let’s get this nahright BBQ happening for fucks sake. This shit has been talked about since ‘06. Less talk more action.
oh it’s happening. can you make the trip out?
February 15th, 2010 at 12:28 am
Yo Nation i will fuck you up pussy. Sup?
February 15th, 2010 at 12:30 am
fuck england
February 15th, 2010 at 12:32 am
lol @ eng rep.
February 15th, 2010 at 12:32 am
whaddup eng rep.. i randomly check in n see ur across the pond ass typin some ish.. how u been?
February 15th, 2010 at 12:32 am
youtube.com/watch?v=1HOD75ljP7w
This song is better than Nations mothers twat and that’s saying volumes….(II)
February 15th, 2010 at 12:33 am
>> Sup?
I need your e-mail. someone wants to speak to you, England and chea, and probably other commenters, for a piece on the NR comments
February 15th, 2010 at 12:35 am
>> And let’s get this nahright BBQ happening for fucks sake. This shit has been talked about since ‘06. Less talk more action.
^^
Summertime in NYC >>>
I wouldn’t be surprised if some of you locals brought your friends and jumped one of the commenters. People taking some shit on here too serious. Lol the past week on Nah has been belligerent. How it feel to be in eskays shoes nation?
February 15th, 2010 at 12:35 am
I need your e-mail. someone wants to speak to you, England and chea, and probably other commenters, for a piece on the NR comments
^
Lol
Yo i didn’t mean to go at your moms va jay jay like that but you know.
Donthategeorge@aol.com
Owwie cakes.
February 15th, 2010 at 12:36 am
I wont be attending any NR bbq’s FTR
February 15th, 2010 at 12:38 am
# D_Block_4_Life Says:
February 15th, 2010 at 12:36 am
I wont be attending any NR bbq’s FTR
^
what kinda spic turns down a free bbq? you terminally ill?
February 15th, 2010 at 12:40 am
>> I wont be attending any NR bbq’s FTR
ok so it’s cool if i come with your sister?
February 15th, 2010 at 12:40 am
>> what kinda spic turns down a free bbq?
BBQ won’t be free. it’s 1000 dollars to get in, sorry Joe
February 15th, 2010 at 12:40 am
ok so it’s cool if i come with your sister?
^
LOL…do you whodi
February 15th, 2010 at 12:41 am
bkscribe trying to kick that fucknigga shit
February 15th, 2010 at 12:41 am
BBQ won’t be free. it’s 1000 dollars to get in, sorry Joe
^
Oh christ. 12:41 AM shots.
February 15th, 2010 at 12:41 am
BBQ won’t be free. it’s 1000 dollars to get in, sorry Joe
^^
so i guess u gonna borrow from es for admission?
February 15th, 2010 at 12:44 am
lol damn d block.. thas a shot now?? shit fell off then
February 15th, 2010 at 12:44 am
Lol at the amount of BK commenters on Nah.
February 15th, 2010 at 12:47 am
# bkallday Says:
February 15th, 2010 at 12:30 am
fuck england
^^^^^^^^^^^^^
fuck Uzbekistan
February 15th, 2010 at 12:48 am
lol damn d block.. thas a shot now?? shit fell off then
^
The rules change for the weekends….the shots are scarce…gotta reach
February 15th, 2010 at 12:50 am
SMH at these sensitive shroom cake niggas
February 15th, 2010 at 12:53 am
@nate
thecollinb@gmail.com if they’re interested in a nah comments article. I’m quotatious.
February 15th, 2010 at 12:53 am
nah Joe ain’t never gonna get a shot on Nah Right
February 15th, 2010 at 12:54 am
nate
thecollinb@gmail.com if they’re interested in a nah comments article. I’m quotatious.
^
Look at feenie sigel.
No one mentioned you, go away faggot.
February 15th, 2010 at 12:58 am
<3 of course
February 15th, 2010 at 12:58 am
@nate
thecollinb@gmail.com if they’re interested in a nah comments article. I’m quotatious.
^
GTFOH ol mr. me too ass nigga
February 15th, 2010 at 12:58 am
oh it’s happening. can you make the trip out?
^^If I see Eskay putting his hand in his pocket to buy me a pint I’ll spend the few grand just to witness it. Fuck yes. Gimme a date. But no I’m not payin to attend that shit.
I see you BK. Whats the chat mate? How’s everything gone with the other business venture?? All good? Or did it go tits up? You still rockin that wispy moustache as well huh? You need to give up on that shit you look like a ferret.
Same goes for you too D-Block. Dirty bastard.
February 15th, 2010 at 12:58 am
funny.. if a bbq ever happened.. a lot of dudes would fold like lawn chairs.
February 15th, 2010 at 1:01 am
Real talk though no wonder you’re fucked in the head D-Block when your Mum’s got a bigger penis than your old man it must throw your whole values system down the shitter. (nh)
February 15th, 2010 at 1:02 am
a lot of dudes would fold like lawn chairs.
^^Shots??!!
If I lived in the US it’d be a foregone conclusion. If it’s in September I can drop in on the way back from the UK.
February 15th, 2010 at 1:03 am
LMAO @ england.. yo.. that other shit is goin pretty good. LA is a lot better than NY in a lot of respects..lookin to get back out there for a few. fuck the music industry really.. buncha fuck boys who dont do shit hangin off the sacks of dudes who do slightly more than they do. Film is a muchhhh better look. and damn.. LOL n i grew out a full beard for winter.. its all comin off when this cold shit ends.
How are things by you?
February 15th, 2010 at 1:05 am
Nahright bbq will have at least 3 fight cause niggas take a little internet jokes too serious
February 15th, 2010 at 1:05 am
>> I’ll spend the few grand just to witness it.
say word, yo, I heard it’s 3 grand just to fly out of Australia. anyway, definitely if you can make it that’d be great man, I’ll try to see when it’s gonna be. we’re hoping to do it for the 5 year anniversary of Nah, so around the end of May
*dying at England’s comments btw*
February 15th, 2010 at 1:06 am
no one’s going to fight anything
anyone have Mindy Marin’s e-mail? I’m going to fly her out for the event…
February 15th, 2010 at 1:06 am
CARES.
February 15th, 2010 at 1:10 am
ay dio mio
http://usershare.net/kdc6jzddr8b2
February 15th, 2010 at 1:14 am
I actually can agree with Camel on this one.
February 15th, 2010 at 1:15 am
DBlock, BKScribe, nation, sleep, EngBing…
What up?
February 15th, 2010 at 1:17 am
bkallday who sent you nigga?
Jorge gets a pass only because he’s going through milk chocolate wirthdrawls and he’s lashing out.
If it wasn’t black history I sweartagod…
February 15th, 2010 at 1:18 am
If the Nahright BBQ’s in May I will get the shekels together to get my ass to NY for it. I can link up with some peeps I know over that way so kill two birds. There’d be no fights. Fighting over some internet shit is beyond gay. I’ll still stick it to your girl though sleep.
Good things then BK, congrats mate. Both film and music industry would be full of cunts I imagine. I know a few folk in both and generally they’re all muppets. Hope it works for you though son.
*daps BK and Nate*
*eyes DBlock suspiciously*
February 15th, 2010 at 1:19 am
Billz whaddup.. the fuck u been meng?
February 15th, 2010 at 1:20 am
I see you Billy *daps*
Shit looks a tad chilly over your way fella. Better have that follicle free bonce of yours double beanie’d up. (nh)
February 15th, 2010 at 1:22 am
I’m outro. Daps to all. You got my e-mail Nate if that person wants my opinions on the comments section. You’re all dickheads is what it boils down to but anyway.
Peace.
February 15th, 2010 at 1:23 am
>> I can link up with some peeps I know over that way so kill two birds.
word, I remember the time you’re like “hey guys, where can i find drugs in new york city” under you’re name and we thought you were a narc LOL
February 15th, 2010 at 1:23 am
drake dick riding at its finest
February 15th, 2010 at 1:24 am
Billz ya’ll gettin snow again tomorrow?
February 15th, 2010 at 1:27 am
v nite sex >
February 15th, 2010 at 1:28 am
@BKScribe… chief, I just got in my crib not too long ago after celebrating Shawn Lee (@duepayer) 30th Earth Day in Flatbush yesterday. MADD heffas in the crib. Way more than dudes. And the dudes was on some weak shit, sittin’ down. All the chicks on the floor dancin’. SMH
@CollinB I don’t even know yo. I didn’t check the weather. But I thought it wasn’t supposed to be until Tuesday.
February 15th, 2010 at 1:29 am
If it wasn’t black history I sweartagod…
^DON’T DO IT GOD!
February 15th, 2010 at 1:30 am
The Michael Vick project >
February 15th, 2010 at 1:32 am
@Dbillz.. Waow… out in flatbush n u actin like u aint got my number.. i prolly couldnt have dipped on wifey to kick it with heffas anyway lol. you need to jus move back here man. wait till summer tho
nyc summers >>
February 15th, 2010 at 1:35 am
@BKScribe … check ya G-Talk whoadie
LF: LOL @ responding to everyone in Twitter format. That shit has officially bodied every other social forum.
February 15th, 2010 at 1:36 am
IRONY RT @DBillz LF: LOL @ responding to everyone in Twitter format. That shit has officially bodied every other social forum
February 15th, 2010 at 1:47 am
tupac classic me n my girlfriend? jayz beylnce remake??? fuk outta here came
February 15th, 2010 at 1:58 am
TheCo!!inB
i flush turd niggas like you
February 15th, 2010 at 2:17 am
Jay is a legend in his own right but he is probably the greatest Hip-Hop cover artist of all time.
February 15th, 2010 at 2:59 am
Oh Lord, why did I just look at another clip of that “We Are The World 2O1O” bullsh*t again??!!
My goodness, FAIL. FAIL, FAIL, FAIL!! It’s like a horror movie. . . or a very long car accident.
I just don’t get it. How do you. . .
Didn’t they watch/listen to it before they released it??!! I mean, the thought of even attempting to make another “We Are The World” in the first place is a retards pipe dream.
Are you kidding me??!!
You CAN’T “remake” something like that!! FU*K!!
And even if you are don’t cram it chock full of a bunch of NO TALENT, AUTO-TUNE, TMZ TROLL, FU*K FACES!!!
And to make matters worse they had the AUDACITY to put Micheal Jackson, himself, in the middle of it.
I have no words for this. NO WORDS!! This is BEYOND sin.
How dare you take classic work created by GOATS of the game and think that you posses the skill and expertise not even to make your own fu*king song and stay in your fu*king lane but just to merely MIMIC what they have done and FAIL MISERABLY. . . FAIL!!
SHAME!! HAVE YOU NOT??!!
And people are actually accepting this perversion as acceptable!! What is this??!!
Nobody has any talent anymore. Aside from from the OG’s from years past that are still getting it in and the few glimmers of hope that, against all odds, managed to cultivate true ability and skill into something good.
But this is rare.
I was disgusted by that footage.
I was able to get through it without convulsions. But then the auto tune came in to rear it’s ugly head and destroy all things that are good and pure and righteous in it’s path.
Needless to say I survived. Or did I?? For I am not sure weather I’m alive or dead inside.
“We Are The World 2O1O” has proven two things to me and has made them very clear.
1] We ARE in the End of Day’s and these spawn of satan ass n*ggas can’t let us have nothin’ [i.e. a classic "We Are The World"]
2] I care TOO TOO MUCH. Too much.
[Now, I am through. I thought I was Yesterday but I guess I was wrong]
February 15th, 2010 at 3:39 am
i agree with phenomom it was a pitiful imitation. and to keep it real , nobody did this much for katrina. america turned there back on katrina victims. I would give a damn if they plowed haiti under and made a amusement park. We are not the police of the world or can we fix every problem in the world. Haiti was fucked up before the earthquake , now its worse. we are the world remake was a joke. and they wanted someone to buy it . fuck out of here. im with Jay and Eminem leave it be. You saw sellouts like lil gay suck babys dick on the regular wayne on it just destroying a classic and t pain i cant sing a damn lick embarrasing himself.
February 15th, 2010 at 3:57 am
LMAO @ wyclef singin like he’s being fucked
February 15th, 2010 at 4:53 am
1] We ARE in the End of Day’s and these spawn of satan ass n*ggas can’t let us have nothin’ [i.e. a classic "We Are The World"]
2] I care TOO TOO MUCH. Too much.
^3) ayo
February 15th, 2010 at 4:54 am
Jay is a legend in his own right but he is probably the greatest Hip-Hop cover artist of all time.
^that award actually goes to puffy
February 15th, 2010 at 7:02 am
I agree with his argumentation!
…beside the fact that the stranded record is even crappier than We Are the World 25!
February 15th, 2010 at 7:59 am
Kenwyne Jones to join Liverpool yayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy
February 15th, 2010 at 8:32 am
What up?
February 15th, 2010 at 8:33 am
I mean why didn’t they record a new record? I agree with Jay
February 15th, 2010 at 8:37 am
U JAY DICKRIDER TRAVEL OVERSEAS SOMETIME THEY’RE ARTIST IN THE THE UK ,BLACK COMEDIANS , MUSICIANS , ECT
February 15th, 2010 at 8:38 am
Damn, Jay seems to be trying to infiltrate Drake’s mind with Masonic thoughts. I hope Drake has the intestinal fortitude to decline his advances.
February 15th, 2010 at 8:39 am
So far gone > every Jay album except for RD
February 15th, 2010 at 8:46 am
put me down for paperplates and plasticware, son. i got them shits on lock.
February 15th, 2010 at 8:50 am
The Killer Says:
February 15th, 2010 at 8:38 am
Damn, Jay seems to be trying to infiltrate Drake’s mind with Masonic thoughts. I hope Drake has the intestinal fortitude to decline his advances.
^
Drake probably had ties way before…
February 15th, 2010 at 8:50 am
I have an interesting take on that as well. Why is it cool to remake “me and my girlfriend”, and re-use many classic rap lines…but now that MJ is deceased all his shits sacred…go away Jiggaman please just quit already.
February 15th, 2010 at 8:54 am
The rapper chorus in we are the world 2010 set hip hop back 10 years.
February 15th, 2010 at 8:55 am
Drake probably had ties way before…
^idk, do Jews and Masons even get along like that?
February 15th, 2010 at 8:58 am
That first pic shows how old dudes are getting (n)…
February 15th, 2010 at 9:04 am
Bricktop Says:
February 15th, 2010 at 8:55 am
Drake probably had ties way before…
^idk, do Jews and Masons even get along like that?
^
I say yes…although I have no facts to back said statement
February 15th, 2010 at 9:24 am
come to think of it, a Jew/Masonic combo would be like the Unholy Alliance that signals the beginning of the end. Fuck!! Killer’s been right all along.
February 15th, 2010 at 9:31 am
piece on the nah comments is simplicity epitomised.
nah commenters = myopic, homophobic, violent, etc.
February 15th, 2010 at 9:33 am
Wall Street 2 couldn’t be dropping @ a more appropriate time. pop culture has embraced the 80′s lifestyle by no accident. white America is partying its ass off right now like never before, while black America is struggling more than it ever has since slavery was abolished. the whole point of studying history is to learn from our past and prevent the mistakes from happening again, yet here we are reliving the nightmare that was the 80′s all over again. for proof look at the state of fashion and music, which has a tendency to reflect the overall wellbeing of society.
February 15th, 2010 at 9:33 am
It’s funny how all these celebs never invest money in haiti but go all the cross continent to help out. Take care of your own back yard.
People will soon forget about Haiti.
February 15th, 2010 at 9:33 am
Bricktop Says:
February 15th, 2010 at 9:24 am
come to think of it, a Jew/Masonic combo would be like the Unholy Alliance that signals the beginning of the end. Fuck!! Killer’s been right all along.
^
See that’s the thing…people have this idea that all Masons are evil or have evil intentions which isn’t true…see you have to research for yourself though and find some what of the truth…these youtube videos will drive you mad with the theories they’re feeding…now I’m not saying what you’re saying isn’t true cause things are looking messed up right now, geeks turn to bums, bums turn to prophets in the end times
February 15th, 2010 at 9:34 am
should of re-made living la vida loca.
February 15th, 2010 at 9:35 am
jamie. J’s a french fried faggot. go back to Africa, Jap! or i will gouge your eyeballs out and skull fuck you!! (no homophones)
February 15th, 2010 at 9:39 am
so here’s my honest to god stance on masons: from the little i know, they’re all about world domination. my only question is, have they ever sat back and really looked at this world? and if so, are they sure that they really want to control all of it? i mean, i don’t really consider that such a great accomplishment. if they really want the world, fuck it, let em have it. just let them know that all sales are final, so ABSOLUTELY NO REFUNDS!!!
February 15th, 2010 at 9:45 am
nah commenters = myopic, homophobic, violent, etc.
^^^
lol yep, thats hip hop
February 15th, 2010 at 9:56 am
People forget about Nas’ Lost Tapes when they talk about his albums. That joint was a classic, every track. And it was sonically consistent.
February 15th, 2010 at 10:43 am
What Jay really want to say is The New “We Are The World” is terrible! That song should not have been touched. It turned out so sloppy.
February 15th, 2010 at 11:20 am
These are our heroes.
February 15th, 2010 at 11:45 am
Nipsey Hussle mentioned to XXL that he heard Jay-Z & Eminem had gone to the recording before he got there
^ ^ you say that like Nipsey Hussle is an award-winning investigative journalist. LMAO. the dude from AEG Live was sending out emails saying all kinds of people were gonna be there that didn’t show up: justin timberlake, lady gaga, etc. hitsdailydouble.com reported on it quite a bit (all in their rumor mill section, but their rumor reporting is more reputable than nipsey’s…lol)
February 20th, 2010 at 7:50 pm
[...] his Two Kings dinner last week, MTV asked Jay about what videos he plans to shoot next. I wanna shoot ‘Venus vs. [...]
March 18th, 2010 at 2:35 pm
You know people will take it wrong, because people are finding out that you and your music is influenced by the devil. Why would you sing “We are the world?” Michael Jackson was trying to save humanity, not rule over it.
I will pray for you to go back to the light. Sad and disheartened to find out out you gave your soul over to the dark force in order to gain money power. What you do in this world and gain is no comparison to eternity and the damnation of trying to bring other souls down with you. But people are waking up. I