Anyone who has heard Kendrick Lamar‘s “Money Trees”, knows that it’s really Jay Rock‘s “Money Trees”. The verse is so raw and painting the clearest picture of the struggle that many people face growing up in the hood. The TDE member sat down with Life + Times to break down the verse, and explain it came to be. Check it out below. “Imagine Rock up in them projects…”

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This past January, The 40/40 Club in New York was restructured, revamped and thoroughly renovated as a result of it going through a $10-million overhaul. At the head of the overhaul was renowned architect Jeffrey Beers, Life + Times had the opportunity to sit down with Mr. Beers and discuss details regarding the renovation.

Life+Times: What’s your background in architecture?
Jeffrey Beers: I have an extensive background in architecture beginning with my education at Rhode Island School of Design, where I received a Bachelor’s in Architecture. I was also an ITT Fulbright Scholar and studied with the legendary Oscar Niemeyer. This was followed by a nine-year professional tenure with I.M. Pei & Partners as an architect. In 1987, I opened my own firm and was able to bring my architectural sensibilities to a number of prestigious interior projects. Great interior design requires an understanding of the shell, or the structure of an interior project, in order to maximize the impact of an interior space.

L+T: Why did you decide to take on the renovation of The 40/40?
JB: JAY Z is a living legend and a true New Yorker. His innovative music and brand has made him one of the most influential artists in any industry. The opportunity to collaborate and create a space which truly represented that brand was such an honor. It was an unprecedented project in many ways, especially given the club’s dual identity: sports lounge and high-end nightclub. Even though melding the two was somewhat of a challenge, JAY Z himself was such a great inspiration in terms of his own style. Sophisticated, approachable, and stylish, The 40/40 Club truly reflects the urban refinement that JAY Z himself embodies.

L+T: How was it different your other projects?
JB: Each one of our projects is unique. 40/40 is a sports lounge that transforms into a nightclub, so we had to create a design solution that spoke to both of these seemingly contrasting elements. In other words, the space needed to be a chameleon; devoid of pretention while still evoking a sense of luxury and style.

L+T: What was the inspiration behind the direction you took in the redesign?
JB: Inspiration was taken from classic NYC architecture which seemed fitting as the club is situated right off of Madison Square Park. The interior space highlights the grandeur and luxury that we envisioned, which plays nicely against the lively social atmosphere of the club. The intent was to bring more of an upscale residential feel to a sports club lounge in a way that engages both the sports enthusiast and the nightclub goer. 40/40 represents a fusion of the music and sports industries, and the ultimate goal was to strike a balance between the two, without compromising the 40/40 brand.

L+T: What do you want patrons to feel when they are in the space?
JB: The new space is open and has a fluid movement which really speaks to the lively social atmosphere of this club. You can watch games on one of the many TVs or simply watch the interaction amongst people from all over the club. It’s an environment that invites a variety of spatial interaction with its creative layout and contemporary design accented by timeless references. The overall feel of the space is one of sophistication and urban luxury, devoid of the austere pretentiousness that one finds in many traditional nightclubs today.

L+T: What’s your favorite part of the new 40/40?
JB: The movement and activity that the new design has given to the club. The VIP Rooms are beautifully appointed, extremely comfortable and inviting — like watching the game at home… your dream home.

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Click here for more photos.

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Introducing Jay-Z‘s latest creation: a lifestyle blog.

Life and Times breaks down into a  few important categories: Leisure, Art & Design, Style, Music, Technology and Jay’s. Presumably, the Jay’s category contains the content that Mr. Carter himself actually posts. Either way, everything on the site seems sufficiently cool and interesting.

Take a look for yourself HERE

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