Elliott Wilson, editor-in-chief of RESPECT., meets with Jigga to discuss myriad topics from the rapper’s lengthy and loaded career. With Magna Carta Holy Grail as a starting point, Jay Z addresses everything from collaborating with Justin Timberlake and collecting art, to shooting the Samsung commercial without a script, counting digital sales, and having bigger things to worry about than paparazzi. A man who wears many hats, Hov contends that this spectrum of roles reflects his individuality, asking “What’s the sense of being successful if you can’t still be yourself?”

Watch the first part of the interview below, and stay tuned for part two, scheduled to be released later today.

Update: Part two is now available as well. Continue on. 

The post Interview: Jay Z Sits Down With Elliott Wilson for a #FACTSONLY Interview appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Game 5 between the Spurs and the Heat was all the talk for Sunday night – until halftime. Jay-Z, who recently teamed up with Samsung in a deal reportedly worth millions, took over the night with a simple 3-minute commercial.

The video (which can be viewed below) shows Jay in the studio with Timbaland, Pharrell, Swizz Beat and Rick Rubin, with plently of Samsung product integration all around them. But the strange thing is that the “next big thing” is not a new Samsung phone, but a new Jay-Z album. “Magna Carta Holy Grail,” the rapper’s fifteenth studio LP, will be released July 4 through a limited release for Galaxy users.

The album will be given out free to the first million people who download an official Samsung Galaxy app, which will be available June 24 through the album’s website here. These fans will gain access to the album prior to its release date to the general public, which will arrive 72 hours later.

According to the WSJ, Samsung bought each album at $5 a piece, however there has yet to be confirmation on whether or not those sales would count towards Jay’s first week soundscan numbers. If they do count, that essentially means Hov would score a platinum plaque week 1.

Check out an official statement for the album below.

The post Jay-Z Announces “Magna Carta Holy Grail” Album Details appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.

Today, T-Mobile announced the upcoming nationwide availability of the Samsung Galaxy S II.  Running on America’s Largest 4G Network, the Galaxy S II is expected to be available this fall. It features a brilliant 4.52-inch Super AMOLED Plus touch screen – one of the largest screens available on a Galaxy S II device. It also promises to keep customers entertained and connected while on the go.

The post T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy S II appeared first on RESPECT. | The Photo Journal of Hip-Hop Culture.