New Jay-Z Album To Be Released In July [Video]
Jay-Z had a surprise announcement for fans Sunday evening when he revealed that he is dropping a new album, titled Magna Carta Holy Grail, next month.
The album is scheduled to be released on July 4 … kind of.
The announcement came in the form of a TV ad that aired during Game 5 of the NBA Finals. The spot featured the 43-year-old rapper explaining his vision for the album and his partnership with Samsung, saying, “It’s this duality of how do you navigate your way through this whole this whole thing… through success, through failures, through all of this, and remain yourself.”
Featured in the ad are longtime collaboraters Pharrell Williams and Rick Rubin, who produced Jay’s buddy Kanye West’s new album, Yeezus. Also look for appearances by Swizz Beatz and Timberland.
Through Jay-Z’s upcoming $20 million partnership with Samsung, Magna Carta Holy Grail will be available for free download to the first one million owners of the Galaxy S III, Galaxy S 4, or Galaxy Note II at 12:01 am EST on July 4 . The lucky Samsung owners will be able to unlock the album on the Magna Carta app, which will be available for download June 24. The album will be available for sale release 72 hours later on July 7.
The idea for the distribution is alluded to in the three-minute ad, in which Mr. Carter says, “The idea is to really finish the album and drop it. Giving it to the world at one time and letting them share it, and it goes out.”
It’s similar to the approach West took with Yeezus, an album that he said was “all about giving.” West promoted the album by unveiling songs via video projections on the sides of building in more than 60 different locations.
Not including Watch the Throne, his collaboration with West, Jay-Z hasn’t put out a new album since 2009’s The Blueprint 3 (and even WTT was released almost two years ago). He did, however, release a live album, Live in Brookyln, in 2012.
You can watch the announcement for Jay-Z’s “revolutionary new album,” Magna Carta Holy Grail, below.
http://youtu.be/B–ZARCwSIE
Are you looking forward to Magna Carta Holy Grail?
[Photo credit: Debby Wong / Shutterstock.com]
