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Jay-Z breaks his silence over Glastonbury furore
United States News.Net
Tuesday 13th May, 2008 (ANI)
London, May 13 : American rapper Jay-Z has finally opened up about the controversy surrounding his Glastonbury Festival headline slot.
The whole thing started out when Oasis legend Noel Gallagher kicked off a massive debate about whether a hip-hop act should top the bill on the Saturday night.
Jay-Z retaliated in an exclusive interview with Bizarre, where he hit back at Noel by calling him narrow-minded.
"We don't play guitars, Noel, but hip-hop has put in its work like any other form of music," The Sun quoted him, as telling Bizarre.
According to Jay-Z, whose '99 Problems' was a hit in 2003, the slot given to him just goes to prove that rap is on its way.
"This headline show is just a natural progression. Rap music is still evolving," he said.
"From Afrika Bambaataa DJ-ing in the Bronx and Run DMC going platinum, to Jazzy Jeff And The Fresh Prince winning the first rap Grammy, I'm just next in the line.
"We have to respect each other's genre of music and move forward," he added.
Gallagher senior raised a chunky eyebrow to Jay's inclusion in the line-up because he believes the West Country festival should stick to its roots.
"Glastonbury has a tradition of guitar music and even when they throw the odd curve ball in on a Sunday night, you go: 'Kylie Minogue?' I'm not having hip-hop at Glastonbury. It's wrong," Gallagher said.
Jay-Z believes that the people who have objected to his inclusion on the bill are stuck in the past and he is enjoying the controversy he is causing.
"I've never ever had a show that's caused this much of a stir so I'm really looking forward to it," he said.
"I've never been involved in anything this controversial. What's the big deal about doing a show?
"I guess its heritage and people hold that dear to their heart and see it one way but that's how the world is.
"The world has to change. It just can't be one thing - and that's the beautiful thing.
"That's why people feel so passionate about an event.
"People have that passion and have an opinion about who should perform there. But the world changes and we have to embrace the change.
"The artists of yesterday paved the way for the artists of tomorrow and that's just how music is. For us rappers to arrive at this point has taken years," he added.
Apart from Glastonbury, Jay-Z is also headlining the O2 Wireless Festival and doing an arena tour in July, with producer Mark Ronson supporting him.
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