Tucson's biggest concert of the year is days away.
The Last Smash Platinum Bash, the first concert at Arizona Stadium since 1977, features Jay-Z, Kelly Clarkson, The Veronicas, Third Eye Blind and local act Ryanhood — the winner of Caliente's Play the Bash contest, determined by you.
Presented by the Associated Students of the University of Arizona, the lineup of Wednesday's show will not be seen anywhere else. We've got all you need to know ahead of the show.
Jay-Z, with something to say, earns respect
Tupac Shakur and Notorious B.I.G. never headlined a concert in Tucson.
Jay-Z, the only rapper fit to be mentioned in the same company as Pac and Biggie, will be here on Wednesday to perform his first concert of 2009.
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The Last Smash Platinum Bash, will include four other acts, but none looms as large as the Jigga Man.
Anyone who has even the slightest love for hip-hop has to respect Jay-Z, born Shawn Carter, as one of the most influential artists in any form of music. The "Mike Jordan of recording," as he puts it.
Live Nation doesn't hand out $150 million deals to just anyone. A guy who can simply rhyme words together nicely doesn't sell 39 million albums worldwide and win five Grammy awards. And Def Jam Records co-founder Russell Simmons wouldn't hand over the reins of his empire to some street hustler, as he did in 2004 to make Jay-Z president and CEO.
Many have biases against hip-hop and rap, but Jay-Z is one of those rare artists who transcend genre descriptions. He's a monster in and outside of the recording booth, as famous for freestyling as for his business smarts.
Lyrically, the 39-year-old's career has been built around the unflinching detail in his raps. Much of his content revolves around being raised broke in Brooklyn, N.Y., pressured to come up with money, and the reality of street survival, but never without a nod to his critics.
"Yeah, I sold drugs for a living; that's a given," Jay-Z raps in the closing song of his heralded 1996 debut, "Reasonable Doubt." "Why don't y'all try to visit the neighborhoods I lived in?"
His brutal descriptions of the anarchic life of big-city drug dealing were never blind to consequence or the human experience, unlike the work of many high-profile, virtually cartoonish rappers. (How's it going, 50 Cent and Snoop Dogg?)
Even on a made-for-radio song such as "Izzo (H.O.V.A.)," the lead single from his fantastic 2001 album "The Blueprint," Jay-Z (nicknamed Hova) takes time to acknowledge the words he speaks and the effect they could have on the listener.
"Like I told you sell drugs: no. Hov did that, so hopefully you won't have to go through that," he says.
As much gutter talk as you'll find in Jay-Z's lyrics — almost every song is filled with highly explicit language — there are also many pure moments of pain and remorse.
In most music genres, sharing emotion is paramount, but in mainstream hip-hop, showing feelings means you're weak. The hip-hop game has always been about being tough, though there's enough signs to show that may be changing, thanks to artists such as Jay-Z and Kanye West.
In the song "This Can't Be Life," from 2000's "The Dynasty: Roc La Familia," Jay-Z describes the miscarriage of one of his children.
"Though my heart still torn, life gone from her womb, don't worry. If it was meant to be, it'll be — soon," he raps.
Dismantling stereotypes is something Jay-Z's been working on since he got started.
Many rappers today looking for a big breakout radio hit will cite Jay-Z's 1998 smash "Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)" as something to strive for. Built around a child-sung chorus from the Broadway musical "Annie," the song was unlike any mainstream hip-hop song before it, and it stands today as Jay-Z's trademark tune.
That Jay-Z was able to incorporate Broadway show tunes with hip-hop beats and actually grow his credibility instead of losing it is a testament to the man's confidence in his craft.
Those who scoff at the traditional hip-hop outfit of backward caps, oversized T-shirts and baggy jeans should thank Jay-Z: He was one of the first rappers to start dressing in button-up shirts and suits.
"Y'all niggaz acting way too tough. Throw on a suit; get it tapered up," he raps in "Change Clothes."
If you're still not convinced that Jay-Z in the real deal, his 2008 deal with Live Nation was the most expensive package given to any artist by the corporate music goliath, which includes Madonna and U2.
All this, and at the end of the day, Jay-Z goes home to have dinner his wife: hip-hop superstar Beyoncé.
A global industry
"I'm not a businessman. I'm a business, man," Jay-Z says quite accurately in the remix to Kayne West's "Diamonds from Sierra Leone."
Here's some of his entrepreneurial highlights:
Roc-A-Fella Records
Jay-Z started Roc-A-Fella Records with his partners Damon Dash and Kareem "Biggs" Burke in 1996. The label has released every one of the rapper's albums. It was sold to Def Jam Records in 2004 for $10 million and still houses popular artists such as Kanye West.
Rocawear
In 1999, Jay-Z co-founded Rocawear clothing, which can be found in department stores across the country. He sold the brand in 2007 for $204 million.
Def Jam Records
In 2004, Jay-Z was named president and CEO of Def Jam Records, the goliath hip-hop label that Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin founded in 1984. Among other things, the label launched the careers of the Beastie Boys and Run DMC and has gone on to release work from artists such as Nas, Redman, Method Man, Ludacris and DMX. Jay-Z stepped down in 2007.
40/40 Club
Jay-Z's high-end sports bar and lounge opened in New York in 2003 and has since branched out to Atlantic City. He's looking to expand into cities such as Chicago and Tokyo.
New Jersey Nets
In 2004, Jay-Z became part owner of the NBA's New Jersey Nets. Jay-Z, along with some business partners, bought the franchise for $300 million.
Live Nation
Jay-Z left Def Jam records last year and signed a $150 million deal with Live Nation that, among other things, includes recordings and tours for the next decade.
So much for quitting rap.
If you go
• What: Last Smash Platinum Bash featuring Jay-Z, Kelly Clarkson, The Veronicas, Third Eye Blind and Ryanhood.
• When: 5 p.m. Wednesday.
• Where: Arizona Stadium at the UA.
• Tickets: $56 to $200, plus $16 surcharge per ticket, at asua.arizona.com
• Saturday special: Get a ticket at half-price with any purchase from the following merchants between 5 and 10 p.m. on Saturday: Paradise Bakery, Fuku Sushi, Jimmy John's, Chipotle, Frog & Firkin and the Arizona Bookstore. Bring receipt to Geronimo Plaza on East University Boulevard before 10 p.m. to buy half-off ticket (and half-off surcharge). Excludes $200 seats.
• Ticket update: ASUA President Tommy Bruce said more than half of the 17,000 tickets had sold as of Tuesday. He declined to give a specific number.
