Dues Paid

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrDIOVXx-y8

JAY-Z RESPONDS TO NOEL'S OPINION THAT HAVING RAPPERS AT GLASTONBURY IS "WRONG"

As we mentioned, Jay-Z's playing overseas festivals this summer ... like, for another instance, headlining Glastonbury. Noel Gallagher, for one, doesn't think a hip-hop artist should be playing the top Saturday night slot because it screws with the history and roots of the UK festival. Plus, "It's wrong." Jay-Z responded in an interview with Bizarre. Via The Sun:

"We don't play guitars, Noel, but hip-hop has put in its work like any other form of music."

Jay -- who had a 2003 hit with "99 Problems" -- sees his slot at the famous festival as rap's next logical step.

The operative phrase here is "a hit," not "his only hit." That's the thing Noel, Jay-Z 's continued to be relevant, while you should be happy to get any festival spots, continuing to do no more than standing on the shoulders of your past accomplishment. Jay continued.

"This headline show is just a natural progression. Rap music is still evolving. 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 .... I've never ever had a show that's caused this much of a stir so I'm really looking forward to it. I've never been involved in anything this controversial. What's the big deal about doing a show? I guess it's heritage and people hold that dear to their heart and see it one way but that's how the world is."

With global urban music sales outstripping those of any other genre, I reckon the former New York drug dealer has a strong point.

Former New York drug dealer? Way to bring that up out of nowhere, Sun. Jay-Z, former drug dealer, had more to say.

"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."

The Sun also notes Jay-Z, a former New York drug dealer, is headlining the O2 Wireless Festival and doing a UK arena tour in July. And, speaking of white guys with guitars, Mark Ronson's his supporting act.