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Jay-Z: Unplugged (2001)

Where the lyrics of Jay-Z: Unplugged take you, and where it was really made.

This live album was taped at an MTV studio: Jay-Z's older songs were rebuilt with a live band, the Roots.

Key places

MTV Unplugged 2.0 taping (2001)

Live show MTV Studios — The album was recorded during the taping of an MTV Unplugged 2.0 episode at MTV Studios in New York City on November 18, 2001. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Jay-Z: Unplugged, a 2001 live album by rapper Jay-Z
• Contains some of his past songs performed with live instruments
• Live instruments were played by the hip-hop band the Roots
• Recorded during the taping of an MTV Unplugged 2.0 episode on November 18, 2001
• Recording location: MTV Studios, New York City
• All songs were produced by Questlove and the Roots
• "People Talking" was produced by Ski
• The album sold more than 600,000 copies

Background

• The album reworks songs Jay-Z had already released
• Earlier tracks were reinterpreted with a live band rather than their original backing
• The Roots served as the live band for the whole set
• The taping was part of the MTV Unplugged 2.0 series
• The record stands as a live document of this one taping

Recording

• The album was recorded live at the taping, not assembled from studio sessions
• Questlove, who is part of the Roots, took a producer role on all songs
• The sample credits show that several tracks interpolate older songs by other artists
• Interpolations are listed for tracks including Izzo, Takeover, Hard Knock Life and others
• Ski produced the track People Talking, separately from the rest of the album

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Early life

• Shawn Corey Carter, born December 4, 1969, in Brooklyn, New York City.
• Raised in Marcy Houses in Bedford–Stuyvesant; mother Gloria Carter raised him and his three older siblings after his father left when he was 11.
• Dropped out of Trenton Central High School during his sophomore year.
• Adopted the stage name Jay-Z in homage to his mentor Jaz-O.

Career

• Began recording in the late 1980s, contributing verses to Jaz-O's records.
• Co-founded Roc-A-Fella Records; debut album Reasonable Doubt (1996) was critically acclaimed.
• Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life (1998) became his most commercially successful album, certified 6× Platinum in the US.
• The Blueprint (2001) debuted at number one on the Billboard 200.
• Led Def Jam Recordings as president and CEO from 2004 to 2007.
• Founded Roc Nation in 2008 and later 4:44 (2017) and Everything Is Love with Beyoncé (2018).
• Has 25 Grammy Awards and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2021.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• Released as a live album that reworks past Jay-Z songs
• The live arrangements were performed by the hip-hop band the Roots
• Recorded during the taping of an MTV Unplugged 2.0 episode on November 18, 2001
• The taping took place at MTV Studios in New York City
• The record presents older Jay-Z tracks in a band format instead of their original studio form
• Questlove and the Roots are credited as producers of all songs
• The track People Talking is credited to Ski as producer

Reappraisal

• The album is built on earlier Jay-Z songs, so the live band versions are its main feature
• Several tracks include interpolations of older songs written by other artists
• Izzo (H.O.V.A.) interpolates I Want You Back
• Takeover interpolates Sound of da Police and Five to One
• Hard Knock Life (The Ghetto Anthem) interpolates It's the Hard Knock Life
• Ain't No and Can't Knock the Hustle each combine several interpolated sources

Records

• The album sold more than 600,000 copies

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• The album was taped during an MTV Unplugged 2.0 episode, so its songs were captured in a single show.
• Izzo (H.O.V.A.) is built on an interpolation of I Want You Back.
• Takeover contains interpolations of Sound of da Police and Five to One.
• Hard Knock Life (The Ghetto Anthem) contains an interpolation of It's the Hard Knock Life.
• People Talking is the only track in the credits listed as produced by Ski instead of Questlove and the Roots.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

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