By The Hip Hop Writer
Hip Hop Vibe Staff Writer
There was not much Jay-Z had not done when he prepared to release his eleventh studio album, The Blueprint 3. Jay-Z sold millions of records and started numerous successful businesses, along the way becoming the most-successful rapper ever. At the time, though, Jay-Z had yet to top the Billboard Hot 100.
Jay-Z sought to correct this, releasing two top ten singles with “D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)” and “Run this Town,” featuring Rihanna and Kanye West. “Run this Town” set a then-record for Jay-Z, peaking at number three on the countdown. However, Jay-Z took over the charts with the release of “Empire State of Mind.”
Many view “Empire State of Mind” as the new anthem for New York. Three years after its initial release, the song is still heavily used. Now, Jay-Z ventures into more unknown territory, partnering with Zynga for a new Facebook game. Dr. Dre partnered with Mafia Wars for the promotion of Detox.
Now, Jay-Z is taking things to the next level, helping people spend more time on Facebook with them building an “empire.” The word could and should be used to describe what Jay-Z has built and is also a play on the name of his single, “Empire State of Mind.” Those who play the game have the opportunity to rise the ranks from the “projects to the top of the world,” as Jay-Z rapped on “Change Clothes.”
