When the first trailer for Baz Luhrmann's The Great Gatsby was released a year ago, it was set to the music of Jay-Z and Kanye West's "No Church in the Wild," from the sometimes duo's incredibly self-important Watch the Throne album.

On the surface it made sense. Jay-Z -- who retired as a rapper in 2003, only to re-emerge three years later as a branding mogul who raps mainly to further his brand recognition and expand on his legacy (and occasionally become a topic of discussion in White House press briefings) -- has become the soundtrack for film trailers from 42 to Sex in the City 2 to Safe House to GI Joe: Retaliation to a few movies that could be listed but no one would recognize.

See also: Point: Jay-Z Sold Out Brooklyn

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Fashion Killa Jay-Z

Earlier this week, the archival department over at Rap Radar unearthed some 1989 public access TV-looking footage of a pre-fame Jay-Z freestyling with his mentor The Jaz over an instrumental of E.P.M.D.'s chunk 'o funk "So What Cha Sayin'." Ever one for a sense of occasion, Jigga decided to sport a pink and white striped tracksuit for the appearance. In honor of the old man's legacy then, here's a run through some of Mr. Carter's low-key pre-fame recordings that go back nearly a decade before he dropped his "In My Lifetime" solo shot.

See also: Point: Jay-Z Sold Out Brooklyn

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Jason Lewis

Here's the easiest quiz in the world, and not just because we gave you the answer in the title of the post.

If you had to guess, which artist's fan base had to deal with much tighter security at Barclays Center?
A) Jay-Z's
B) Barbra Streisand's

If you guessed A), congratulations, you live in the real world. If you guessed B), well, hmmm. We just hope you don't live in a swing state.

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Sean Carter has always let it be known that he is a ruthless cultural capitalist, a man who's out for success for himself and his own. Now that he's achieved that success, it's worth thinking about what his single-minded pursuit of the American dream means to his native borough, where he just performed a string of eight sold-out concerts in the brand new sports arena that he was essential in bringing to the area.

Point: Jay-Z Sold Out Brooklyn

As much as any man can represent a place, Jay-Z is a living embodiment of Brooklyn. As his star has risen, so has his borough's. But has Jay betrayed his native land? After all, he does live in Tribeca. In trying to make a statement by taking the subway to the Barclay's Center for his show, he inadvertently let it slip that he's never used a Metrocard before. Is Jay-Z, as some suggest, a traitor?

See also:
- Jay-Z Sold Out Brooklyn
- Hello Brooklyn: Jay-Z's First Night at the Barclays Center
- Jay-Z - Barclays Center (Day 2)
- Jay's First Concert at Barclays, a Movie Opposed to Barclays, And a People Not So Divided

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Life & Times

Counterpoint: Jay-Z Saved Brooklyn

According to Jay-Z's own mythology, at some point in the '90s he used an apartment at 560 State Street in Brooklyn's Boerum Hill neighborhood as a stash spot for his drug-peddling paraphernalia. Last week, the rapper played eight back-to-back shows two and a half blocks away at the new Barclays Center arena, which will also host the Brooklyn Nets basketball team he owns less than 1 percent stake in. The concerts were billed as a celebration of Brooklyn, with Jay symbolizing the resurrected pride and pomp of the borough. But that's just promotional fluff: Jay's role in the Barclays Center debacle is a crass case of selling-out the borough's soul for a stash of cash.

See also:
- Hello Brooklyn: Jay-Z's First Night at the Barclays Center
- Jay-Z - Barclays Center (Day 2)
- Jay's First Concert at Barclays, a Movie Opposed to Barclays, And a People Not So Divided

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From Barclays Center site

See Photos From Night One: Hello Brooklyn: Jay-Z's First Night at the Barclays Center

Jay-Z
Barclays Center
9/29/12

Better Than: Seeing Jay-Z on the third night at Barclays Center.

Brooklyn has quickly become New York City's most popular borough, amassing a cult-like following (and real estate exodus) from celebrities, out-of-town transplants and the twentysomething set. Natives might balk at the concept of a borough du jour, but it's undeniably cooler to live in Brooklyn versus even comparable neighborhoods elsewhere in the city. At a cursory level, the cache is essentially just a marketing ploy that in many regards can be traced back to Jay-Z; the borough's most famous brand ambassador has steadily name-checked his hood in every pop culture permutation possible since the inception of his career.

See Also:
- Hello Brooklyn: Jay-Z's First Night At Barclays Center
- Jay-Z After Party with Talib Kweli and Young Guru
- Meek Mill - 40/40 Club - 9/26/2012

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Photo from Meek Mill's Instagram

Meek Mill
40/40 Club
Wednesday, September 26

Better Than: Schlepping up to Inwood for a random Jay-Z sighting.

Jay-Z is hip-hop's reigning master of synergy. Just days before he christens the Barclays Center in Brooklyn with a string of sold-out concerts, the rapper hosted the release of basketball video game NBA 2K13 at his 40/40 Club last night. As the game's executive producer--a nebulous title at best--Jay was billed as the host, which translated into him holding court with former frenemy-turned-colleague Nas and DJ Clue‪ in the sports club's V.I.P. section while sipping D'USSE Cognac‬ (a brand he just so happens to be the new spokesperson of). For no apparent reason other than because he can, Jay also plugged his Roc Nation signee/ Maybach Music Group affiliate Meek Mill as the event's entertainment.

See Also:
- Live: Rick Ross And His Crew Pack The Backyard At Alife
- Jay-Z's Rockawear Line Plans "Occupy All Streets" Shirts
- Best (and Only) Place To Get Armadale Vodka

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This week's Hot 100 debuts include big names and the viral video of the year—and, surprisingly, a nearly year-old track by Beyoncé. "Dance For You" was released on the deluxe version of 4 a little less than year ago and has been on the Hot R&B Songs chart since April; for a good but nowhere near great record, it's showed remarkable staying power.

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The philosopher Jiminy Cricket once famously said, "Just look at the morning paper. Turn to any page. You'll find the whole world worryin' about some future age. But why get so excited? What's gonna be is gonna be. The end of the world's been comin' since 1903. That's, uh, B.C., of course." Dr. Cricket, Esq.'s argument was simple: every generation thinks the next signals Armageddon. But hip-hop's gradual deterioration has been overstated; rappers who are barely able to drink, like Black Hippy and Joey Bada$$, are putting out incredible music. Which isn't to slight the elder statesmen who are holding it down—like Jay-Z, who lends some bars to a track from Kanye West's G.O.O.D. Music compilation.

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Today is the 11th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, a moment in American history that was pretty horrifying for reasons that have been enumerated countless times. Their effects on pop music weren't as tragic, to be sure, but they were pretty unfortunate—artists on both sides of the aisle manned their battlestations and put forth musical invective and sloganeering pap that diminished everyone involved, and turned the radio into a potential lightning rod for angry disagreements about the state of American politics. Even Aaron Carter got into the fray, which probably gives you an idea of how dire things got. Our nine picks for the most offensive pieces of music brought forth by the attacks below.

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