Notably, DMX and Jay Z had history dating a long way back before вЂњMoney, Cash, Hoes,вЂќ вЂњBlackout,вЂќ and the tour. The artists had the sales, the acclaim, and the ability to present their styles on a grand, Pop-embraced level. Jay and X joined Eminem, Big Pun, and Nas as the perceived new kings of Rap in вЂ™99. Sometimes I Rap Fast, Sometimes I Rap Slow: The Evolution Of Jay ZвЂ™s Flow (Food For Thought)

2вЂ¦Hard Knock Life afforded Jigga his first #1 LP, on the strength of owning his status and diversifying his nimble flow. Shawn Carter was cool, calm, and untouchable-in the John Gotti sense. Jay pushed his pinky finger out when he toasted champagne flutes to cashmere thoughts-actualized. Jay Z, on the other hand, had applied two albums of non-fictional hustling allegories, street-certified truisms, and proving that he вЂњknew what girls likedвЂќ (too) into his most Pop-savvy LP yet. ItвЂ™s Dark and Hell Is Hot and Flesh Of My Flesh, Blood Of My Blood had their catchy hits, but were anchored by sinister themes, personal confessions, and a man who truly identified himself as a cornered dog. Earl Simmons brought a jailhouse mentality to the top of Billboard, with his grimace, Newport-smoking, tattooed and shirtless image. DMX had released two #1 albums in 1998, and occupied a hardcore space in mainstream Hip-Hop that pulled from ONYX, Scarface, and an artist he was often compared to in Tupac Shakur. While both were pillars of Rap-made-right and suddenly sex symbols, they only overlapped in skill and love of the art. Joining them on the road was another #1 album maker in Method Man (who had been at the label longer than Jay or X), Ja Rule, Memphis Bleek, Beanie Sigel, DJ Clue, Amil-and the decade-long statesman of Def Jam, Redman.Д¬aptured in the documentary film Backstage, Jay Z and DMX had vastly different demeanors on wax, on stage, and as celebrities. Both artists had become the flagship acts at Def Jam Records in the Lyor Cohen and Kevin Liles era of the famed record label. Although Jay ZвЂ™s album gave the tour its name, the lineup was a joint headliner of the Roc-A-Fella Records co-founder and DMX. West Coast beef вЂ“ check it out above.In 1999, Jay Z and DMX embarked (and majorly cashed in) on the Hard Knock Life Tour. If XXL Mag notes, the entire crew erupted into a round of applause for the loyalty between the rap legends before discussing a host of other hot topics, from SnoopвЂ™s takeover of Death Row Records to the infamous East vs. вЂњAnd guess who DreвЂ™s husband is? ItвЂ™s me!вЂ™ вЂњOf course, thatвЂ™s his man,вЂќ replied Snoop Dogg. вЂњThatвЂ™s spiritual,вЂќ the host said of the вЂњCrack A BottleвЂќ employeeвЂ™s bromance. When he asked who the вЂњwhite personвЂќ in question is, NORE discovered the 4:44 hitmaker spoke of Eminem, who said, вЂњI canвЂ™t do it if I canвЂ™t bring 50.вЂќ

вЂњI said to JAY-Z, вЂI have to honestly ask this вЂ“ whoвЂ™s going to be performing in the NFL?вЂ™ He said to me, and IвЂ™m sorry for anyone who doesnвЂ™t understand, he said, вЂThe white man called for 50 Cent.'вЂќ

According to one of the hosts, NORE, Slim Shady was unwilling to participate without a performance from his old friend Fif, who actually didnвЂ™t appear on the original lineup, and was a surprise edition.

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