You’re the only rapper on this list. We were considering Nas but have this 13-year rule: People on this list had to have had an impact in the last 13 years. And Illmatic was 1994. Should we have included him?Jay-Z: Ah, wow! [Laughs] That’s a tough question. [Pauses] Yeah, only because of the impact of that album, when it’s considered one of the best albums ever created, you have to document that.

 

How about Kanye? Has he earned it yet?
Jay-Z: He’s from Chicago, but he’s close. I don’t know if he’s had that one album that’s moved the entire culture, but he’s hit it three times in a row. He’ll be on every list one day.

Are you guys really teaming up for Blueprint 3?
Jay-Z: Yeah, actually. We’re partners right now. Starsky and Hutch right now.

And B? What was your first meeting with your wife like?Jay-Z: I can’t answer that question. [Laughs] Come on now.

Seriously? You guys wrote a song about being in love.
Jay-Z: I’m actually pretty open, especially in the music. And in conversation, when I get to know people. But there’s one side of my life I tend to keep quiet. You have to have some time of sanity. You can’t live with everything out there. You have to have sanctuary.

50 Cent obviously isn’t satisfied knowing that he raked in almost twice as much dough as Jay-Z in a recent 12-month period. Now he’s dissin’ Jigga too.

“I’m a big fan of Jay-Z, but outside of the States and hip-hop circles, no one really knew who he was until he married Beyonce,” 50 Cent is quoted as saying in a story provided by WENN.

Fiddy also disputed reports that Jay-Z is worth an estimated $1 billion but is adamant he’s not jealous of his fortune.

“I don’t believe he’s worth that much! It’s all been exaggerated. I’m comfortable. I don’t want for anything so I’m not in a race.”

Forbes recently released its “Hip-Hop Cash Kings” rankings that showed 50 Cent atop the list with an earnings of $150 million over a specific 12-month period and Jay-Z second with $82 million. Hova was No. 1 in 2007. 

I’ve never seen a report about Jay-Z reaching true baller status with $1 billion. Now maybe if he takes his wife’s portfolio into account that will get him there. But on his own? No way.

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A lawyer representing troubled rapper DMX insists the star is not in a “life-threatening situation”, despite reportedly admitting himself into a Florida hospital for “fear of stroke” earlier this week. The hip-hop star - real name Earl Simmons - was allegedly taken to the emergency room at a hospital in Aventura, Florida on Monday (22Sep08).

His health scare caused the rapper to miss a scheduled court appearance on Tuesday (23Sep08) in Arizona - where he was set to appear on charges of theft. And while his attorney Bradford Cohen refuses to comment on the exact nature of DMX’s illness, he is confident the hospitalisation will have no long-term effects on the hip-hop hitmaker’s health.

Cohen tells Billboard.com, “It was serious enough for him to be brought and taken into a treatment facility. “He spent the night there last night, and he will probably spend tonight there as well. I don’t think it’s going to be an ongoing thing or a life-threatening situation. He’s going to be all right.” DMX also faces several animal cruelty, traffic violation and drug possession counts in the state.

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BRIDGEPORT, Conn. -- Bridgeport Mayor John Fabrizi has declared  "50 Cent Day" and will honor the rapper with a key to the city and an official proclamation.

The rapper, whose real name is Curtis Jackson, will also present a check to Hall Neighborhood House, an inner-city nonprofit group, and speak to about 30 students from city high schools as part of his charity work to improve young people's lives.

Now authorities have decided to give him the key to the city on October 12 - which will officially be known as Curtis Jackson Day.

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