Kanye West continues to be a topic of conversation following his illuminating interview with Drink Champs‘ co-hosts N.O.R.E. and DJ EFN.
After Ye referred to Just Blaze as a “copycat” for his work on JAY-Z’s 2001 album The Blueprint, the veteran producer was compelled to respond to his comments but did so with nothing but humility and grace. And now, JAY-Z has entered the chat.
On Friday (November 5), while discussing his new film The Harder They Fall via Twitter Live Chat, Hov addressed Kanye’s remarks and called them a “bit unfair.” After all, Just Blaze, Kanye, Timbaland, Bink!, Trackmasters and Eminem were among those who helped make the album a bona fide Hip Hop classic.
“If you’re making an album, if you’re creating an album and the assignment is soul samples, everyone’s coming with soul,” he said. “It’s not you trying to make a cohesive piece of music. I don’t think anyone was copying off anyone. You know Bink! has this problem and you know I think everyone created for the project.
“But the thing was, the baby was The Blueprint and I think everyone should be prized for what we created. You know it’s in like — I don’t know what you call — at the Library of Congress or something. It’s like it’s something that we all should or you know their contribution.
JAY-Z added, “Everyone had a contribution I would say, and I don’t think anyone was copying off anyone. I think Bink! did what he did when he brought it to the table and you know, we all had the assignment and created this one body of work … Again, this is everyone’s opinion of what they believe is, you know, their truth. Everyone going to have a different truth.”
As for Bink!, the longtime beatmaker couldn’t have been happier about Kanye’s claims. Shortly after the interview arrived on Thursday (November 4), Bink! took to Instagram with a clip of the conversation.
I’m a leave this rt here,” he wrote in the caption. “now call him bitter for telling the truth!! and yes to the guy in the background, I was super happy to hear this. GOOD MORNING…Ye and I crafted that album period! Ye brought his sound and I brought mine!!”
Just Blaze did admit he was let down by Kanye West’s recollection of the project but ultimately wished him nothing but the best.
“I’m only addressing this publicly because it was stated publicly,” he stated in his Instagram post. “I’m not here for mudslinging, I’m just a bit confused and disappointed. None of what was said tonight regarding me fits with any of our history or our previous interactions – particularly in light of very recent attempts to work together together. Through recent years he has reached out to collaborate on various projects, including a much rumored collaborative project that he was looking for me to handle a good amount of.”
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He concluded with,”Regarding that one comment: respectfully, I’m happy for him and the fact that he has succeeded in the ways he wanted to, but not everyone wants to be where he is,” he wrote. “Everyone’s definition of personal success if a bit different. I’m quite happy where I am creatively, with my family, and my life in general. We were a part of history together and I wish him well and continued success.”
The Blueprint arrived on September 11, 2001, the same day as the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The project debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with over 427,000 copies sold in its first week.
Kanye is a Mental Coward.
Just Blaze was slinging mud before now he on the humble…. Nah
When you fall off all you can do is remain humble
Musically it was a great album…lyrically Jay’s eg0 was at an all time high…very shallow album overall(breathe easy was Cormega’s beat)
Go home, you’re drunk.
Yeah, ok… So the title track, “Song Cry” “Never Change” “Renegade” even “H to the Izzo”, are shallow to you? Do you even listen to music or just skim through it?
Classy response from Just Blaze. I couldn’t believe the quote when I read it – both producers came up damn near simultaneously. Besides, listen to “Soon You’ll Understand” from 2000’s Roc La Familia and you can hear Just Blaze was doing the pitch-shifted sound before Kanye. And they all took it from Wu-Tang and Supreme Clientele anyway!
Thank you…if it’s anyone, it’s RZA who is the father of that whole sound.
Umm… Kanye produced Can’t Be Life on that same album and he used the pitch shifted sample of I Miss You from Harold Melvin and The Blue Notes.
If you wanna be really real kayne said when he did this can’t be life he tried to emulate dr Dre xxxplosive. Those drum patterns are the same
Yep. I see you know your history sir. There’s also a video of Timbaland showing him how to improve the drums on Stronger that’s why 808s and Heartbreak hits harder.
Posted in wrong place…. I see you know your history sir. There’s also a video of Timbaland showing him how to improve the drums on Stronger that’s why 808s and Heartbreak hits harder.
Bruh this website is tripping. I replied twice but it keeps posting under the wrong comment.
He took the drum pattern as is. all he did was loop it and probaly eq’d it
Man producers been sampling old school music. The fuck lol before Rza, Ye, just etc…
I really don’t give a fuck what Kanye says. I love dudes music for the time it was important to me. It ain’t important to me anymore. I still can put on his first 4 or 5 albums and WTT, and also a ton of collabs and mixes blah blah blah – but he salty AF. He should be treating people better at this stage of his life. Blaze ain’t out there bad mouthing folks like it’s junior high. Grow up dork.
HATE KANYE BUT JUST BLAZE IS DOCUMENTED BITER.
Harlem – I really like it – sounds like the hitmen, busta rhymes – street shit – sounds like swizz beatz, beanie sigel – who want what – again swizz beatz meanwhile on the same beanie sigel album kanye had “the truth” which is a soul sample, banks had raw and uncut which is a soul sample. Just blaze started using that kanye/bink style on the memphis bleek album the understanding. I love just blaze but hes always been a trend hopper kanye and bink refreshed/reinvented the sound RZA brought in
If anyone was a copycat it was the Heatmakerz
OMG I been saying this. Thank uuuuuuu
The sample aspect but that’s about it, there drum patterns and arrangements were completely different.
Could’ve sworn Ye copied the Rza
Imagine the dude who ripped off large professor whole sound calling someone else a biter lol, and Kanye fans gobble this shit up.