Despite Deaf Jam founder Rick Rubin being in the teaser commercials for Jay-Z’s upcoming Magna Carta Holy Grail, the longtime producer says he was not involved in the making of the new album.
He has produced such memorable albums before, such as The Beastie Boys’ Licensed To Ill and LL Cool J’s Radio -- most recently Jay-Z’s frequent collaborator Kanye West’s Yeezus -- but he did not have a hand in Jay-Z’s newest creation.
Fans might be confused because Rubin is see in the promotional video, but the hip hop veteran is now explaining why he’s in the video to XXL Mag.
“The point of me being in the commercials was that he was filming a documentary and he asked me—I imagine he’s just comfortable talking to me—to come listen to the songs with him and just talk about the songs. Just listen to it and talk about it, and that’s what we did. It was fun,” he said.
He also said about his first impression of the album, “I liked what I heard, but it was a little difficult—after just coming from the Kanye sessions—to listen to Jay’s album, because they’re so different. I was in a very alternative and progressive headspace, and Jay’s record is a more traditional hip-hop record.”
image: Beyonce.com