Music

Jay-Z used Rick Rubin as a living prop to promote his new record

by Aaron Zorgel

Did you guys see that glorified Samsung commercial promoting Magna Carta Holy Grail, where Jay-Z is hanging out with some of the most prestigious hip-hop producers of all time, including Timbaland, Swizz Beatz, and Pharrell? Remember how Rick Rubin was just kind of kicking it on the couch, giving everyone the impression that he was lending his leisurely sculpting skills to the project, the same way he came through in the clutch with Yeezus? It turns out that Hov was just using Rick’s giant beard as a prop for his black and white infomercial.

While speaking to XXL, Rubin said “the point of me being in the commercials was that [Jay-Z] 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.”

So, while plopping Rick Rubin on the couch during filming for the commercial probably gave people the impression he was involved in producing the record, it turns out that Rick was just listening to the album, and nothing more.

What did Rick think of Magna Carta Holy Grail? Apparently, it was a “difficult” listen. “I was in a very alternative and progressive headspace, and Jay’s record is a more traditional hip-hop record.”

Looks like there won’t be too much primal screaming on Jay-Z’s new record. Go figure.