Friday, the private
problems between Jay-Z and R.Kelly bubbled over publicly as Kelly abruptly left
the highly touted hometown Best of Both Worlds tour date at Madison Square Garden
in New York City.
According to Kelly’s
publicist, Kelly and two bodyguards was pepper sprayed by members of Jay-Z’s
entourage, forcing him to go to the hospital.
Several songs into his performance,
Kelly claimed members of the audience were flashing guns, prompting him to storm
off of the stage.
Kelly’s publicist
said he doubted Jay-Z had anything to do with the incidents, while Jay-Z vowed
to give fans in New York the concerts they paid for, without Kelly. Two more
shows are scheduled for tonight (October 30th) and Monday (November 1st).
In a recent interview, Jay-Z
expressed his frustration, even though he downplayed the supposed tension between
the pair.
“He had problems with
his lights, his sounds or whatever,” Jay-Z told AllHipHop.com. “Me,
I just need a mic and a bunch of people that I connect with and I’m cool.
My frustration is I don’t ever want to miss a show. I don’t want
a kid in Connecticut holding a ticket for 29 days and on the 30th day, we can’t
go there because of lights. I’m not a person that cares about lights.
F**k the lights. Lets get busy.”
However, after Kelly ditched
the performance at Madison Square Garden, Jay-Z’s communicated his resentment
in an exclusive interview with Angie Martinez of Hot 97 right after performing
the Oct. 29 show by himself. (Click here to listen to an excerpt)
“This is just disrespectful,
[leaving the New York date]. Everybody better grab their Best of Both Worlds
albums, because that’s it. It’s too much. Certain things aren’t
meant to be. It looks good on paper,” Hov said to Martinez. “I went
way outta my way. The first night [in Chicago] was terrible. I’m waiting
in my white suit for two hours. The guy don’t come downstairs…you
don’t do that. I’m like, ‘I don’t work for you, B. I
gave him that leeway, because that’s his town.”
“I did my best, I
put [my show] together in 5 minutes,” he said of the Kelly-less New York
show.
Mary J. Blige was present
and Jay suggested that perhaps a duet album with the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul would
be a more fruitful effort.
“I would just love
to do the Best of Both Worlds, me and Mary. I’ma put it out there,”
he said.
According to those present
in the studio, R. Kelly attempted to call in the station, but Jay-Z refused
to take his call.
Jigga also shot the notion
of people flashing guns down.
“They are tough in
the Garden. It’s tough. You cannot get a gun in Madison Square Garden.
Are you crazy?” he asked.
Jay-Z said, “Tell
him to look me in my face at talk to me. Tell him he can’t touch that
stage. If they want to see a show without him, they are welcome to see a show.
I’m just here for New York now. I don’t know about the rest of the
tour. Tell homey come see me, I’ma be at Club 40/40.”
The incident leaves the
rest of the already unstable tour up in the air. There are 14 remaining dates
on the tour.
“If I get love, he
can’t take that,” he said. “I’m not here to outshine
[him].”
