Q&A: Jay-Z on new CD, 9/11 and retiring

When Jay-Z released his first "Blueprint" CD on Sept. 11, 2001, the rapper couldn't have known how monumental, and tragic, the day would turn out to be.

This week, Jay-Z is once again releasing an album with the "Blueprint" tag, but this time, the release of CD around the Sept. 11 date is not coincidental, but purposeful.

"The Blueprint 3," billed as the final album of a trilogy, is being paired with a special benefit concert on Sept. 11 at Madison Square Garden. It will benefit the families of police officers and firefighters who lost their lives when the World Trade Center's twin towers collapsed in the terrorist attacks.

Jay-Z feels the album -- which features a myriad of guests including Kanye West, Rihanna and Alicia Keys -- shows how he's evolved to become one of hip-hop's leaders.

AP: Why do you feel this is the right time to release the third installment of "Blueprint"?

Jay-Z: This album was actually supposed to come out last year, but for some reason it didn't, and whatever happened and however we got to this place, we're here now. So it just made sense for me to grasp the moment and make it a bigger thing because the first one wasn't planned to come out on September 11, right? There was no "September 11." We didn't know that that tragic event would happen that day. So now with that knowledge, we should never forget and we should always move past it and be strong but never forget.

AP: Tell us about the recording process for this CD.

Jay-Z: It was great. In the face of everything that is going on, just me personally I just stick to true emotions and feelings and strength and growing in music, and not following trends or anything like that. So for me it was refreshing and a great feeling to put out an album, a full album of music that people can listen to and gravitate to. It took me a month just to put the sequence together. I'm proud of the album.

AP: Kayne West was an up-and-coming producer on "Blueprint" back in 2001. How was it different to work with him now?

Jay-Z: The most interesting thing in the studio was Kanye because of Kayne's growth. You got to figure on the first "Blueprint" he was a new producer, so he was just putting in the beats and moving out the way. On this one, he had an opinion about how the songs should sound and it was just great energy that we had in the studio.

AP: The record features a number of newcomers -- Drake, Kid Cudi, Mr. Hudson and J. Cole. What did you learn from them?

DJ AM Planned To Go to Rehab, Girlfriend Denies Breakup Reports

Adam Goldstein, a/k/a DJ AM, had admitted to relapsing and agreed to go to rehab the day before he was found dead, according to the New York Post,

Goldstein had apparently been acting erratically and missed appointments in the weeks before his death, and his rep confirmed to People that his West Coast manager and an AA sponsor flew to New York as soon as they heard he had relapsed. According to the Post, the two visited Goldstein on Thursday morning. Goldstein supposedly agreed to check himself into a rehab clinic after making a scheduled appearance at the Palms Casino that Friday.

It was inititally reported that Goldstein's girlfriend, 22-year-old Hayley Wood, had broken up with him shortly before his death--claims Wood is now denying. In a statement released to Us , Wood said "any indication that this horribly tragic accident happened because of a rumored breakup is not only untrue but disgusting. We were very much together at the time of his passing, and I love him very much."

Meanwhile, the fate of Goldstein's MTV reality show "Gone Too Far," in which he helped young addicts get clean, is up in the air. Goldstein's rep told CNN that no plans have been made for the show.

Goldstein, a former crack addict who had allegedly been sober for 11 years, admitted to MTV that he was shaken by an episode of "Gone Too Far" in which he purchased a crack pipe to show how easy it was to procure. In the same interview, however, he told the network that he felt compelled to help others get sober. "This is my one chance. I owe it as a human who's sober to say something to them," Goldstein said. "So that's my job. That's what I'm there for."

--Elizabeth Thompson

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Chris Brown to get group counseling in Virginia

Chris Brown likely will spend the next year in group counseling sessions learning about control and other relationship issues as part of his court-ordered treatment for beating ex-girlfriend Rihanna.

Brown was sentenced in California Tuesday to five years' probation, six months of community labor and a year of domestic violence counseling for the February attack, and he must stay away from his former girlfriend for the next five years. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Patricia Schnegg is allowing Brown to complete the community labor and counseling in Richmond, near his Montpelier home.

Brown, 20, will undergo domestic violence counseling at Commonwealth Catholic Charities, a nonprofit social services organization that that works with people from all faiths in central and southwestern Virginia.

Executive Director Joanne D. Nattrass said most of the counseling likely will be done in group sessions. She would not reveal when Brown would start the treatment nor any details about the program.

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According to the organization's Web site, its Batterer's Intervention Program offers educational group sessions with discussions on such topics as control issues and equality in a relationship.

"BIP frequently tests and challenges each group member's behavior," the Web site states. "Progress is made only if the abuser is self-accountable for all behaviors, and develops the flexibility to make behavioral changes."

In a letter to the court, the charity said it would report on Brown's status monthly. Brown would be allowed to miss up to three sessions.

Richmond police officials said they still were working out what types of chores the 20-year-old will perform as community labor and when he would start. Schnegg wanted Brown to perform physical labor instead of community service, such as mentoring young people.

"The logistics and the timetable are still being worked out," police spokesman James Mercante said.

Included in those discussions is whether there would need to be added security for whatever duties Brown performs, he said.

Richmond Police Chief Bryan T. Norwood said Tuesday the department worked with Brown's attorney, Mark Geragos, for several weeks to work out the logistics of Brown's community labor.

"We welcome Chris Brown back to Richmond, and we assure everyone involved that the command of the court will be followed," he said in a statement.

Brown faces prison time if he violates the terms of his sentence. He had until Thursday to report to his probation officer in L.A.

'Wajah' Mbah Surip Laku Rp25 Juta

Sahabat dekat Mbah Surip, Cubung Warso Putro, mengaku pernah melukis wajah penyanyi beraliran reggae itu dan menjualnya seharga Rp25 juta pada tahun 2007 silam.

Cubung Warso Putro di Jakarta, Kamis (06/08), mengungkapkan, lukisan tersebut diberi judul Beauty and the Beast. Lukisan itu sendiri dibuatnya tahun 2007 pada saat pelaksanaan Jambore Seni Rupa Nasional ke-12.

"Saya dulu melukis Mbah Surip berdampingan dengan Elsa Sigar, anak dari penyanyi balada Ully Sigar Rusadi. Saat itu memang Elsa dan ibunya sedang mengunjungi Pasar Seni Ancol, di mana keduanya merupakan teman dekat Mbah Surip," kenang Cubung.

Akhirnya Elsa dan Mbah Surip dilukis wajahnya setengah badan. Dan lukisan itu dijual saat acara Jambore Seni Rupa Nasional ke-12 yang diselenggarakan di Pasar Seni Ancol.

"Tidak disangka, wajah unik Mbah Surip tersebut laku dijual oleh seorang kolektor. Saya tidak tahu siapa yang beli saat itu," kata Cubung.

Sementara itu, pada acara Jambore Seni Rupa Nasional ke-14 yang akan diselenggarakan pada Jumat (7/8) mendatang, para pelukis yang dekat dan pernah melukis Mbah Surip, rencananya akan memamerkan lukisan Mbah Surip tersebut.

"Saya juga masih menyimpan lukisan wajah Mbah Surip tahun 2007. Namun lukisan tersebut tidak untuk dijual," ujar Cubung. Alasannya, lukisan tersebut adalah buah karya kolaborasi antara Cubung dengan rekannya, Sudaryono, yang sudah meninggal dua tahun lalu.

"Saya saat itu melukis dengan Mas Daryono, yang ketika itu sedang kritis menderita penyakit kanker tulang," ungkap pelukis aliran surealisme tersebut.

Lukisan kolaborasi keduanya, menceritakan tentang, Umboro Karno dari pewayangan yang mana Mbah Surip dalam lukisan itu menggambarkan raksasa yang baik hati. Sedangkan Sudaryono yang merupakan pelukis beraliran impressionis, menggambar seorang wanita cantik yang ditolong oleh raksasa yang baik hati itu.

Cubung mengatakan, sejumlah teman seniman pelukis pun pernah melukis wajah Mbah Surip. Namun para seniman memberikan hasil karyanya kepada Mbah Surip.

Menurut dia, semua lukisan yang mengambil model Mbah Surip, diserahkan kepada penyanyi dan pencipta lagu fenomenal Tak Gendong tersebut yang telah meninggal dunia beberapa hari lalu itu.

"Mungkin di rumah Mbah Surip di Kampung Artis, banyak lukisan wajah Mbah Surip yang disimpan di sana, sebab setiap selesai melukis, para seniman memberikannya kepada Mbah Surip dan dibawa pulang," terang Cubung, yang mengaku mengenal Mbah Surip sekitar 20 tahun itu.

Selain Cubung, A Ad Sugiarto, juga melukis Mbah Surip saat sedang bermain gitar. Dalam lukisannya yang dibuat tahun 2005 itu, Mbah Surip sedang mengiringi para tamu pesta yang sedang merayakan ulang tahun Cubung.

"Saya melukis berdasarkan apa yang saya lihat. Saat itu, di pasar Seni Ancol, para seniman sedang merayakan ulang tahun Cubung. Di sana Mbah Surip bernyanyi dengan gitarnya, dan diabadikan dengan lukisan suasana pesta tersebut," terang Sugiarto.

Namun saat ditanyai, apakah lukisan tersebut akan dijual. Sugiarto mengatakan, tidak akan menjualnya sebab kenangan dirinya dengan Mbah Surip sangatlah kental.

"Saya ini punya memori dengan Mbah Surip. Setiap kali pulang dari pasar Seni Ancol, pulangnya selalu bersama dengan Mbah Surip," kenangnya.

Banyaknya seniman yang melukis Mbah Surip, sebab penyanyi beraliran reggae itu sudah menjadi ikon dan maskot para pelukis di Pasar Seni Ancol.

Di acara Jambore nanti lukisan-lukisan dengan model Mbah Surip tersebut akan ditampilkan. Para seniman sahabat Mbah Surip pun sangat kehilangan tawa dan canda Mbah Surip setiap acara Jambore yang selalu kedatangan Mbah Surip.

"Biasanya setiap datang dan bertemu pelukis, Mbah Surip selalu mengatakan 'I love you full'," terang Sugiarto. (kpl/npy)

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