Jay-Z Takes Cameras Behind His 9/11 Benefit in "NY-Z"

The new mini-documentary NY-Z captures one of the biggest shows of 2009 — Jay-Z's September 11th Answer the Call concert at New York's Madison Square Garden — and the hours leading up to the big performance. Shot in black-and-white like iconic Big Apple odes Manhattan and The Naked City, director Danny Clinch's short doubles as a behind-the-scenes look at Jay-Z's life and the rapper's love letter to the city that serves as his "muse," from his earliest recollections of NYC to how it feels to sell out "the World's Greatest Arena."

In the video, recorded the day The Blueprint 3 was released, we see Jigga performing his hit "Empire State of Mind" during an empty sound check and later in front of thousands at a packed MSG. John Mayer cameos to explain how his team-up with Jay on "D.O.A." came about — thanks Twitter! — as well as discuss what New York City means to him. The film is so engrossing, it's actually possible to forget that it is a long-form ad for Absolut Vodka until Jigga is seen downing a shot in the closing minutes.

Related Stories:
• Jay-Z's 9/11 Benefit Turns Into All-Star Marathon With Beyonce, Kanye, Rihanna, Mayer and More
• Jay-Z Burns Through "Blueprint 3," Classics at Tiny New York Gig
• Cover Story: The Book of Jay

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Song Stories

“Satisfied”

Tom Waits | 2011

Only the genius of Tom Waits could combine the subject of mortality, a reoccurring theme in his work, with wordplay that name checks both Mick and Keith, whom he calls "Mr. Jagger" and "Mr. Richards," and the title of their magnum opus, "Satisfaction." And to show just how cool Waits really is, he even got Mr. Richards to play along, one of nine guest appearances the guitarist has made on three Waits albums. "This growling roadhouse stomp is a late-breaking response to the Stones' greatest hit," Rolling Stone said of the track.

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