MTV AWARDS COMING TO BROOKLYN AUG. 25TH 2013

And The Winner is...... Broooooklyn!!!!!

MTV's Video Music Awards show is moving across the country this year, trading Los Angeles for New York. The August 25th awards show will take place at Brooklyn's Barclays Center, MTV announced today. Barclays Center, which opened last September, is the home of the Brooklyn Nets basketball team, which counts Jay-Z among its owners.Jay-Z Represents Brooklyn at First Barclays Center Show MTV notes the 30th annual VMAs will be the first major annual awards show to take place in Brooklyn. It will be first time in four years the VMAs have taken place outside Los Angeles. "From hip-hop to hipsters, Jay-Z to MGMT, Brooklyn musicians have a long history of dominating the 'spotlight' on MTV," Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz said in a statement. "Brooklyn is a cultural Mecca – the hippest, coolest place for young people across the country, and has played a crucial role in the careers of some of 2013's biggest bands, like fun. and the Lumineers. Now, it is only fitting that the first time Brooklyn will ever host a major awards show, we are welcoming the most exciting and talked about spectacle in the music industry . . . I'm so thrilled that I'll probably get 'no sleep till Brooklyn' hosts the VMAs!"

Source: MTV, RollingStone, UrbanMessMag

" I RIDE WITH MY PEOPLES " JAY-Z TAKES THE SUBWAY IN NYC TO HIS LAST CONCERT PERFORMANCE @ THE BARCLAYS CENTER LAST SATURDAY EVENING

When you're waiting on the train platform in New York City to get where you need to go you don't expect to see one of the biggest superstars in the world just stroll in through the turnstyles but last night Jay-Z shocked many MTA commuters. Jigga man decided to skip car service or a ride in his luxurious Maybach and hopped on the train like an average New Yorker to get to his last show at the Barclay's Center last Saturday night.

The rapper caused a frenzy when he entered the train station at Canal St around 6 P.M. and rode it all the way to Atlantic Avenue. Escorted by plainclothes police officers and his own security, Hova didn't seem to pay for the ride and attracted a loud band of followers that made him look like the Pied Piper, a source who followed Jay-Z told the Daily News.

On the platform, the rapper waited for one train to pass before getting onto the Brooklyn-bound R. On the way he even sat next to and older woman who was all smiles to have the Brooklyn native by her side. Jigga Man shows us he is definitely one with people. Moments later he hit the stadium stage where he surprised the crowd with a special performance from his wifey, Beyonce.

In other Jay-Z news, he also announced he will be dropping a souvenir for fans to remember the historic moment at Barclays, an 8-track optic EP of live recordings from the concerts. It will include eight live performances and will be available exclusively on iTunes on Tuesday, October 9th!Sounds like this guy is on his A game and we wouldn't be surprised if he took the Barclay's after party to a local bar!

HE IS A NATIVE NEW YORKER SO WHY NOT?!

source:globalgrind/nydn/urbanmessmag

" WE ARE THE TALK OF NEW YORK, AGAIN! " DERON WILLIAMS IS GRACES THE COVER OF OCTOBER SPORTS ILLUSTRATED

" BRINGING THE NOISE "

The cover of this week's Sports Illustrated, featuring Deron Williams in front of a Brooklyn mural, was revealed Tuesday night. The cover headline reads "Brooklyn Rising, the NBA feels the beat of the street. The mural features Dr. J, Jay-Z, Jackie Robinson and street ball legend Fly Williams. The feature article is written by Rick Telander, author of the 1976 book "Heaven is a Playground," which chronicled Williams and a summer of Brooklyn street ball. Telander returns to "the borough that spawned generations of schoolboy legends (not to mention legendary characters) and finally has an NBA team of its own." It's about Brooklyn hoops as much as it is the team. "Brooklyn has more hoops heritage in its parks than Harlem, the Bronx, West 4th St., Philly, Chicago, L.A., anywhere," Telander writes. Meanwhile, the latest promo for "The Association" is out and it features everyone from Rosie Perez (who once criticized the arena at a rally) to Spike Lee (who appears to limit himself to "Brooklyn in the house").

source:netsdaily/nba/si.com/urbanmess

"BROOKLYN'S FINEST" JAY-Z KICKS OFF BARCLAYS CENTER PERFORMANCE 9/28/12

"HELLO BROOKLYN"

Jay-Z says performing in his New York City hometown at the opening of Brooklyn's Barclays Center is better than performing at the Grammys, Glastonbury or Coachella. He yelled to the crowd of 18,000: "Nothing feels like tonight!" The arena was full of exciting concertgoers, as the chaotic crowd made way to their seats after waiting outside to enter the building. Jay-Z emerged onstage Friday night as a video about Brooklyn's history played in the background.He opened with his songs about Brooklyn with "Where I'm From" and "Brooklyn Go Hard." He also performed two songs from fellow Brooklynite Notorious B.I.G. He also held a moment of silence for the late rap veteran. He told the crowd when B.I.G.'s "Juicy" played: "Sing loud so he can hear you in heaven."

Call it his official homecoming: Jay-Z will perform the first of eight shows at the newly built Barclays Center in Brooklyn on Friday night. The rapper is the co-owner of the Brooklyn Nets, who will play the new arena this year. Brooklyn-born Jay-Z will christen the venue, which holds 18,000 seats. Jay-Z's performance Friday is expected to feature other top musicians. His past shows included wife Beyonce, Kanye West, Alicia Keys and dozens of others. The Barclays Center will rival Manhattan's Madison Square Garden for musical events. A number of acts have booked shows at the venue, including Barbra Streisand, Lady Gaga, Bob Dylan, Rihanna, Rush, The Who, Justin Bieber and Neil Young and Crazy Horse. Jay-Z will perform at Barclays through Oct. 6 with the exception

source:huffingtonpost/jay-z/urbanmessmag

"OPENING CEREMONY" JAY-Z WILL DEBUT HISTORIC CONCERT TONIGHT SEPT 28, 2012 @ THE BRAND NEW BARCLAYS CENTER ARENA IN BROOKLYN, NY!

After years of planning, controversy and construction, the new Barclays Center makes its debut tonight. Thousands of fans will stream into the arena as Brooklyn native and Nets' part owner Jay-Z opens the arena with a sold-out concert.Tickets for the show are a hot commodity with floor seats commanding more than $600 on the secondary market. Jay-Z celebrated ahead of the concert with the grand opening of his 40/40 club inside Barclays. The rapper says he's excited about what the arena means for Brooklyn. "You know I've just seen everyone busy and trying to clean up and I just got this great feeling. The guy stopped me in the hallway and he was like, 'Man this is a great thing for New York City.' And that's what the whole thing was about," Jay-Z said. "It's been a transition. You know I've been here, I think seven or eight times and I haven't been here since it's been completely finished. So, it's my first time seeing the finished deal but you know I'm definitely excited," said Brooklyn Nets Guard Deron Williams. Tonight's concert is the first of eight shows Jay-Z will perform at Barclays. Concert-goers are being urged to take mass transit to the show, using either the subway or the Long Island Rail Road. The Nets will play their first game at the arena on October 15.

If concert goers expecting surprise performances, take another guess! In an interview with Rolling Stone Magazine's Jeff Rosenthal, (reigning member of our Digital Power 30) Jay-Z vetoed any rumors of special guests for his 8 date concert series at the Barclays Center.

No one's appearing, no one's performing. It's Brooklyn! This is my one chance to be selfish. Can't I? Can't I be selfish? Thank you. Just for these eight shows – then I'll get back to my "Jay-Z and Friends" shows. I get all of these guys to come out for me, so . . .

Tonight is the grand opening for the new arena for the Brooklyn Nets. If you have you're tickets don't expect surprises, expect a damn good show though

source: jay-z/thesource/ny1/urbanmessmag

" ALMOST HOME PART 2" THE NEW BROOKLYN NETS ARENA IN IT'S FINAL STAGES OF COMPLETION

  

"YES!! WE ALMOST HOME!!!" 

A few months ago I featured a segment called "Almost Home" which featured the new Brooklyn Nets Area aka The Barclays center in Brooklyn. I get to see this everyday out of my window from my job and everyday is always something new. At times i get to chat with many workers and ask questions like "How's it   coming along?" and I get so many different answers. One worker told me "That the rush is on! We have to work  24 hours 7 days a week!" he also mentioned that "they are really pressed for time they have to be finished by Sept 5th".  Walking thru the subway station at Atlantic Ave has now been changed to Barclays center. The walkways are now littered with posters of Deron Williams and Joe Johnson and more players from the team. Everyday us Brooklyn'ites that live or work near the arena just get excited to see more and more pieces added to the arena everyday. I saw exclusive pics from one of the worker's iphone and when I say that it's done, trust me it is done inside!!! We can't wait for the arena to open next month with headlining concerts by Jay-Z and John Legend, Ringling Brother's Circus, Disney on Ice, Boxing, Gymnastics,College Basket Ball, The NHL, of course The New Brooklyn Nets!!!!  

This will be a good year for Brooklyn, Trust me!

YES!!!!! WE ALMOST HOME!!!!

source:bknets/nba/urbanmessmag