Jay-Z's Magna Carta Holy Grail - What We Know, So Far

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Jay-Z won the award for most elaborate new album roll out somewhere between the scavenger hunt for Magna Carta Holy Grail’s tracklisting, and posting a copy of the album cover next to a page from the actual Magna Carta. Thanks to Hova’s breadcrumbs, we have a pretty good understanding of what to expect, despite the release of little, if any, actual music.

With less than 24 hours to go before the album is available to Samsung Galaxy users that downloaded the Magna Carta app, we decided to compile what we do now about the rapper/mogul’s 12th album. For example, thanks to Instagram we got some solid leads as to who actually contributes rhymes to the project, and despite trying to remain tight lipped, artists couldn’t help but divulge details in some of their interviews.

Check out what we know about Magna Carta Holy Grail on the following pages.

UPDATE: Jigga previews “Tom Ford” in the latest Samsuung commercial below.

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Photo: YouTube

Ocean’s 12

Frank Ocean got his spot on the MCHG before Watch The Throne dropped. Jay-Z was already stacking tracks for his album when he invited the Odd Future crooner to contribute to The Throne’s album.

Jungle City Studios Is Where It Went Down

“The energy in Jungle Studios was so powerful,” says Timbaland in an interview with Revolt TV. Guess, all those producers couldn’t fit in the Mercer Hotel (where Jigga & Yeezy recorded Watch The Throne).

Rick Rubin Loves Couches

Although many assumed when he was spotted chilling on the couch and grooving to tracks in Jay-Z’s Samsung commercial(s), DJ Double R did not actually contribute to the album. He does seem to like it, though.

Beats By The Pound

Even without Rubin on the boards, Timbaland, Swizz Beatz and Pharrell Willams is a murderer’s row of production. We could ask, “What about Just Blaze and Kanye West?” But that’s just being greedy.

Mike Will Made It, On MCHG

The in demand producer spilled the beans that he produced “Beach Is Better” and it was “effortless.”

Surprise, Surprise

When the album does hit your Samsung phone expect some surprises. For example, lyrics for a song called “Crown” were revealed, despite it not being on the tracklist.

Black Tie

The ill black & white images used during the Magna Carta campaign, as well as the album’s art direction, are courtesy of Ari Marcopoulos, a Dutch photographer.

Blue’s Clues

The biggest event to occur in Jay-Z’s life since has last album is easily the birth of his daughter, Blue Ivy. Never one to shy away from tackling personal affairs in rhyme, expect heavy ‘I’ll do better than my own dad’ sentiments on multiple tracks.

The Chef Was In The Kitchen

Raekwon was snapped in the studio with “cool cat” Jay-Z (“It was about time,” he says in the vid below). Oh yeah, Drake was there, too. As were a lot of other people. Expect a gang of Hova verses before the year is up.

Lyrics To Go

There will be no excuses for butchering Jay-Z’s lyrics since he done shared them all week.

Have Album Cover, Will Travel

Hova put his album cover right next to a page of the Magna Carta in the UK, the real one.

Already ~~Home~~ Platinum

Nielsen Soundscan balked at bestowing MCHG with the #1 album status too early. But the RIAA switched up their rules because one million sold, no matter the fashion, merits #NewRules.

By The Numbers

The Fader hooked up this cheat sheet of MCHG by the numbers.