Forget an “Empire State of Mind” … Jay-Z is now in a “Philadelphia State of Mind.”
On Monday (May 14), the rapper jetted to the City of Brotherly Love to announce a HUGE music festival that will take place this upcoming Labor Day Weekend.
Titled the “Made In America” festival, and sponsored by Budweiser, the two-day event will feature performances from nearly 30 acts that Jay-Z believes “embody the American spirit” across three different stages at Fairmount Park on September 1st and September 2nd.
“It’s such an iconic place, so it felt like a natural fit,” Jay-Z, a New York native, said of Philadelphia. “You’ll get to come out and have two great days, listen to some amazing music (and) discover some new bands.”
Jay-Z — who was joined by Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter and other local politicians atop the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art (made famous by the movie “Rocky”) — said at least 70% of the acts, which will include rap, rock, R&B, Latin and dance artists, have already been confirmed.
“I’ve always believed in great music,” he said. “I don’t believe in the lines that separate music. … That’s for people that can’t easily define what they’re hearing, so they have to put it in some sort of box. Me, I listen to anything I like.”
The full list of performers for the festival, which will benefit the United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey, will be announced on May 21st, with tickets to go on sale two days later on the 23rd.
Check out the pics from the press conference in Philadelphia below:
[AP]
