Jay-Z speaks out about Glastonbury

United Kingdom | | 23 June 2008

With under a week to go to this year's Glastonbury Festival, Jay-Z has again defended his slot as the festival's Saturday night headliner.

Speaking on Tim Westwood's Radio 1 show the New York rapper has accused critics of 'old school thinking'.

Talking about the criticisms the hip-hop star said: "It's ridiculous, if we don't embrace what is new, then how do we progress? I've never actually experienced anything like that before. It's 2008, what is that about?”

Jay-Z added: "That's such old school thinking, that's not even how the world thinks anymore. So I was really taken aback."

Dizzee Rascal and Noel Gallagher have both condemned the rapper's inclusion on the bill, with the Oasis frontman calling hip-hop at Glastonbury "wrong."

But defending the genre Jay-Z said: "I listen to all types of music and that's what should happen, that's what the world should be about, mixing culture. There's only good music and bad music."

"I think that hip-hop is music and an art form, it's poetry and it should be accepted and respected like any other art form. It's just coming from a different perspective."

To get into the spirit of the festival, Jay-Z will be given a tour of the site over the weekend, taking in Trash City – a field of artwork made from disused metal and material – and the new late night arena Shangri La.

Organisers Michael Eavis has confirmed, however, the rapper won’t be seen up at the stone circle. He said: "The hippy thing, his manager said, isn't quite up [Jay-Z's] street."

Graffiti artist Banksy has also got involved in the booking saga by leaving a piece of artwork called 'Jay Zeavis' on a wall in Glastonbury town. Last year the mysterious urban artist created a piece for the festival called 'Boghenge' – a homage to Stonehenge made from Portaloos.

Glastonbury Festival 2008 will take place at Worthy Farm, Pilton, Somerset from 27-29 June. Kings Of Leon, Jay-Z and The Verve are all set to headline the festival.