JAY-Z Credits Chris Martin for His Landmark Glastonbury Festival Performance

In a recent interview with Gayle King on CBS Mornings, JAY-Z shared how Coldplay’s Chris Martin played a significant role in convincing him to perform at the Glastonbury Festival in 2008, known predominantly as a rock festival at the time. Despite the announcement of JAY-Z headlining the event, his appearance drew criticism, notably from rock musician Noel Gallagher of Oasis.

The Grammy Award-winning rapper reminisced about how Martin persuaded him to perform at Glastonbury, despite initial hesitation due to the backlash. He noted that Chris Martin played a pivotal role in convincing him to take the stage, reassuring him that he was appreciated, even if the traditional festival audience didn’t entirely recognize his genre’s significance.

JAY-Z reflected on the challenges faced, acknowledging the resistance from the old guard, yet recognizing the changing landscape in the music industry. He humorously recalled learning to play Oasis’s “Wonderwall” on the guitar just before the Glastonbury performance and famously opening his set with a snippet of the song, a playful response to Gallagher’s criticism.

The rapper also addressed the longstanding debate: “Would you take $500,000 or have dinner with JAY-Z?” He unequivocally recommended taking the money, emphasizing that his wisdom and experiences are already encapsulated in his music, making a dinner redundant when all the knowledge is readily available in his songs.

This discussion came after a fan, known as K Rich, posed the same “dinner or money” question to JAY-Z at a recent Los Angeles Chargers vs. Dallas Cowboys game. Despite K Rich’s insistence on choosing the cash over dinner, JAY-Z, unfazed by the encounter, calmly acknowledged the fan and respectfully responded, opting for the monetary choice.

While K Rich faced some criticism for his straightforward approach during the interaction, JAY-Z handled the moment with grace and affable acknowledgment.