Jay-Z

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvjDtaCkacQ]

I’m a bit speechless on this one. It makes Samsung’s sustainability report rap seem…still horrible. Huge tech companies, can we please not do this anymore?

It’s also probably not the smartest idea in the world to start a rap battle with the two companies affiliated with two biggest names in rap: Jay-Z (Samsung) and Dr. Dre (Apple). But we’re guessing Dre won’t be releasing a response any time soon. HTC also continues the cringeworthy in a full sit-down interview with the broke rapper from the 80’s that it hired for the video (below).

Lyrics provided via Engadget below:
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[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B–ZARCwSIE]

Update: The App is now live.

A brand new album. 1MM people. Download the app now for first access to JAY Z’s "#MagnaCarta Holy Grail" on July 4th: http://t.co/Rr9vWXavh4

— Life + Times (@LifeandTimes) June 24, 2013

As expected, last night during game 5 of the NBA Finals Samsung confirmed its partnership with media mogul Jay-Z by running a 3-minute commercial.  The video showed Jay working on a new album and closed with Samsung’s “The Next Big Thing is Here” slogan and directing fans to MagnaCartaHolyGrail.com.

The website features a countdown to July 4th, when Jay-Z’s new album will be released, alongside images on him working on the album and they even sneaked a close-up of a Galaxy next to Jay’z signature gold chains.  The first million Galaxy S 3/4 and Note II owners to download the customized Magna Carta app on June 24th will receive a free copy of the new album when it is released on July 4th.

Samsung reportedly paid upwards of $20 million to launch this partnership with Jay-Z.  Exact details of the deal are unknown, but at that price-tag we’re assuming there is more to come from this partnership.

Earlier this month, a report emerged claiming that Samsung and Jay-Z were on the verge of signing a marketing deal worth upwards of $20 million, and now Samsung has confirmed the deal. The company has just sent out a mysterious email to the press inviting us all to tune into game 5 of the NBA Finals on Sunday. It looks like the deal has to do with music, which you’d expect from a Jay-Z partnership, as the promo image tells us to “turn up the volume.”

Game 5 kicks off at 8PM EST on ABC, but Samsung teases it will take over at 9:15PM EST. We’ll be sure to let you know what they have in store.