Jay-Z, Brooklyn and Where I’m From

Back in September, Jay-Z broke in the new stage at the Barclays Center with eight straight performances. I remember the night of his first show because the traffic was bumper to bumper, complete and utter insanity in my old neighborhood. But the city was full of energy, the type of energy that is wholly infectious. People were so excited to see the Brooklyn-native artist on his home turf, to see him dominate a crowd of thousands. While many locals protested the building of the arena in the middle of Flatbush Avenue since its inception back in 2003, that all seemed to subside. It was nothing, but Jay-Z, Jay-Z, Jay-Z, the man I wrote about briefly on this blog, for a few brief hours each day for eight consecutive days. I understand the fascination. He lives a life people can only imagine in their dreams. From the Marcy Projects to headlining sold-out concerts to owning a stake in the Brooklyn Nets, no one, not even the most staunchest hip-hop critic, can deny Jay’s success as a music mogul. Just try to as you watch the mini documentary, Where I’m From, which captures the behind-the-scenes footage of his eight-day Barclays Center christening. Even Ellen Grossman, the woman who shares a seat on the subway with Jay on his way to his last show, cannot not know who he is, even though it takes her longer to figure it out than the average person.