Jay-Z Leaves Def Jam Post

Mogul discusses business, music as release approaches

(NEWSER) - As he comes full circle with the Sept. 11 release of The Blueprint 3, exactly 8 years after the original Blueprint, Jay-Z discusses his journey from the projects of Brooklyn to the top of Forbes’ Hip-Hop Cash King list with Billboard. “We—Usher, Justin Timberlake, Beyoncé, myself—are becoming the people that we looked up to musically growing up, like Marvin Gaye and Frank Sinatra,” he says. More»

Singer discusses baby Blue Ivy Carter in new interview

(NEWSER) - It's difficult to believe that Beyoncé would give her first interview since the birth of her daughter to a UK tabloid, but that exclusive is exactly what the UK's Star claims to have. "Nothing can describe the feeling," the singer apparently told the magazine. "You have the instant connection once you know your child is growing inside you, but when you hold it for the first time, the words can’t be found. … A child is the greatest gift you can receive." More»

Plus: drama as bodyguards block new dad from premature twins

(NEWSER) - Beyonce's baby entered the world this week to great fanfare, and yes, her name really is Blue Ivy, not Ivy Blue as was initially reported . If you don't believe us, ask Gwyneth Paltrow: After initially tweeting , "Welcome to the world Blue! We love you already," Paltrow cleared up the confusion by adding, "It's Blue Ivy Carter!" Why did they name her that? People reports that "Blue" may have something to do with Jay-Z's three Blueprint albums (sample self-congratulatory lyric: "I'm the Blueprint, I'm like the map for 'em."). More»

And more on Beyonce, Jay-Z's new baby

(NEWSER) - Blue Ivy Carter has already charted on Billboard—did you expect anything less from the daughter of music royalty? When dad Jay-Z released "Glory," a song for his new daughter, he also officially billed it as "featuring B.I.C.," her initials. (The song, which you can listen to at left, includes some of the baby's first sounds.) It was released within two days of her birth and debuted at No. 74 on the R&B/Hip Hop Songs chart, making Blue officially the youngest person to appear on a chart, Billboard confirms. More»

And more from the charmed life of Blue Ivy Carter

(NEWSER) - If it's been nearly 24 hours since your last fix of Babyoncé updates , surely you're hungering for more, and we can deliver. The latest on Blue Ivy Carter:

• The hospital where Beyoncé gave birth denies rumors that she and Jay-Z paid $1.3 million to rent out an entire floor, and tells TMZ the family paid the "standard rate" for an "executive suite." But that doesn't mean the birth wasn't swank: The New York Daily News notes that people were seen carrying takeout and lots of red wine into the wing on Saturday night.
• The baby's life will also be swank: According to Australia's News Network , Bey and Jay have already spent $1 million on baby items including a Swarovski crystal-studded high chair, a solid gold rocking horse, and a mini Bugatti. Us adds that they also purchased a $3,500 Lucite crib.