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Daily Hip-Hop News:
Jay-Z Signs Deal w/ Aftermath?
Thursday - June 3, 2004
by Carl Chery

As rumors of a possible Jay-Z/Dr. Dre collaboration continue to spread, sources close to Aftermath records have offered a hesitant confirmation that Hov will be releasing his next LP with the powerhouse label under the moniker, S. Carter.

In a recent interview on London's Radio 1, Shady/Aftermath affiliate DJ Whoo Kid spoke briefly with DJ Tim Westwood about the rumor.

"We're told," says Westwood to Whoo Kid, "that Jay-Z could be signing to Aftermath - getting down with Dre. Is that right?" "Ah...I guess so...if you heard about it..." Whoo Kid replies tentatively. "Yeah we heard about it over here," says Westwood. To which Whoo Kid responds, "He ain't retiring...he ain't retiring. Why would he?" [listen]

Jay-Z's retirement this past December has left fans in disbelief and expectantly waiting for his reincarnation. But the Brooklyn emcee turned entrepreneur has continued to purport that Jay-Z is dead - most recently demonstrating this symbolically with the killing of the Jay-Z character in his "99 Problems" video.

Technically, a comeback under the moniker "S. Carter" is a loophole that would allow for him to stay true to his promise to keep Jay-Z buried and still continue to release new music.

There has been no official word from the Aftermath or S. Carter camp.

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