Jay-Z Announces “Made in America” Music Festival in Philadelphia & Talks Gay-Marriage [VIDEO]

in Top Stories / by hiphopucit / on May 15, 2012 at 9:08 am /

He’s headlined Coachella and Glastonbury, and now Jay-Z is launching his own festival. The hip-hop king will be the curator and headlining performer at the inaugural “Budweiser Made in America” music festival this Labor Day weekend.

The two-day extravaganza, produced by Live Nation, will bring together an eclectic lineup of nearly 30 performers—from hip-hop to R&B to dance to Latin acts. It will be held on three stages in Fairmount Park in Philadelphia on Sept. 1 and Sept. 2, with a percentage of proceeds benefitting the United Way Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey.

Jay-Z was on hand to announce the festival at a Monday press conference with Mayor Michael A. Nutter of Philadelphia.

“Whenever I enter into a project I try to hit some touch points,” said the Roc Nation CEO, with the American flag draped behind him. “The first being, is it great? Once we start there, we’ll end up in a great place. The second one, is it gonna push the culture forward? I think this concert will do that.”

He explained why he chose the City of Brotherly Love as the host city.

“Everybody knows my love affair with Philly with the amazing, talented artists I’ve signed from here,” said Jay, as his Roc-A-Fella protégé Freeway stood behind him.