Grafh lends his two cents to Jay’s BP3 single. Props to X.

DOWNLOAD: Grafh – On To The Next One (rmx)

DJ Neil Armstrong introduces us to the team that will be backing Hov during his Blueprint 3 Tour. And go…

Lee Hogans, Lamont Caldwell, Aaron Goode (horn section), Brett Baker (percussion), Tony Russell (bass), Shaun Carrington (guitar), Tony Royster Jr (drums), Monty Reynolds (keys), Briget Kelly (back up vocals) and Eric Wright (protools).

Spotted at NR (via herfection).

Myke goes in over my favorite Blueprint 3 track… until it gets played out like every other song. Props to Mickey.

DOWNLOAD: Mykestro – Thank U Freestyle | Mediafire
PREVIOUS: Mykestro – In California (Video)

I figure since the album is officially out, why not leak the song now that it has an official single cover as well? Props to Splash.

DOWNLOAD: Jay-Z – Empire State Of Mind f. Alicia Keys

… and will now be release on the same day as OB4CL2 (September 8th). So it looks like this Tuesday I’ll be copping two very dope albums. No complaints from Shake. And if you haven’t heard BP3 yet, Rhapsody is streaming the entire thing online.

SOURCE: Billboard

For those not able to catch Jay-Z’s show at Madison Square Garden on 9/11 you may be in luck. As expected Hov’s going on a nation wide (sort of) tour of North America in support of the new album. Hit the jump for the dates…

Friday, October 09, 2009 8:00 PM Doors: 7:00 PM

Bryce Jordan Center

University ParkPA

Saturday, October 10, 2009 8:00 PM Doors: 7:00 PM

Bank of Kentucky Center – Northern Kentucky University

Highland HeightsKY

Tuesday, October 13, 2009 8:00 PM Doors: 7:00 PM

Rexall Place

EdmontonAB

Wednesday, October 14, 2009 8:00 PM Doors: 7:00 PM

Pengrowth Saddledome

CalgaryAB

Thursday, October 15, 2009 8:00 PM Doors: 7:00 PM

Prospera Place

KelownaBC

Friday, October 16, 2009 8:00 PM Doors: 7:00 PM

General Motors Place

VancouverBC

Saturday, October 17, 2009 8:00 PM Doors: 7:00 PM

Key Arena

SeattleWA

Saturday, October 24, 2009 8:00 PM Doors: 7:00 PM

Dunkin’ Donuts Center

ProvidenceRI

Sunday, October 25, 2009 8:00 PM Doors: 7:00 PM

Mullins Center- University of Massachusetts

AmherstMA

Tuesday, October 27, 2009 8:00 PM Doors: 7:00 PM

1st Mariner Arena

BaltimoreMD

Wednesday, October 28, 2009 7:30 PM Doors: 6:30 PM

Value City Arena Ohio State University

ColumbusOH

Thursday, October 29, 2009 8:00 PM Doors: 7:00 PM

John Labatt Centre

LondonON

Friday, October 30, 2009 8:00 PM Doors: 7:00 PM

Bell Centre

MontrealQC

Saturday, October 31, 2009 8:00 PM Doors: 7:00 PM

Air Canada Centre

TorontoON

Sunday, November 01, 2009 8:00 PM Doors: 7:00 PM

Scotiabank Place

OttawaON

Thursday, November 12, 2009 8:00 PM Doors: 7:00 PM

University of Illinois – Assembly Hall

ChampaignIL

Friday, November 20, 2009 8:00 PM Doors: 7:00 PM

University of Texas El Paso – Don Haskins Center

El PasoTX

Sunday, November 22, 2009 8:00 PM Doors: 7:00 PM

Frank Erwin Center Arena

AustinTX

If you’re anything like me, you took one (confused) look at the destinations of each stop. No California dates? New York? Arizona? Vegas? Well Illionaire seems to think this tour is Hov’s chance to hit up cities he usually doesn’t. Sounds about right to me and I’m sure there will be more dates added.

Hov speaks to MTV about the recent leak of Blueprint 3 (which I’ve listened to about 5-6 times and am happy with the result).

“I may be the most bootlegged artist in history,” he told MTV News shortly after his album leaked. “It’s a preview. I’m excited for people to hear the album. I’m very proud of the work I’ve done, so enjoy it.”

All day, fans were weighing in on the new record on Twitter and Facebook. Jay kept it cool despite his material leaking out 10 days before the official release day. The iconic MC, though, had reason to relax: He has his own indicator to let him know whether reactions to his music are good or bad.

“My pager is actually ringing right now, so people are probably calling me and telling me they pretty much like it,” he explained. “I can tell by the way my pager rings if a song is good or not. It’s really going crazy right now.”

PREVIOUS: Jay-Z & Rhapsody Recreate Album Artwork (Video) | Jay-Z – Hate f. Kanye West (prod. Kanye West) x A Star Is Born f. J. Cole

Also, hit the jump for his thoughts on his upcoming 9/11 benefit show at Madison Square Garden (which myself and Meka will be in attendance for).

NEW YORK — Eight years ago, during the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Jay-Z was several thousand miles away, in California, feeling helpless as he watched his hometown in chaos.

“I was Los Angeles shooting a video for ‘Girls, Girls, Girls’ and got a phone call,” Jay recalled at a press conference in New York on Monday (August 31) about his September 11 benefit concert at Madison Square Garden. “A friend of mine told me to turn on the TV. It looked like a movie to me, it didn’t look like anything that could be real.

“The last thing I thought about was an album,” he said, referring to the release date of his first album in the Blueprint series, which was hit stores that dark day. “The first thing I thought about was, ‘What happens from here? What happens tomorrow? How will this continue?’ I was in Los Angeles and there wasn’t anything I could do.”

Eight years later, he’s doing something. The Brooklyn native is headlining the “Answer the Call” tribute concert on the anniversary off the September 11 attacks, and is also releasing the third album in the trilogy, The Blueprint 3, on that day.

To mark the occasion, Jay-Z partnered with the New York Police & Fire Widows’ & Children’s Benefit Fund for the show, presented in conjunction with Fuse, Absolut and Live Nation. All proceeds from the event will go to the charity, and the performance will air commercial-free and stream online on Fuse’s Web site. Tickets for the concert go on sale September 8 at noon ET.

Monday’s press conference was attended by a number of officials, including New York Governor David Paterson.

For Jay-Z, the experience is an honor he isn’t taking lightly.

“I’m humbled by this whole entire process,” he told MTV News after the conference. “Just my whole evolution coming to this place. It just all worked out this way. The first album came out on this exact day, I was in Los Angeles and couldn’t help out physically. For it to come full circle and us to be here and play Madison Square Garden and 100 percent of the proceeds going to [the charity]. I’m just humbled by the experience.”

After the press conference, a woman who lost her brother — a policeman — in the 9/11 tragedy handed Jay a bracelet that her brother wore.

“This makes it real,” Jay-Z said while holding the gift. “Someone really lost their brother, he sacrificed his life for others. You’re humbled by those types of acts of heroism. You only hope to live up to that type of courage and strength. I’m doing a concert, I’m entertaining. At the end of the day I’m doing a great thing, but it’s not what this guy has done.”

Alright folks… the official tracklist has made it’s way to the internets (via Jay-Z.com). Comparing it to the rumored version, I’m excited to see J. Cole get a spot. Hopefully Nas will come through and still lace a verse for that Empire State of Mind joint. Hit the jump…

Here it is, folks. The official first single off Jay’s Blueprint 3. Perfect way to start the day off right, right?

DOWNLOAD: Jay-Z – Run This Town f. Kanye West & Rihanna | Mediafire [Clean]
DOWNLOAD: Jay-Z – Run This Town f. Kanye West & Rihanna | Mediafire [Dirty]

Now you can hear Jigga’s not-really-diss to Dame, Jimmy and Game in a better quality. On a side note, rumor has it that a few BP3 tracks got into the wrong hands recently., and we all know what that’ll ultimately mean… SHAKE UPDATE: Added a “working” video (from the front row). And for the record this actually goes longer than the Palms version. Shouts to DJ Daz One.

PREVIOUS: Jay-Z – Blueprint 3 Freestyle (Live at The Palms in Las Vegas)