“We sat there and hand-counted the votes until the winner was clear—sixty percent of our listeners chose “Ether” over “Super Ugly.” As much as it irritated me to hear the venom toward Jay, I agreed that “Ether” was the better of the two records. I’m literally getting ready to announce the winner when I look into the hallway of the station and see Jay Z walking into my studio. “And the winner is ‘Ether.’” I had to deliver Jay that blow while he was standing right there.
To say he was uncomfortable is an understatement.
I couldn’t really figure out why he’d agreed to be interviewed in this moment. But evidently he had been under pressure. Like I said, a lot of people felt he had gone too far. Even his mother felt that way. She was the one who suggested that he apologize for getting a woman and a child involved by even mentioning them.
I can see him sitting there like it was yesterday—defeated. I had never seen him like that before. He’s somebody who’s always so big and confident. And I hated to see him diwn. This is a friend, and I was part of the machinery that brought him to this point.
After the interview, we walked outside the studio to talk alone. “Yo,” I said. “Are we okay?”
“Of course. I don’t blame you for this,” he said. “This was just something that you kind of got sucked into. I’m clear. It’s cool.” I wasn’t sure if it really was, but I hoped so.”
To say he was uncomfortable is an understatement.
I couldn’t really figure out why he’d agreed to be interviewed in this moment. But evidently he had been under pressure. Like I said, a lot of people felt he had gone too far. Even his mother felt that way. She was the one who suggested that he apologize for getting a woman and a child involved by even mentioning them.
I can see him sitting there like it was yesterday—defeated. I had never seen him like that before. He’s somebody who’s always so big and confident. And I hated to see him diwn. This is a friend, and I was part of the machinery that brought him to this point.
After the interview, we walked outside the studio to talk alone. “Yo,” I said. “Are we okay?”
“Of course. I don’t blame you for this,” he said. “This was just something that you kind of got sucked into. I’m clear. It’s cool.” I wasn’t sure if it really was, but I hoped so.”
Its great radio....... Uhhh yeahhhhhhhhh. 
