‘Are you famous?' Woman doesn't recognise Jay-Z on New York subway (Watch Video)

Herald Sun ^ | 12/05/2012 | Chris Paine

[SeekAndFind]

WHEN hip-hop superstar Jay-Z boarded a crowded subway to his show in Brooklyn everybody knew who he was.

Everybody except for the person sitting next to him.

In Jay-Z's new 24-minute YouTube documentary Where I'm From, a woman named Ellen innocently asks Mr Beyonce: "are you famous?" as he takes his seat.

Jay-Z, taken aback, politely replies: "Yes. Not very famous you don't know me."

"I'll get there some day."

He then tells Ellen he makes music and that he's on the way to his eighth and final show.

"I'm on my way to the performance in Brooklyn and the new Brooklyn arena."

Jay-Z declines to mention he's a part owner of the Barclays Center Arena, nor does he reveal himself to be a part owner of the NBA team which plays there - the Brooklyn Nets.

Ellen is clearly stunned that a man with obvious wealth still takes the subway, then asks him to repeat his name.

"Jay... Jay-Z," he says, before she quickly cuts in: "Oh, you're Jay-Z! Yes, I know about Jay-Z!"

Of course she does.

[SeekAndFind]

[skeeter]

He then tells Ellen he makes music

Why'd JayZ lie to this old woman?

[GrannyK]

Sorry to say, I wouldn’t know him or many of the current “stars” either. Or NOT sorry I should say. I have no interest in these snobs.

[panzerkamphwageneinz]

her priorities are in the right place

[riverrunner]

WHO and I don’t care.

[Dr. Sivana]

Why'd JayZ lie to this old woman?

It is not a lie. It is a falsehood. Just like when my 4 year old plinks on rubber bands string around a cardboard box and says he's making "music".

BTW, I had no idea what he looks like either. He did treat the lady in a civil manner, however, which is nice to see. Sad that the bar was set so low.

[riri]

Look at ol' Jay Z. Just a man of the peeps.

He must be planning on running for office.

[libertarian27]

I wouldn’t know him either...and if he said his name I’d probably say “Oh, you’re married to ‘what’s-her face’”

I just read those headlines- bunch of junk rattling in my head with that stuff :)

[GrandJediMasterYoda]

..hip-hop superstar..

Translation: Karaoke performer who fools a lot of people.

[who knows what evil?]

Don’t feel bad, Ellen...I don’t know who he is, either...

[Gay State Conservative]

The only thing he's ever done that I'm familiar with is “Empire State of Mind”.I'm a 60’s music guy myself,having come of age then,but it's pretty good.Of course Alicia Keyes owns that song...her performance in it is excellent.And no,I wouldn't recognize him if I saw him on the street.

[Vision]

"Yes. Not very famous you don't know me."

He talks like Tarzan.

[Sarah Barracuda]

She should have asked Jay Z for her “Fair share” since Jay Z is such a huge Obama lover

[skeeter]

He did treat the lady in a civil manner, however, which is nice to see. Sad that the bar was set so low.

Most probably are normally civil and in many cases shrewd people.

What they sell to our kids is what makes them seem otherwise.

[jrg]

I wouldn’t know him from any other ‘bro on the subway.

[Obadiah]

Honestly, if sat next to me and started talking to me I would have absolutely no idea who he was.

Am I supposed to care?

[Resolute Conservative]

I keep telling my daughter that Justin Bieber, Brittany Spears, Cyrus slut, Mr and Mrs Beyonce, Rihanna, gag gag and anyone who has a one word or hyphenated name (except Elvis) are not artists and don’t make music. The try to sing into a mixer and the engineers and stupid public make them famous.

I tell her all their crap sounds the same. She gets all defensive.

[Carriage Hill]

He’s just confused by those big 5-letter words:

n*o*i*s*e

vs

m*u*s*i*c

[SECURE AMERICA]

I would not know Jay-Z if he sat next to me on a bus and even after you told me what he was I would not know him!

[skeeter]

In case you're worried you might be sounding a little too much like your parents, here's a bit of reassurance.