Samsung agreed to pay: Andrew Hampp, “Jay-Z’s New Blueprint: The Billboard
Cover Story,” Billboard, June 21, 2013, https://www.billboard.com/articles/
news/1567999/jay-zs-new-blueprint-the-billboard-cover-story.
It was to turn Galaxys: Ibid.
“How do you navigate your way”: Samsung Electronics, “Jay-Z ‘Magna Carta Holy
Grail’ Samsung Commercial,” posted by YouTube user PlugMatch on June 16,
2013, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmZvjKPeAK0.
Viewers watching the NBA Finals: United Press International, “Jay-Z Releases
Trailer for New Album ‘Magna Carta Holy Grail,’ ” June 16, 2013,
https://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/2013/06/16/Jay-Z-releases-trailer-
for-new-album-Magna-Carta-Holy-Grail/6091371437283/.
“We need to write the new rules”: Samsung Electronics, “Jay-Z ‘Magna Carta Holy
Grail’ Samsung Commercial.”
“If 1 Million records gets SOLD”: Jay-Z (“Mr. Carter,” @SC), “If 1 Million
records gets SOLD and billboard doesnt report it, did it happen? Ha.
#newrules #magnacartaholygrail Platinum!!! VII IV XIII,” Twitter, June 18,
2013, 2:34 A.M., https://twitter.com/s_c_/status/346682205168357377?
lang=en.
“change music forever”: “Jay-Z’s $5 Million Samsung Deal Will Change Music
Forever,” Business Insider, July 4, 2013, https://www.businessinsider.com/jay-
zs-5-million-samsung-deal-2013-7.
“Samsung made Jay-Z’s new album profitable”: Hampp, “Jay-Z’s New Blueprint.”
“1 million, 2 million, 3 million”: Shawn Carter, Chauncey Hollis Jr., Darhyl Camper
Jr., Michael Dean, “Somewhereinamerica,” track 7 on Jay-Z, Magna Carta
Holy Grail, Roc Nation, 2013. The lyrics are available at https://genius.com/
Jay-z-somewhereinamerica-lyrics.
Pendleton and his team were out: Former Galaxy marketer, interview by the author,
October 23, 2017.
At the stroke of midnight: Karissa Donkin, “Jay-Z’s Magna Carta Holy Grail
Release a #Samsungfail,” The Star, July 4, 2013, https://www.thestar.com/
entertainment/music/2013/07/04/
jayzs_magna_carter_holy_grail_release_a_samsungfail.html.
“Jay!” Pendleton called over: Former Galaxy marketer, interview by the author,
October 23, 2017.
“#JayZ’s sponsors at #Samsung”: Hannah Bae (@hanbae), “#JayZ’s sponsors at
#Samsung prove themselves not only intrusive, but technically inept
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/05/arts/music/jay-z-is-watching-and-he-
knows-your-friends.html...#SamsungFail,” Twitter, July 17, 2013, 10:31 A.M.,
https://twitter.com/hanbae/status/357311502623064064.
Pirated files went up online: Donkin, “Jay-Z’s Magna Carta Holy Grail Release a