JAY-Z was so ecstatic to headline Britain’s legendary Glastonbury music festival last year (08), he’s compared it to the joy of winning a Grammy award.

The hip-hop star caused controversy when he was picked to perform at the notorious event at Worthy Farm, with Oasis star Noel Gallagher blasting organisers for booking a rapper to play the traditionally rock ‘n’ roll festival.

The 99 Problems hitmaker thrilled fans with his headline set at the 2008 show, and opened the doors for other rap stars to perform at similar events, despite Gallagher’s remarks.

Jay-Z was pleased the public welcomed the change, which made him feel as though he’d been given the ultimate prize.

He says, “That was like winning the first Grammy for me. It was one of those times where, you know… almost like knocking the door down.

“Noel Gallagher, I think he perpetuated the old way of thinking. We don’t think like that, or listen to music like that (now). On my iPod is The Beatles, Jay-Z, Kings Of Leon, Lil Wayne, Grizzly Bear, Arctic Monkeys. I listen to a diverse arrangement of music, and I think that’s how kids listen to music now.

“It was almost like the people were saying, ‘No, we want that to happen. That’s the natural progression. We like rap, we like rock. We like everything.’ And it was just that last… that archaic thinking that was in the way of this festival. If we believe that a thing that started should be held forever I’d still be a slave, right? It’d still be in slavery. Things change and the world changes and I think it’s best to embrace change.”