Jay-Z marks album launch

Jay-Z hosted a "secret" album release party on Wednesday night.

The rapper released his latest record Magna Carta... Holy Grail yesterday and feted the occasion the night before with a bash in Red Hook, New York City.

According to the New York Post he kept the do at Brooklyn's Liberty Warehouse under wraps and invited 500 carefully selected guests.

Among them were fellow musicians Busta Rhymes and Timbaland, actor Nick Cannon and celebrity chef Marc Forgione.

At midnight the dancefloor was heaving as DJ Funkmaster put on new single Holy Grail, which also features singer Justin Timberlake.

Jay-Z's superstar wife Beyoncé Knowles joined the rapper and danced to the catchy track.

Luckily this party was able to go ahead, as the musician was recently disappointed when his plans to put on a free concert atop the Ed Sullivan Theater's marquee were cancelled.

The show was scheduled for July 8, but stopped in its tracks due to health and safety concerns.

Jay-Z's new album has already made big waves, with his Tom Ford track, featuring lyrics about the iconic designer, going down well with music and fashion fans alike.

Earlier this week, the star spoke out about being a father to his daughter with Beyoncé, Blue Ivy.

"Blue Ivy is something that we both created, you know, we still marvel at her," he said in an emotional video taken during the recording of his album.

"It's most obvious on the song Jay-Z Blue. And it deals with [parenthood] — you know, my pop left when I was young, so he didn't teach me how to be a man nor how to raise a child or treat a woman.

"So, of course, my karma, the two things I needed I don't have, right?

"And I have a daughter. It's the paranoia of not being a great dad."