Jay-Z is planning a benefit concert for September 11th in New York, and says it is a step in the direction his career -- and life -- is headed.

The rapper is gearing up for the release of his 11th album, The Blueprint 3, which drops the same day of the concert, which is being dubbed "Answer the Call."

Jay says it's all a part of his evolution.

"The first Blueprint was a return to my roots, like those soul samples my mom and pop listened to, and now on this one we're becoming those guys we looked up to on all those records," he said, according to the Associated Press. "It's my evolution and it's me now in the forefront, not as the performer who looked back ... but me taking the initiative being the one, and being the icon, or being the philanthropist."

The performance will take place at New York's Madison Square Garden and air live on Fuse TV. Proceeds from the concert will be donated to the New York Police and Fire Widows' and Children's Benefit Fund. The show is expected to raise anywhere from $750,000 to $1 million.

Tickets for the show are being sold for $50 a pop.

Jay-Z has sold out Madison Square Garden seven times. During his performance, he said he plans to perform material from his new CD, and will bring out special guests.

"I'm trying to put that together," he said.

In other Jay-Z news, he recently sat down with MTV to talk about the upcoming concert and let the cat out the bag about his next album. Not BP3, the one after.

Jay said he's actually already working on the album that he plans to drop after Blueprint 3 comes. This time around, however, he doesn't think it'll be a #1 album. Why? Because, he's just trying some new stuff.

"My next album, which I'm working on now -- that's exclusive, no one knows that -- is gonna be the album that really ... it's not gonna be a #1 album. That's where I'm at right now. I wanna make the most experimental album I ever made," he said.