Jay-Z stands accused of physically abusing a woman in footage from his concert film BACKSTAGE, although a representative for the hip-hop superstar says he was just "horsing around" with a "close friend".

In the clip from the documentary - filmed in 1999 and available on DVD - the 34-year-old rapper appears to slap and then push a woman in front of him as he walks down a corridor with his entourage.

But the footage, which is currently being streamed on website HIPHOPDX.COM, has been dismissed as taken "out of context" by a spokeswoman for the star.

She tells the NEW YORK DAILY NEWS, "The person in that video is someone who he has worked with for years, and they are very close, and for it to be excerpted like that is an insult.

"That footage was taken completely out of context. They were just horsing around."

Backstage follows Jay-Z on his 1999 HARD KNOCKS tour with Method Man, DMX, Redman and Ja Rule.

The same year (99) the rapper - who is now dating BEYONCE KNOWLES - pleaded guilty to stabbing UNTERTAINMENT RECORDS boss Lance Rivera, for which he was sentenced to three years probation.

22/06/2004 17:32