You could name practically any problem in the hood and there'd be a rap song for you. — Jay-Z Copy Share Image
Rap has been a path between cultures in the best tradition of popular music. — Jay-Z Copy Share Image
The Nets' a stone throw from where I used to throw bricks ...So it's only right I'm still tossing 'round Knicks. — Jay-Z Copy Share Image
They say a midget standing on a giant's shoulders can see much further than the giant. So I got the whole rap… — Jay-Z Copy Share Image
Put me anywhere on God's green earth, I'll triple my worth. Motherf--. I, will, not, lose. — Jay-Z Copy Share Image
Rap for me is like making movies, telling stories, and getting the emotions of the songs through in just as deep a… — Jay-Z Copy Share Image
Stop screamin', you know the demon said it's best to die, And even if Jehovah witness, bet he'll never testify, D'Evils... — Jay-Z Copy Share Image
And through our travels we get separated, never forget: In order to survive, got to learn to live with regrets. — Jay-Z Copy Share Image
The average rap life is two or three albums. You're lucky to get to your second album in rap! — Jay-Z Copy Share Image
If skills sold, truth be told, I'd probably be Lyrically, Talib Kweli Truthfully, I wanna rhyme like Common Sense But I did… — Jay-Z Copy Share Image
'Blueprint 3' is made up of songs, but it's also a commentary on the idea that in order for rap to survive,… — Jay-Z Copy Share Image
With rap, you go in the studio, you make music, you put the music out, then all of a sudden, you're a… — Jay-Z Copy Share Image
“To me, its just a word, a word whose power is owned by the user and his or her intention. People give… — Jay-Z Copy Share Image
Racism is taught in the home. We agree on that? Well, it's very hard to teach racism to a teenager who's listening… — Jay-Z Copy Share Image
Everyone's supposed to stay in their lines and be neat. 'You're a rapper. You're supposed to rap, carry a boom box, wear… — Jay-Z Copy Share Image
I'll make a song with Rick Rubin, a song with Beyonce, a song with Lenny Kravitz. I just believe in making good… — Jay-Z Copy Share Image
Which is the other reason hip-hop is controversial: People don't bother trying to get it. The problem isn't in the rap or… — Jay-Z Copy Share Image
Well I'm not just gon' go and do rap songs. I wanna touch, and maybe help, and see what I can do… — Jay-Z Copy Share Image
“The art of rap is deceptive. It seems so straightforward and personal and real that people read it completely literally, as raw… — Jay-Z Copy Share Image
My life after childhood has two main stories: the story of the hustler and the story of the rapper, and the two… — Jay-Z Copy Share Image
But this is one of the things that makes rap at its best so human. It doesn't force you to pretend to… — Jay-Z Copy Share Image
Rap for me is like making movies, telling stories, and getting the emotions of the songs through in just as deep a… — Jay-Z Copy Share Image
If skills sold truth be told I'd probably be lyrically Talib Kweli Truthfully I want to rhyme like Common Sense (But I… — Jay-Z Copy Share Image
I listen to everything - from Sarah McLachlan and Alanis Morissette all the way down to rap like Scarface, UGK and Lauryn… — Jay-Z Copy Share Image
The day Obama got into office, rap was less important because Obama gave kids an alternative. But will rap ever go away?… — Jay-Z Copy Share Image
We create music to express ourselves and when the world relates, that’s a beautiful thing. We’re all trading off each other’s culture,… — Jay-Z Copy Share Image
I got this black chick, she don't know how to act Always talkin' out her neck, makin' her fingers snap She like,… — Jay-Z Copy Share Image
My mom had early rap records, like Jimmy Spicer. In the middle of the records was a turntable and a receiver -… — Jay-Z Copy Share Image
Wherever I go, I bring the culture with me, so that they can understand that it's attainable. I didn't do it any other way… — Jay-Z Copy Share
Everyone who makes music is a good collaborator at their foundation because in order to make music, you have to connect to it in… — Jay-Z Copy Share
New York - I'm connected. This is my core. I feel like if I'm not connected to New York, then I don't even know… — Jay-Z Copy Share
It was a very intense and stressful situation. There was playing in the Johnny-pump (an opened fire hydrant) and the ice-cream man coming around… — Jay-Z Copy Share
“THEY NEVER TAUGHT MARCUS GARVEY IN OUR SCHOOL CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS IS THEIR GOLDEN RULE” — Jay-Z Copy Share
Tears on the mauseoleum floor. Blood stains the coliseum doors. Lies on the lips of a priest. Thanksgiving disguised as a feast. — Jay-Z Copy Share
Around 20. I'd been trying to transition from the streets to the music business, but I would make demos and then quit for six… — Jay-Z Copy Share
There's the gift, there's the spirit, and there's the work-all three have to come together. If one of those things is off, it can… — Jay-Z Copy Share
All black everything, Ni**a you know my fresh code. Im out here fightin for you, dont increase my stress load. — Jay-Z Copy Share
I couldn't even think about wanting to be something else; I wouldn't let myself visualize another life. But I wrote because I couldn't stop.… — Jay-Z Copy Share
Their gunnin' for me, want to see me fall, you know my story, been through it all, times I felt like dyin', but I… — Jay-Z Copy Share
