Around 20. I'd been trying to transition from the streets to the music business, but I would make demos and then quit… — Jay-Z Copy Share Image
I can think of no one more relevant and credible in the hip-hop community to build upon Def Jam's fantastic legacy and… — Jay-Z Copy Share Image
All my businesses are part of the culture, so I have to stay true to whatever I'm feeling at the time, whatever… — Jay-Z Copy Share Image
I'm just saying the producers and people who work on music are getting left out - that's when it starts getting criminal.… — Jay-Z Copy Share Image
Whoever said that artists shouldn't pay attention to their business was probably someone w/their hand in some artist's pocket. — Jay-Z Copy Share Image
What people do in their own homes is their business, and you can choose to love whoever you love. That's their business.… — Jay-Z Copy Share Image
Hip-hop from the beginning has always been aspirational. It always broke that notion that an artist can't think about money as well.… — Jay-Z Copy Share Image
I have inherited two of the most important brands in hip-hop, Def Jam and Roc-A-Fella. Reid and Universal Music Group have given… — Jay-Z Copy Share Image
My passion is music, you know, and music influences culture, influences lifestyle, which leads me to 'Roc-A-Wear'. I was forced to be… — Jay-Z Copy Share Image
My first album was mainly dealing with street issues, and it was 'coded': it was called 'Reasonable Doubt.' So the things I… — Jay-Z Copy Share Image
I think that's what happened to the record business when 'Napster' came around. The industry rejected what was happening instead of accepting… — Jay-Z Copy Share Image
The fans get to see you, and you can do great by your record if you have a great performance or a… — Jay-Z Copy Share Image
I came into this music business at 26 years old. I was a fully developed man at that point. At that age,… — Jay-Z Copy Share Image
When I came into the music, I was forced to be a CEO. I was forced to be an entrepreneur; I was… — Jay-Z Copy Share Image
I was forced to be an artist and a CEO from the beginning, so I was forced to be like a businessman… — 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 Image
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 Image
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 Image
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 Image
“THEY NEVER TAUGHT MARCUS GARVEY IN OUR SCHOOL CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS IS THEIR GOLDEN RULE” — Jay-Z Copy Share Image
I'm a person that works off of music. I let the music dictate the direction. — Jay-Z Copy Share Image
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 Image
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 Image
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 Image
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 Image
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 Image
