I'm just going to make the music I love to make, and I'm going to mature with my music. — Jay-Z Copy Share Image
When you have a reputation for making not only good songs but great albums, that in itself creates added artistic pressure. But,… — 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
Hip-hop has done so much for racial relations, and I don't think it's given the proper credit. It has changed America immensely.… — 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
The experiences that I've had growing up with music, you know, I couldn't trade them for any money in the world. Dancing… — 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
Rap has been a path between cultures in the best tradition of popular music. — Jay-Z Copy Share Image
“Rappers, as a class, are not engaged in anything criminal. They're musicians. Some rappers and friends of rappers commit crimes. Some bus… — Jay-Z Copy Share Image
Music is everywhere - you consume it every day, everywhere you go. The content creator should be compensated. It's only fair. — Jay-Z Copy Share Image
For me, the challenge is just making great albums, because talent - and writing in general - is not tangible. There's no… — Jay-Z Copy Share Image
Hip-hop is more about attaining wealth. People respect success. They respect big. They don't even have to like your music. If you're… — 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
“The story of the rapper and the story of the hustler are like rap itself, two kinds of rhythm working together, having… — 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
The challenge is to get everyone to respect music again, to recognize its value. — Jay-Z Copy Share Image
I think in London - and I don't wanna offend anybody in America, but this is a real statement - they still… — 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 try to make music with emotion and integrity. And authenticity. You can feel when something's authentic, and you can feel when… — 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
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 don't profess to be a political rapper, like groups such as 'Dead Prez' or 'Public Enemy', but I think social commentary… — Jay-Z Copy Share Image
My thing is related to who I am as a person. The clothes are an extension of me. The music is an… — Jay-Z Copy Share Image
If I was to stop making music tomorrow doesn't mean suddenly there is this gap. You don't get elected. The people decide… — 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
