Don't tell me what was said about me. Tell me why they were so comfortable to say it to you. — Jay-Z Copy Share Image
I think Lil Wayne is extremely talented. I think he's one of the most talented ones out there. — Jay-Z Copy Share Image
Rap has been a path between cultures in the best tradition of popular music. — Jay-Z Copy Share Image
You could name practically any problem in the hood and there'd be a rap song for you. — Jay-Z Copy Share Image
Biggie was the King Of New York as a rapper. There's a lot more dangerous guys than Biggie Smalls out there, you… — 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
Hip-hop has done more for race relations than most cultural icons; and I say save Martin Luther King, because his 'I Have… — 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
I don't think any rapper can go back. You can be a car salesman, a bank teller - I mean, really good… — Jay-Z Copy Share Image
Primarily I see myself as so much more than a rapper. I really believe I am the voice for a lot of… — 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
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
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
That's why this generation is the least racist generation ever. You see it all the time. Go to any club. People are… — 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
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 got love for Damon Dash as I did before. I don't know if we can be around each other in that… — 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
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
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
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
“The music is meant to be provocative—which doesn’t mean it’s necessarily obnoxious, but it is (mostly) confrontational, and more than that, it’s… — 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
“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
I noticed that difference early on, like if you were successful in rock 'n' roll, that was a really bad thing, you… — Jay-Z Copy Share Image
“Hip-hop has always been controversial, and for good reason. When you watch a children's show and they've got a muppet rapping about… — 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
“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
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
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
That's the reason why I'm making albums. That's the reason why I love hip-hop: It's a challenge every time. — 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
Hip-hop gave a generation a common ground that didn't require either race to lose anything; everyone gained. — Jay-Z Copy Share Image
I think it's very important for hip-hop, when an artist reaches a certain level, to ascend to executive work. — 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… — Jay-Z Copy Share Image
I think the problem with people, as they start to mature, they say, 'Rap is a young man's game,' and they keep… — 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
