--- title: "24 Way Quotes By Jay-Z" description: "24 Way quotes by Jay-Z. Plus more from Jay-Z and more Way sayings from other authors." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/421/jay-z-713_attainable_wherever-i-go-i-bring-the-culture-with-m_10922.png" --- > [Wherever I go, I bring the culture with me, so that they can understand that it's attainable. I didn't do it any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/wherever-i-go-i-bring-the-culture-with-me-so-that-they-can-understand/) [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/421/jay-z-713_attainable_wherever-i-go-i-bring-the-culture-with-m_10922.png) > [No one came to our neighborhoods with stand-up jobs and showed us there's a different way. Maybe, had I seen different role…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/no-one-came-to-our-neighborhoods-with-stand-up-jobs-and-showed-us/) [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/349/jay-z-713_different-way_no-one-came-to-our-neighborhoods-with-st_109425.png) > [I've never looked at myself and said that I need to be a certain way to be around a certain sort of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/i-ve-never-looked-at-myself-and-said-that-i-need-to-be-a-certain-way/) [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19d/jay-z-713_accepting_i-ve-never-looked-at-myself-and-said-tha_2601839.jpg) > [If I was to stop making music tomorrow doesn't mean suddenly there is this gap. You don't get elected. The people decide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/if-i-was-to-stop-making-music-tomorrow-doesn-t-mean-suddenly-there-is/) [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51d/jay-z-713_determination_if-i-was-to-stop-making-music-tomorrow-d_3219835.png) > [We were kids without fathers, so we found our fathers on wax and on the streets and in history, and in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/we-were-kids-without-fathers-so-we-found-our-fathers-on-wax-and-on/) [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/031/jay-z-713_ancestor_we-were-kids-without-fathers-so-we-found_2039938.png) > [Music is the soundtrack to your life. It's not going to go anywhere. But the way people are purchasing music has changed.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/music-is-the-soundtrack-to-your-life-it-s-not-going-to-go-anywhere/) [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41e/jay-z-713_life_music-is-the-soundtrack-to-your-life-it_308251.png) > [Rap for me is like making movies, telling stories, and getting the emotions of the songs through in just as deep a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/rap-for-me-is-like-making-movies-telling-stories-and-getting-the/) [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73b/jay-z-713_deep_rap-for-me-is-like-making-movies-telling_1918543.png) > [Identity is a prison you can never escape, but the way to redeem your past is not to run from it, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/identity-is-a-prison-you-can-never-escape-but-the-way-to-redeem-your/) [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa6/jay-z-713_foundation_identity-is-a-prison-you-can-never-escap_1660842.png) > [I think the consumption of music is at an all-time high. But I think the ways that record companies are trying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/i-think-the-consumption-of-music-is-at-an-all-time-high-but-i-think/) [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e40/jay-z-713_air_i-think-the-consumption-of-music-is-at-a_3236460.png) > [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,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/we-create-music-to-express-ourselves-and-when-the-world-relates-that/) [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6f/jay-z-713_beautiful_we-create-music-to-express-ourselves-and_3075213.png) > [Well I'm not just gon' go and do rap songs. I wanna touch, and maybe help, and see what I can do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/well-i-m-not-just-gon-go-and-do-rap-songs-i-wanna-touch-and-maybe/) [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3c/jay-z-713_areas_well-i-m-not-just-gon-go-and-do-rap-song_1849619.png) > [I got love for Damon Dash as I did before. I don't know if we can be around each other in that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/i-got-love-for-damon-dash-as-i-did-before-i-don-t-know-if-we-can-be/) [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f0/jay-z-713_damon_i-got-love-for-damon-dash-as-i-did-befor_1852709.jpg) > [I don't profess to be a political rapper, like groups such as 'Dead Prez' or 'Public Enemy', but I think social commentary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/i-don-t-profess-to-be-a-political-rapper-like-groups-such-as-dead/) [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aca/jay-z-713_enemy_i-don-t-profess-to-be-a-political-rapper_3140097.png) > [New York has a thousand universes in it that don't always connect but we do all walk the same streets, hear the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/new-york-has-a-thousand-universes-in-it-that-don-t-always-connect-but/) [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85b/jay-z-713_headlines_new-york-has-a-thousand-universes-in-it_249897.jpg) > [This is why we shouldn't be afraid. There are two possibilities: One is that there's more to life than the physical life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/this-is-why-we-shouldn-t-be-afraid-there-are-two-possibilities-one-is/) [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a48/jay-z-713_afraid_this-is-why-we-shouldn-t-be-afraid-there_2220687.png) > [Boxing is a glorious sport to watch and boxers are incredible, heroic athletes, but it's also, to be honest, a stupid game…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/boxing-is-a-glorious-sport-to-watch-and-boxers-are-incredible-heroic/) [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d68/jay-z-713_athlete_boxing-is-a-glorious-sport-to-watch-and_145566.jpg) > [Everyone who makes music is a good collaborator at their foundation because in order to make music, you have to connect to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/everyone-who-makes-music-is-a-good-collaborator-at-their-foundation/) [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c4/jay-z-713_foundation_everyone-who-makes-music-is-a-good-colla_13637.jpg) > [Rap for me is like making movies, telling stories, and getting the emotions of the songs through in just as deep a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/rap-for-me-is-like-making-movies-telling-stories-and-getting-the-2/) [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff8/jay-z-713_deep_rap-for-me-is-like-making-movies-telling_2392634.png) > [I've said the election of Obama has made the hustler less relevant. People took it in a way that I was almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/i-ve-said-the-election-of-obama-has-made-the-hustler-less-relevant/) [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/008/jay-z-713_democracy_i-ve-said-the-election-of-obama-has-made_3063888.png) > [I'm trying to tell the story in the most clear, concise, and truthful way, taking those everyday words and phrases and capturing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/i-m-trying-to-tell-the-story-in-the-most-clear-concise-and-truthful/) [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bca/jay-z-713_clear_i-m-trying-to-tell-the-story-in-the-most_114683.png) > [Biggie was the King Of New York as a rapper. There's a lot more dangerous guys than Biggie Smalls out there, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/biggie-was-the-king-of-new-york-as-a-rapper-there-s-a-lot-more/) [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2bc/jay-z-713_dangerous_biggie-was-the-king-of-new-york-as-a-rap_527782.jpg) > [I listen to everything - from Sarah McLachlan and Alanis Morissette all the way down to rap like Scarface, UGK and Lauryn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/i-listen-to-everything-from-sarah-mclachlan-and-alanis-morissette-all/) [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f0/jay-z-713_everything_i-listen-to-everything-from-sarah-mclach_621511.png) > [I couldn't even think about wanting to be something else; I wouldn't let myself visualize another life. But I wrote because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/i-couldn-t-even-think-about-wanting-to-be-something-else-i-wouldn-t/) [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3bd/jay-z-713_another-life_i-couldn-t-even-think-about-wanting-to-b_59764.png) > [All these ways we classify things as R&B and hip-hop and rock... It's bullshit. It's all music. If you put yourself in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/all-these-ways-we-classify-things-as-r-b-and-hip-hop-and-rock-it-s/) [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) [Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/115/jay-z-713_able_all-these-ways-we-classify-things-as-r-b_957662.png) ## Other authors on Way ## More by Jay-Z > [At 42 be better than 24, I carried the 4-5, mastered 48 laws.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/at-42-be-better-than-24-i-carried-the-4-5-mastered-48-laws/) [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/wherever-i-go-i-bring-the-culture-with-me-so-that-they-can-understand/) [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) > [Everyone who makes music is a good collaborator at their foundation because in order to make music, you have to connect to it in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/everyone-who-makes-music-is-a-good-collaborator-at-their-foundation/) [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/new-york-i-m-connected-this-is-my-core-i-feel-like-if-i-m-not/) [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/it-was-a-very-intense-and-stressful-situation-there-was-playing-in/) [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) > [“THEY NEVER TAUGHT MARCUS GARVEY IN OUR SCHOOL CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS IS THEIR GOLDEN RULE”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/they-never-taught-marcus-garvey-in-our-school-christopher-columbus-is/) [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) > [I'm a person that works off of music. I let the music dictate the direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/i-m-a-person-that-works-off-of-music-i-let-the-music-dictate-the/) [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) > [Tears on the mauseoleum floor. Blood stains the coliseum doors. Lies on the lips of a priest. Thanksgiving disguised as a feast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/tears-on-the-mauseoleum-floor-blood-stains-the-coliseum-doors-lies-on/) [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/around-20-i-d-been-trying-to-transition-from-the-streets-to-the-music/) [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/there-s-the-gift-there-s-the-spirit-and-there-s-the-work-all-three/) [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) > [All black everything, Ni\*\*a you know my fresh code. Im out here fightin for you, dont increase my stress load.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/all-black-everything-ni-a-you-know-my-fresh-code-im-out-here-fightin/) [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) > [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.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/i-couldn-t-even-think-about-wanting-to-be-something-else-i-wouldn-t/) [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) > [Lord forgive me I never would've made it without sin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/lord-forgive-me-i-never-would-ve-made-it-without-sin/) [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) > [In trouble waters I had to learn how to float](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/in-trouble-waters-i-had-to-learn-how-to-float/) [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) > [Their gunnin' for me, want to see me fall, you know my story, been through it all, times I felt like dyin', but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/their-gunnin-for-me-want-to-see-me-fall-you-know-my-story-been/) [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "ItemList", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/jay-z/#itemlist", "name": "24 Way Quotes By Jay-Z", "numberOfItems": 24, "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Wherever I go, I bring the culture with me, so that they can understand that it's attainable. 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People have to accept that.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jay-Z" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/i-ve-never-looked-at-myself-and-said-that-i-need-to-be-a-certain-way/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19d/jay-z-713_accepting_i-ve-never-looked-at-myself-and-said-tha_2601839.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19d/jay-z-713_accepting_i-ve-never-looked-at-myself-and-said-tha_2601839.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19d/jay-z-713_accepting_i-ve-never-looked-at-myself-and-said-tha_2601839.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I've never looked at myself and said that I need to be a certain way to be around a certain sort of people…” — Jay-Z", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If I was to stop making music tomorrow doesn't mean suddenly there is this gap. You don't get elected. The people decide where you are. Whether I'm here or not, if they want you to be at the top then the people will move me out the way.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jay-Z" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/if-i-was-to-stop-making-music-tomorrow-doesn-t-mean-suddenly-there-is/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51d/jay-z-713_determination_if-i-was-to-stop-making-music-tomorrow-d_3219835.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51d/jay-z-713_determination_if-i-was-to-stop-making-music-tomorrow-d_3219835.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/51d/jay-z-713_determination_if-i-was-to-stop-making-music-tomorrow-d_3219835.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If I was to stop making music tomorrow doesn't mean suddenly there is this gap. You don't get elected. 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We got to pick and choose the ancestors who would inspire the world we were going to make for ourselves.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jay-Z" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/we-were-kids-without-fathers-so-we-found-our-fathers-on-wax-and-on/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/031/jay-z-713_ancestor_we-were-kids-without-fathers-so-we-found_2039938.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/031/jay-z-713_ancestor_we-were-kids-without-fathers-so-we-found_2039938.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/031/jay-z-713_ancestor_we-were-kids-without-fathers-so-we-found_2039938.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We were kids without fathers, so we found our fathers on wax and on the streets and in history, and in a…” — Jay-Z", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 6, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Music is the soundtrack to your life. It's not going to go anywhere. But the way people are purchasing music has changed. It's not the same anymore. It will never be the same.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jay-Z" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/music-is-the-soundtrack-to-your-life-it-s-not-going-to-go-anywhere/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41e/jay-z-713_life_music-is-the-soundtrack-to-your-life-it_308251.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41e/jay-z-713_life_music-is-the-soundtrack-to-your-life-it_308251.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/41e/jay-z-713_life_music-is-the-soundtrack-to-your-life-it_308251.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Music is the soundtrack to your life. It's not going to go anywhere. But the way people are purchasing music…” — Jay-Z", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 7, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Rap for me is like making movies, telling stories, and getting the emotions of the songs through in just as deep a way. And I grew up in rap and movies the same way.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jay-Z" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/rap-for-me-is-like-making-movies-telling-stories-and-getting-the/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73b/jay-z-713_deep_rap-for-me-is-like-making-movies-telling_1918543.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73b/jay-z-713_deep_rap-for-me-is-like-making-movies-telling_1918543.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/73b/jay-z-713_deep_rap-for-me-is-like-making-movies-telling_1918543.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Rap for me is like making movies, telling stories, and getting the emotions of the songs through in just as…” — Jay-Z", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 8, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Identity is a prison you can never escape, but the way to redeem your past is not to run from it, but to try to understand it, and use it as a foundation to grow.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jay-Z" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/identity-is-a-prison-you-can-never-escape-but-the-way-to-redeem-your/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa6/jay-z-713_foundation_identity-is-a-prison-you-can-never-escap_1660842.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa6/jay-z-713_foundation_identity-is-a-prison-you-can-never-escap_1660842.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aa6/jay-z-713_foundation_identity-is-a-prison-you-can-never-escap_1660842.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Identity is a prison you can never escape, but the way to redeem your past is not to run from it, but to try…” — Jay-Z", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 9, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think the consumption of music is at an all-time high. But I think the ways that record companies are trying to monetize it is just all over the place. At the end of the day, music is in the clouds. Before, you could hold it, look at it, turn it around. Now, it's just in the air.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jay-Z" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/i-think-the-consumption-of-music-is-at-an-all-time-high-but-i-think/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e40/jay-z-713_air_i-think-the-consumption-of-music-is-at-a_3236460.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e40/jay-z-713_air_i-think-the-consumption-of-music-is-at-a_3236460.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e40/jay-z-713_air_i-think-the-consumption-of-music-is-at-a_3236460.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I think the consumption of music is at an all-time high. But I think the ways that record companies are…” — Jay-Z", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 10, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "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, so no matter what lines you put-country indie rock, rap, we’re all somehow gonna find a way to come together.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jay-Z" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/we-create-music-to-express-ourselves-and-when-the-world-relates-that/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6f/jay-z-713_beautiful_we-create-music-to-express-ourselves-and_3075213.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6f/jay-z-713_beautiful_we-create-music-to-express-ourselves-and_3075213.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a6f/jay-z-713_beautiful_we-create-music-to-express-ourselves-and_3075213.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We create music to express ourselves and when the world relates, that’s a beautiful thing. We’re all trading…” — Jay-Z", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 11, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Well I'm not just gon' go and do rap songs. I wanna touch, and maybe help, and see what I can do in these areas.' As I start looking around me, looking at things in ways that I can become helpful, starting at the first thing, water. Something as simple as water.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jay-Z" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/well-i-m-not-just-gon-go-and-do-rap-songs-i-wanna-touch-and-maybe/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3c/jay-z-713_areas_well-i-m-not-just-gon-go-and-do-rap-song_1849619.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3c/jay-z-713_areas_well-i-m-not-just-gon-go-and-do-rap-song_1849619.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3c/jay-z-713_areas_well-i-m-not-just-gon-go-and-do-rap-song_1849619.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Well I'm not just gon' go and do rap songs. I wanna touch, and maybe help, and see what I can do in these…” — Jay-Z", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 12, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I got love for Damon Dash as I did before. I don't know if we can be around each other in that way because times have changed. He may be a totally different person. I know I'm a different person. But nothing can erase that era, those times, those memories, those fights to get 'Roc-A-fella' where it was.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jay-Z" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/i-got-love-for-damon-dash-as-i-did-before-i-don-t-know-if-we-can-be/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f0/jay-z-713_damon_i-got-love-for-damon-dash-as-i-did-befor_1852709.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f0/jay-z-713_damon_i-got-love-for-damon-dash-as-i-did-befor_1852709.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3f0/jay-z-713_damon_i-got-love-for-damon-dash-as-i-did-befor_1852709.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I got love for Damon Dash as I did before. I don't know if we can be around each other in that way because…” — Jay-Z", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 13, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I don't profess to be a political rapper, like groups such as 'Dead Prez' or 'Public Enemy', but I think social commentary should make its way into your music. Speaking on your neighbourhood is social commentary - what happens, what's going on.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jay-Z" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/i-don-t-profess-to-be-a-political-rapper-like-groups-such-as-dead/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aca/jay-z-713_enemy_i-don-t-profess-to-be-a-political-rapper_3140097.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aca/jay-z-713_enemy_i-don-t-profess-to-be-a-political-rapper_3140097.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aca/jay-z-713_enemy_i-don-t-profess-to-be-a-political-rapper_3140097.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I don't profess to be a political rapper, like groups such as 'Dead Prez' or 'Public Enemy', but I think…” — Jay-Z", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 14, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "New York has a thousand universes in it that don't always connect but we do all walk the same streets, hear the same sirens, ride the same subways, see the same headlines in the Post, read the same writings on the walls. That shared landscape gets inside of all of us and, in some small way, unites us, makes us think we know each other even when we don't.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jay-Z" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/new-york-has-a-thousand-universes-in-it-that-don-t-always-connect-but/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85b/jay-z-713_headlines_new-york-has-a-thousand-universes-in-it_249897.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85b/jay-z-713_headlines_new-york-has-a-thousand-universes-in-it_249897.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/85b/jay-z-713_headlines_new-york-has-a-thousand-universes-in-it_249897.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“New York has a thousand universes in it that don't always connect but we do all walk the same streets, hear…” — Jay-Z", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 15, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "This is why we shouldn't be afraid. There are two possibilities: One is that there's more to life than the physical life, that our souls \"will find an even higher place to dwell\" when this life is over. If that's true, there's no reason to fear failure or death. The other possibility is that this life is all there is. And if that's true, then we have to really live it - we have to take it for everything it has and \"die enormous\" instead of \"living dormant,\" as I said way back on \"Can I Live.\" Either way, fear is a waste of time.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jay-Z" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/this-is-why-we-shouldn-t-be-afraid-there-are-two-possibilities-one-is/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a48/jay-z-713_afraid_this-is-why-we-shouldn-t-be-afraid-there_2220687.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a48/jay-z-713_afraid_this-is-why-we-shouldn-t-be-afraid-there_2220687.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a48/jay-z-713_afraid_this-is-why-we-shouldn-t-be-afraid-there_2220687.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“This is why we shouldn't be afraid. There are two possibilities: One is that there's more to life than the…” — Jay-Z", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 16, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Boxing is a glorious sport to watch and boxers are incredible, heroic athletes, but it's also, to be honest, a stupid game to play. Even the winners can end up with crippling brain damage. In a lot of ways, hustling is the same. But you learn something special from playing the most difficult games, the games where winning is close to impossible and losing is catastrophic: You learn how to compete as if your life depended on it. That's the lesson I brought with me to the so-called \"legitimate\" world.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jay-Z" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/boxing-is-a-glorious-sport-to-watch-and-boxers-are-incredible-heroic/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d68/jay-z-713_athlete_boxing-is-a-glorious-sport-to-watch-and_145566.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d68/jay-z-713_athlete_boxing-is-a-glorious-sport-to-watch-and_145566.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d68/jay-z-713_athlete_boxing-is-a-glorious-sport-to-watch-and_145566.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Boxing is a glorious sport to watch and boxers are incredible, heroic athletes, but it's also, to be honest…” — Jay-Z", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 17, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Everyone who makes music is a good collaborator at their foundation because in order to make music, you have to connect to it in a way that other people can't.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jay-Z" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/everyone-who-makes-music-is-a-good-collaborator-at-their-foundation/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c4/jay-z-713_foundation_everyone-who-makes-music-is-a-good-colla_13637.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c4/jay-z-713_foundation_everyone-who-makes-music-is-a-good-colla_13637.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0c4/jay-z-713_foundation_everyone-who-makes-music-is-a-good-colla_13637.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Everyone who makes music is a good collaborator at their foundation because in order to make music, you have…” — Jay-Z", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 18, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Rap for me is like making movies, telling stories, and getting the emotions of the songs through in just as deep a way.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jay-Z" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/rap-for-me-is-like-making-movies-telling-stories-and-getting-the-2/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff8/jay-z-713_deep_rap-for-me-is-like-making-movies-telling_2392634.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff8/jay-z-713_deep_rap-for-me-is-like-making-movies-telling_2392634.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff8/jay-z-713_deep_rap-for-me-is-like-making-movies-telling_2392634.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Rap for me is like making movies, telling stories, and getting the emotions of the songs through in just as…” — Jay-Z", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 19, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I've said the election of Obama has made the hustler less relevant. People took it in a way that I was almost dismissing what I am. And I was like, 'No, it's a good thing!'", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jay-Z" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/i-ve-said-the-election-of-obama-has-made-the-hustler-less-relevant/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/008/jay-z-713_democracy_i-ve-said-the-election-of-obama-has-made_3063888.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/008/jay-z-713_democracy_i-ve-said-the-election-of-obama-has-made_3063888.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/008/jay-z-713_democracy_i-ve-said-the-election-of-obama-has-made_3063888.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I've said the election of Obama has made the hustler less relevant. People took it in a way that I was…” — Jay-Z", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 20, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'm trying to tell the story in the most clear, concise, and truthful way, taking those everyday words and phrases and capturing them in a way that they become something else.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jay-Z" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/i-m-trying-to-tell-the-story-in-the-most-clear-concise-and-truthful/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bca/jay-z-713_clear_i-m-trying-to-tell-the-story-in-the-most_114683.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bca/jay-z-713_clear_i-m-trying-to-tell-the-story-in-the-most_114683.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bca/jay-z-713_clear_i-m-trying-to-tell-the-story-in-the-most_114683.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I'm trying to tell the story in the most clear, concise, and truthful way, taking those everyday words and…” — Jay-Z", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 21, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Biggie was the King Of New York as a rapper. There's a lot more dangerous guys than Biggie Smalls out there, you know what I'm saying? John Gotti was way closer to King Of New York than him.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jay-Z" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/biggie-was-the-king-of-new-york-as-a-rapper-there-s-a-lot-more/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2bc/jay-z-713_dangerous_biggie-was-the-king-of-new-york-as-a-rap_527782.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2bc/jay-z-713_dangerous_biggie-was-the-king-of-new-york-as-a-rap_527782.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2bc/jay-z-713_dangerous_biggie-was-the-king-of-new-york-as-a-rap_527782.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Biggie was the King Of New York as a rapper. There's a lot more dangerous guys than Biggie Smalls out there…” — Jay-Z", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 22, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I listen to everything - from Sarah McLachlan and Alanis Morissette all the way down to rap like Scarface, UGK and Lauryn Hill.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jay-Z" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/i-listen-to-everything-from-sarah-mclachlan-and-alanis-morissette-all/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f0/jay-z-713_everything_i-listen-to-everything-from-sarah-mclach_621511.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f0/jay-z-713_everything_i-listen-to-everything-from-sarah-mclach_621511.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4f0/jay-z-713_everything_i-listen-to-everything-from-sarah-mclach_621511.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I listen to everything - from Sarah McLachlan and Alanis Morissette all the way down to rap like Scarface…” — Jay-Z", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 23, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "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. It was a release, a mental exercise, a way of keeping sane.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jay-Z" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/i-couldn-t-even-think-about-wanting-to-be-something-else-i-wouldn-t/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3bd/jay-z-713_another-life_i-couldn-t-even-think-about-wanting-to-b_59764.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3bd/jay-z-713_another-life_i-couldn-t-even-think-about-wanting-to-b_59764.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3bd/jay-z-713_another-life_i-couldn-t-even-think-about-wanting-to-b_59764.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I couldn't even think about wanting to be something else; I wouldn't let myself visualize another life. But…” — Jay-Z", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 24, "item": { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "All these ways we classify things as R&B and hip-hop and rock... It's bullshit. It's all music. If you put yourself in that box, then you won't be able to hear that it's all music at its soul.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jay-Z" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/all-these-ways-we-classify-things-as-r-b-and-hip-hop-and-rock-it-s/", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/115/jay-z-713_able_all-these-ways-we-classify-things-as-r-b_957662.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/115/jay-z-713_able_all-these-ways-we-classify-things-as-r-b_957662.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/115/jay-z-713_able_all-these-ways-we-classify-things-as-r-b_957662.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“All these ways we classify things as R&B and hip-hop and rock... It's bullshit. It's all music. 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