It’s been almost a decade since Jay-Z sat down for a very intimate, in-depth interview. This week, contemporary off promoting out Yankee Stadium, HOV gave GQ his first long-form sit-down since 2017, and he didn’t maintain again. Journalist Frazier Tharpe drew out a surprisingly candid aspect of the notoriously press-shy rapper, masking every part from household life to rap beefs to the sexual allegations that made headlines final 12 months. Listed below are the eight revelations price noting from the dialog:
1. He was heartbroken and enraged by the rape allegations
When a lawsuit surfaced alleging that Jay-Z had sexually assaulted a girl, the general public watched him reply with uncommon urgency and emotion; a stark distinction to the cool, unbothered persona he’s portrayed lately. Within the GQ interview, he opened up about simply how deeply the accusations influence him.
“It was laborious. Actually laborious. I used to be heartbroken,” he shared. “We’re in an area now the place it’s virtually like consequence just isn’t considered sufficient. That complete [lawsuit thing], that s—t took loads out of me. I used to be offended. I haven’t been that offended in a very long time, uncontrollable anger. You don’t put that on somebody—that’s a factor that you simply higher be tremendous certain.”
2. He’s beaming with delight over Blue Ivy’s work ethic
Blue Ivy has gone from cute cameo to full-blown stage presence in a matter of years. First showing throughout Beyoncé’s Renaissance Tour, then stepping up in a serious approach in the course of the Cowboy Carter Tour, Blue Ivy dance cameos have change into fan favorites. For Jay-Z, watching his daughter earn her place within the highlight has been one among his proudest moments as a father. And although some abilities come to her naturally, he was particularly proud to see her hustle for this one.
“I noticed her struggle perhaps for the primary time in her life—like, not every part is simply given to her and every part is straightforward. She fought for it. She’s virtually on each quantity,” he shared. “Blue is a loopy pianist, however she received’t allow us to get her a trainer. She doesn’t need it to be a job. However she has excellent pitch. If she hears a tune, she’ll be like ‘Play it once more,’ after which she’ll educate herself. That’s simply expertise; she doesn’t work at that. She labored at this [dancing], and it makes me proud that she fought for one thing that she actually needed to do. I don’t suppose we’re going to have the ability to get her off that stage now.”
3. He’s unbothered and barely amused by individuals attempting to contain him within the Drake vs. Kendrick Lamar beef
When the Drake and Kendrick Lamar beef erupted final 12 months, it sucked in seemingly everybody in hip-hop, with each camps buying and selling accusations and implied alliances. Jay-Z, who was name-dropped within the melee, notably after Lamar’s Tremendous Bowl Halftime headliner appointment, was not impressed by social media attempting to drag him into another person’s battle.
“What do I care about them two guys battling? What’s that acquired to do with me? Have at it. They drag everyone in it, like everybody’s a part of this conspiracy to undermine Drake, I suppose. However, it’s like, what the f—ok? I’m f—king Jay-Z!” he stated, laughing. “All due respect to him. I’m f—king Hov. Respectfully.”
4. He has combined emotions about present-day rap beefs
Although he admits to having accomplished “the bulls—t” of rap beefs when he was younger, now at 56, Jay-Z just isn’t a fan of rap beefs or how they have a tendency to take over popular culture.
“There are 4 pillars of hip-hop. There’s breakdancing, graffiti, there’s DJ’ing and battling,” he stated. “We love the joy, and I really like the sparring, however at the present time, there’s a lot adverse stuff that comes with it that you simply virtually want it didn’t occur.”
“Now, individuals who like Kendrick hate Drake, it doesn’t matter what he makes. It’s like an assault on his character. I don’t know if I really like that. I don’t know if it’s useful to our progress the place the fallout lands, particularly on social media.”
Noting how stan tradition can take it “too far,” the “Blueprint” rapper believes artists can create that very same pleasure by collaborations moderately than battling. However as an OG within the trade, he acknowledges that it might sound hypocritical, given his previous rap beefs.
“I hate that I’ve this viewpoint on it. I do. As a result of I do know what it appears like. It’s simply how I really feel about it,” he concluded.
5. He even regrets his beef with Nas
As soon as probably the most storied rivalries in rap historical past, Jay-Z and Nas’ rivalry produced hit tracks like “Ether” and “Takeover,” “Stillmatic” and “Supa Ugly” for each rappers. In the end ending in a truce and ultimately the joint tune “Black Republican” (amongst others), Jay-Z revealed that their iconic feud stemmed from tensions that had been “brewing” for years.
“It was an entire bunch of stuff main as much as that time. I really remorse that as a result of I actually like Nas. He’s a very nice man,” he shared, later including: “It takes progress to reach at this place.”
6. He stands behind his Tremendous Bowl halftime present selections
Ever since his firm, Roc Nation, started producing and curating the Tremendous Bowl halftime present, social media customers have constantly criticized the mogul for his artist selections. From conservatives voicing points with Hispanic stars like Unhealthy Bunny taking heart stage or Hip Hop followers questioning why Kendrick Lamar was the primary solo hip hop act to headline the present. Jay-Z has heard all of the chatter, however isn’t second-guessing his selections.
“I believe everybody ought to expertise music in its totality,” he stated. “I’’m not going out on a limb. These are probably the most well-known individuals on this planet. I didn’t decide the indie artist that I actually like from Portland. [This was] the primary streamed artist on this planet. I acquired an thought, let’s let him [Bad Bunny] play.”
7. He’s pleased with J. Cole and shuts down the narrative about their relationship
When J. Cole signed to Roc Nation in 2009, hip hop followers had been excited at the potential of the rising North Carolina lyricist being mentored by one of many trade’s finest rappers. Nevertheless, by the years followers speculate that their relationship has taken a flip notably after Cole rapped “no extra file offers” in his 2026 observe “Previous Canine.” Regardless of the hypothesis, Jay-Z says he doesn’t have “any adverse emotions” in direction of Cole.
“I’m really tremendous pleased with him and what he’s accomplished,” Jay-Z expressed. “An artist’s expression ought to be their expression. I actually fall again. That’s what I believe occurred with [J.] Cole. The narrative is that we didn’t love Cole. No, we believed in him sufficient to let him discover his journey. It took him a minute, however he discovered his approach.”
8. He’s not letting the “billionaire = unhealthy morals” narrative stick
As Jay-Z has ascended to billionaire standing, he’s confronted a rising refrain of critics who argue that such wealth is inherently corrupting. However the “Roc Nation” founder pushed again firmly on the concept that a greenback quantity determines an individual’s character.
“I don’t give a f—ok what you say. You’ll be able to imagine what you wish to imagine. And other people behave the way in which they wish to behave—it’s not a greenback quantity. It’s virtually like a cop-out. You get to demonize this group of parents with out fixing the precise system that exists, that’s in play. [Money] might improve it or might trigger you to behave in a approach. However you was going to behave like that anyway,” he defined. “Your morality defines who you might be. Your morality just isn’t outlined by a greenback quantity. And in that case, what’s that greenback quantity? When does it begin? If it’s a cutoff like ‘all millionaires are unhealthy,’ at 999,000 I’m good? It will possibly’t be that approach. It doesn’t make any sense. I acquired profitable the laborious approach, regardless of the way in which the system is about up. All the pieces was towards me. My expertise pushed towards all of the headwinds and I acquired profitable that approach. And with that success, I’ve accomplished issues with my attain that I needed to do this was useful for lots of people.”
