Jay-Z Covers XXL Oct. 2009

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…Came through and crushed the building.

CRITICISM OF “D.O.A.”: 
“I’m not hating on young people. Like, when people say that, I’m like, What are you talking about? It’s just stupid. I’m not hating on young people… I’m not Bill Russell, [saying] Michael Jordan ain’t shit. I’m saying Lil Wayne and Kanye are like LeBron and Kobe. My job as someone at the forefront of the game is to leave it in a better position than when I came in. Same way that Russell [Simmons] left it to me. ’Cause this thing saved my life. Literally. So I have a responsibility to it karmically. And after that it’s on you. I did my part. I made ‘D.O.A.’ I said it. I made the statement. I made the push. Here, y’all take it from here.”

HIS LEGACY AS FORMER DEF JAM RECORDS PRESIDENT: 
“So if you ask me to grade my performance as the president, I’d say A-plus. No one can bat a 100. It’s impossible. I mean, everyone is looking at my shit. But if we really looked under the hood [of] every single [record exec] and the acts they put out in that time, I’d be comparable to anyone.”

HIS STANDING IN THE GAME: 
“But when I say I’m the best, I don’t say that outta my ass. I say that with all my stats behind me. I put that against anybody. I mean anybody. I really believe that… I believe in a lot of things. 
I believe that ‘SportsCenter’ is the best thing on TV. I shouldn’t have to prove it. But I do have these stats to prove it. I’m talking about real run. I’m not talking about years off. I’m talking about straight—boom, boom, boom—back to back. We’re not talking about heritage acts either. We’re not talking about respect what I’ve done. I’m talking No. 1 [albums] 10 times. The Beatles is the only one [to have more 
No. 1 albums]. They got 19, and if I get a surge of creativity, I could make nine albums next year.”

Props: XXL

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  1. Nat750 says:

    Jay Z only talks facts nobody can challenge him on anything like he says the stats speak for themselves he’s the man PERIOD. It’s as simple as that people might debate if he’s the best but he’s without doubt the most consistant.

  2. E20 says:

    What has Jay brought to Hip Hop that wasn’t already there?

    10 #1 albums = a good marketing plan and a lot of radio friendly songs.

    These stats don’t make him better than Biggie, Marvin Gaye, Pink Floyd, or Rakim.

    Im still coppin on 9-11, but I’m not expecting anything new from Jay Z because we all know his formula; dude is like the Mc Donalds of rap. A lot of burgers sold but still not gourmet.

  3. UPTOWN PHILLY says:

    “WHAT MORE CAN I SAY” I LOVE HIS MUSIC!!!!

  4. Money says:

    He’s the best ever. His lyrics , wordplay and delivery is unmatched. THE BEST EVER!

  5. NEL MOTZY ESQ (twitter.com/nelmotzyesq) says:

    HAHAHAHAHA!!! ROCNATION DOES IT AGAIN! NEED I SAY MORE

  6. Rapisstttaaaa says:

    30 million records sold… lol thats not even half of what em’s sold…

  7. mr. big dik says:

    jay-z the man! both em and jay lyrically nice. theyre awesome. fuk u below me

  8. concerned hip hop fan says:

    NEL MOTZY ESQ what are you talking about?

    time to get REAL for all the folks trying to diminish Jay’s astounding accomplishments …don’t DARE throw Eminem in the same breath as Jay z..

    according to the RIAA (thats riaa.com)

    slim shady LP 4x platinum

    Marshall mathers album 10 x platinum

    The eminem show 8x platinum

    8 mile soundtrack 4x platinum

    Encore 4x platinum

    curtain call 2x platinum

    Relapse is currently at 1.3 million

    I’ll even throw in the Re-up that peaked at 1.1 million

    looks like 34 million (american sales)for 9 years of work

    with no successful branches of that success except 50 cent’s success on

    shady/aftermath

    Jay-z has 32x platinum (american sales) in album sales for 13 years of work..

    plus numerous incredibly successful music related & non music related ventures including rocawear (700 million annually) rocafella and Roc Nation..

    there’s always the argument that Eminem has sold soooo man records…but Jay Z is the MOST successful hip hop artist of all time, with success being calculated in OVERALL success in music and in business (outside of music)

  9. alby412 says:

    @concerned hip hop fan IF EM WAS BLACK HE WOULD OF SOLD HALF!

  10. J.Diddy says:

    What a cover!!

  11. Ronny says:

    why everybody hating?

  12. roc fan says:

    JAY Z is it….. not only did he do it back then, he came back to do it again. HOLLA……….

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