Jay-Z Discusses Maturing In Hip-Hop
MTV got wind of another excerpt from Jigga’s Rolling Stone feature and in it, he addresses the maturation of Jay-Z-Z.
“One of the reasons I wanted to make Blueprint 3 was because of the challenge,” Jay told the magazine in a cover story out this week. “We’ve seen people like LL [Cool J] have longevity, and we respect the heritage of what he’s done, but it’s not like, right now, he’s competing on the same level as Lil Wayne. So for me to still be able to compete at that level at my age, that’s rarefied air. It’s never been done. I think the problem with people, as they start to mature, they say, ‘Rap is a young man’s game,’ and they keep trying to make young songs. But you don’t know the slang — it changes every day. You can visit the topic, but these young kids live it every day, and you’re just visiting. So you’re trying to be something you’re not, and the audience doesn’t buy into that. And people wonder why. ‘I made a great Southern bounce song!’ You’re from New York, and you’re 70! Why are you bouncing?”
Now that I think about it, Jay is one of the few people that have actually matured gracefully in the game as far as his music goes. All of his landmark achievements are just a testament to the longevity he has and the level of success he has maintained throughout his career.
It’s the fact that he’s still basically still at the top of the game at his age that draws ALOT of hate to him.
DO YOU JAY! This ain’t 96 or ’01 anymore, people need to realize that.
Jay-Z is one of our greats, but damn the nigga is an Egomaniac and greedy. u already pump faked us on retirement with Black Album,. so I do wanna hear anything u say about other “older” rappers, whether they competing with wayne or whoever. fuck outta here
^
STFU! Why do you want him to go sitdown so the young ones can shine? If they’re THAT talented they can still do their thing with Jay still in the game. Acting like Jay’s forcing y’all to listen to his music, lol. MAKE THAT MONEY JAY!
You have to respect this man.
I’ll always respect Jay-Z as an incredible artist and businessman, but I’ll never go as far as saying he’s the GOAT.
Quiet as kept, Raekwon is 40 and release OB4CBL2 in ’09, just like The Blueprint 3, dropped a great mixtape this month in Cocainism, but the only thing people want to discuss when it comes to aging gracefully is Jay-Z.
That’s where the “hate” comes from. Its seems to me that Jay-Z is the only hip-hop artist to get true props for things that simply shouldn’t matter.
And please, spare the “Jay talks about the struggle and he gives me something to aspire to…” Jay-Z raps about hustling just like Raekwon.
In this article he even admits that he “only had 10 subject matters his whole career”, but hey, when the public’s brainwashed by the narrative (BK hustler becomes self-made millionaire) instead of the music, this is the outcome: headlines as “King of America”.
camel
He’s right. LL is gonna be mad at that statement, but fuck that shit. He’s not competing on the same level as Wayne or the otha cats. He’s a legend, yes, but he’s not really relevant in the rap game like he used to be in the 90’s. He’s better as an actor now, jus like Cube, Latifah, Will, and others…Jay is the ONLY rapper at 40 that stays ahead of the game and is in ppl’s aspiration crosshairs musically…
refer to lil wayne gushing on the phone over jay verse on drake album
@Ac@pella
Quiet as kept, Raekwon is 40 and release OB4CBL2 in ’09, just like The Blueprint 3, dropped a great mixtape this month in Cocainism, but the only thing people want to discuss when it comes to aging gracefully is Jay-Z.
^
So is it Jay’s fault that he’s the only one some people know? He’s basically been in the spotlight for 14 years now, he’s been consistent with his ish. Before last year where was Raekwon? Exactly.
@dg because raekwon dropped 3 wack albums between OB4CL and OB4CL2 thats why people dont talk about him like that. Jay is consistent with the quality of albums Rae not so much even though he did do his thing on OB4CL2
this nigga acting like he’s god or some shit…
“Before last year where was Raekwon? Exactly….”
Ummm, what does that have to do with it? Raekwon is 40, a member of the VERY WELL KNOWN WU-TANG CLAN (which came out around the same time as Jay).
Point being, it’s people like you who only recognize Jay while discrediting others that brings on the “hate”…
GREAT INTROSPECT FROM JAY!!!! JAY’S MATURED IN HIS PROFFESIONAL AND PERSONAL LIFE!!!! CAN’T FRONT, THERE’S ALOT OF GROWN ASS KIDS IN HIP-HOP!!!! HA!!!! KEEP MAKIN’ ‘EM MAD JAY!!!!
DON’T HATE ON MY OPINION!!!!
^
No YOU’RE acting like he is.
its the R.O.C ya bastards…
no but seriously, its a good article.
man knows he aint young, so he has to talk about maturity and things hes acquired at his age.
mans married.. so he doesnt do hey papi or big pimping. if he goes that route he does “roc boys” instead.
“Jay is consistent with the quality of albums…”
Vol. 3, Kingdom Come, Blueprint 2, arguably Blueprint 3 anyone?
Again, unabashed d**kriding!
My point is, it’s pretty much common knowledge that Jay drops a great album followed by a subpar album, but cats act like he’s NEVER made a bad song/album…
It amazes me how long Jay and Snoop have managed to stay relevant
Is Jay the most consistent because he’s been the most consistent in the media/mainstream hip-hop, etc.?
Cause it damn sure can’t be based on his catalog alone…
And again, I’m a Jay-Z fan!
THANKS TO “My Nig Hussle”!
That’s all I’m saying. In hip-hop, it’s NOT JUST JAY-Z that’s aged gracefully!
@ DGtheEnigma
The premise of his statement is that WE’VE SEEN HIM GROW THROUGHOUT THE YEARS. We’ve seen Takeover Jay, Big Pimpin Jay, 99 problems Jay, and now ESOM Jay he has GROWN before our eyes. He didn’t disappear and then comeback, we’ve always seen him. Yes Raekwon is still doing his thing at 40, but people don’t see him as “competing” against the likes of Em, Wayne, TI and ’em. He’s just doing HIM.
as people said hes been at the top since vol2
snoop almost flat lined after doggystyle.
his album as a whole after doggystyle has been pretty wack with a couple tracks that are ok to hot.
What artist has a better catalogue than Jay? Seriously. This guy has HITS FOR DAYS!
Who gives a shit if Raekwon is still rapping at 40? The bottom line is that he is not relevant anymore. How many NEW fans do you think he has attained since OBCL2 dropped? Only people who purchased or gave a fuck about that album are people who grew up to Raekwon/Wu Tang. I love Raekwon like the next hip hop fan but comparing him to Jay-Z is blasphemy.
Jay-Z is going platinum and doing concerts in stadiums around the world. Raekwon is at your local club performing for $25. Come on now….
I almost take pity on music nerds. They’re so busy telling everyone how they “have it wrong,” and “don’t appreciate the classics,” and “have no respect for the real musicians,” that it makes me wonder when they ever listen to music.
Jay-Z’s appeal (at least for me) is that he has a practical approach to life, and knows how to make money. This resonates in his rhymes. I GREW UP listening to Jay-Z, and if you listen to his body of work, you will understand his sensibilites and why he is so successful.
Hip Hop is commercial now and there is nothing you can do about it. In every genre of music there is the shiny plastic version, and the grittier, more raw version. Real music fans appreciate both for what they are… the shiny for moving the masses towards new things and the gritty for staying legit and making music that means something…you can’t be both, but you can certainly respect both.
At the very least Jay demand’s respect. He’s big. He’s bigger than most people ever could think about being. It doesn’t come without costs and it definitely doesn’t come without hard work. Say what you will about him as an artist or musician, but hands down we have never seen a better rap mogul.
@blaqscorpio
WHAT?! He fuckin retired! (2004-2006)…and competing he is not. Just because you COLLABORATE (to maintain his relevancy by the way) with Wayne, T.I., and the like, doesn’t mean you’re competing.
@blaqscorpio only artist that comes close is probably tupac.
“What artist has a better catalogue than Jay?”
Based on being 4 albums in, compared to Jay’s first 4 albums…Mr. West.
@DGtheEnigma
collaborate to maintain his relevancy?
wow….
I don’t care about Jay’s money! I’m a grown ass man!
I care about his music only, which entertains me. What he does as a mogul has zero baring on my life…
And I grew up with Jay as well.
I like Jay because of what he said: he’s able to mature with the generation. I like that. I used to be a big Em fan but now the way he raps and his subject matter is just weird as hell.
@ The Truth83
2005: Houston/Rick Ross/Jeezy – Jay did tracks with who ever was hot in Houston that year (he even signed Aztek!)
2006: Lupe – who at the time was the new hot thing in hip-hop
2007: Kanye – see 106th & Park on the day Graduation/Curtis dropped
2008: T.I./Wayne – no explanation needed
2009: See the collaboration album titled Blueprint 3
2010: Drake
Next question….
@blaqscorpia cmon man dont get me started on who has a better catalouge then Jay……cause trust me i can name some
“I like Jay because of what he said: he’s able to mature with the generation. I like that….”
^^^
Now, this statement makes sense to me. But to bring up his success is…futile at best.
TRUE STATEMENT…CAN’T FRONT ON THAT
WATCH LL WILL HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT THAT COMMENT…
DGtheEnigma says
He retired and he was STILL MORE RELEVANT THAN SOME ARTIST THAT WERE OUT! And if he’s not “competitng” then why is his name CONSTANTLY been brought up in other rappers topics, whether he’s collaborating with them or not?
He’s doing/done things at his age that some artists at their highest will never do, Glastonbury and Coachella come to mind.
I bet you if Raekwon collaborated with those same artists, he would still be irrelevant
Collaborations don’t mean shit. Those are the artists of this generation, so that’s who he did songs with. What do you want him to do? Collaborate with Buckshot? or Jeru the damaja?
@ flow J
Go ahead, lol.
Look at the end of the day, Jay’s dope. No one can front on that, but this modern-day narrative of Jay as “King of America” is crazy to me.
I guess he did say “I don’t run rap no more, I run the map…”
With that said, over & out,
@blaqscorpio
Because other artist know that people like you will only give them a fair shake if it involves a Jay-Z co-sign.
Next question…
@ DGtheENIGMA
SO IS KANYE OR JEEZY RELEVANT BECAUSE OF THEM WORKIN’ WIT WHO’S HOT AT THE MOMENT??? BECAUSE ALMOST ALL THEM CATS U MENTIONED THAT WERE HOT FOR THAT CERTAIN YEAR, KANYE AND JEEZY COLLABORATED WIT THOSE NIGGAS TOO!!!!
DON’T HATE ON MY OPINION!!!!
Lol Jay actin’ like he’s 80, nigga you only 40.
@mac DIESEL
Kanye/Jeezy are from the same era as Lupe/T.I. and others on that list.
Jay is from the previous era…there should be no fucking’ gatekeepers in hip-hop. Period.
@blaqscorpio Pac, EM, Big
@flow j. Yea their catalouges are bigger…..but I don’t know about Big not enough work, hate to use it against him….. PAC & EM of course
Lol, Big has like 2 actual albums come on man.
@Wow. I agree classic shit…. But damn I’m talking about catalouge wise Big only has 2 albums….and I was talkin about how @FatBoy was talkin to @blaqscorpio, because he said “What artist has a better catalogue than Jay? Seriously. This guy has HITS FOR DAYS!”. and I named EM and PAC
Everyone you named that was hot that yr did collaboration with people who were hot.
The simple notion that he somehow gets penalize for doing collaborations with people who are “hot” is quite ridiculous.
damn near borderline hater comment.
especially since 07/08 American gangsta was a hot album.
Also you have no idea since ti and jay had a rapport back from 2004 , that T.I couldve ask jay to be on that song.
shit man drake couldve turn down the song he did with jay after he was on bp3 but his advisor saw that jay was hot himself and kept him on there.
You’re from New York, and you’re 70! Why are you bouncing?”
^^^
hahahahaha!
@Wise @Fat Boy Cosign yea they have better catalouges
@blaqscorpio Well i answered…lol
@Wow @Fat Boy Cosign yea they have better catalouges
@blaqscorpio Well i answered…lol
NAS GOT A LONGER CAREER THAN JAYZ
HES MORE THAN RELEVANT TODAY
ACTUALLY HES 37 !!! GOD’s SON,
BEST EMCEE ALIVE !! NASIR
BELIEVE IT CUZ : TRUTH!
nas ain’t platinium actually but copies sold arent the fact of relevancy
Ghostface, Raekwon, Mos Def, Kweli, Busta Rhymes, …
all of these rappers are 30+ around 35… and their will be there at 40 too
jayz ain’t the only one still ! i like jay’s music so much but FACTS !
@mikey mike ……….damn nas underated…….yo nas need to quit with that marley bull shit seriously and make a solo album DAMN for the US i reapeat US………distant relatives is more international appealing
@mikey mike Nas is dope top 3 lyricist in the game for me
You see how bias people are, how does Big have a better/bigger catalogue than Jay off of only 2 albums? At a Jay concert there isn’t enough time for Jay to go through all his hits, that’s why some are always pissed saying that they didn’t hear their favorite song. That’s because there are too many to choose from. Lol at Em and Pac, whatever y’all say.
@blaqscorpio i agree about your Biggie statement but sayin know to EM and Pac lol whatever man i guess everyhting u say is rite…i respect your opinion though…Nothin but respect
i agree on Pac, but em…. im gonna let that marinate
Jay Z is a 40 year old married man who is now a record executive its time to retire from rap for good give some of the up and coming MCs a chance rap is a young mans game its time to hang up the mic Jay.
^ Cool, it’s all good.
O
im confused with the “give some of the up and coming MCs a chance”
is he blocking some up and coming rapper from releasing records and albums?
When I thinlk of jay catalog I think of streets and clubs cuz u can play jay anywhere but eminem only gets played privately amongst his fans, so em can’t compare to jay music besides who play em in the hood or clubs?
@ lovelybubbly
And who’s Jay stopping from rapping again? Drake, J Cole, Jay Electronica, Wale. Lol.
Exactly Nickey Black, they just can’t give Jay his dues.
your confuse Blaqscorpio
Those artist you mention got through the great imaginary jayz blockade that he has on the industry..
So with that said you gotta imagine how great they are.
^
lol, I must be.
@lovelybubbly
“These niggas want me to sit for them, but what they admitting is that they ain’t got shit for him” – Jay-Z (Already Home)
If all of these artists that Jay is supposedly blocking were so good, they would be where he is right now and he would be the one on the backburner.
Hate him or love him, you can’t deny that what he has contributed to hip hop is tremendous. No matter what age group or category you place him in, all he does is win. And why would people want Jay to hang up the mic anyway. Do u really want an industry dominated by these half ass rappers? And if Jay doesn’t have anything worthwhile to say, neither does Eminem or any other artists. You guys need to realize that Jay is at a point where he doesn’t need the money any more. You should respect that he’s doing this because he truly wants to expand the culture. But then again, none of our opinions are going to stop him from being great.
yep!
@Hova. I’m not a Jay Z fan or a hater I’m just looking at how the industry works if one person is on top all. Efforts are put behind themand if yourt not a carbon copy of the flavor ofg the month you are not in the gamethats why when one gets popular whoever is popular at the time drops. Off.
it seems to me, people want him gone, so they can swagger jack him.
i see the industry and the limit roles it has for artist.
you find it a coincidence that after kanye did his thing with taylor swift, weeks later drake emerges.
do you find it odd that nikki persona is almost like lil kims junior mafia days?
do you find it odd trey songs almost sounds like r.kelly
biggie/tupac sound is too unique to get jacked so blatantly, give it 10 more yrs
and ill add dmx getting swagger jacked from ja rule… yea i said it
That’s a really unfair comparison. LL had a decade in the game under his belt when Jay came out with RD.
I have a feeling it Jay were to retire, half you niggas would have a heart attack the way your so emotionally connected with the nigga. His music is good, some of the best music ever…as a lyricist though the niggas is kinda blah to me, (ALL THIS IS MY OPINION BTW) dont like his flow, all he talks about is how little people are to him and how much of a boss he is, how many times is the nigga gonna reference his Jesus piece? We get it at this point Jay. But he makes good MUSIC, so as a musician, hes top notch. I remember niggas was dickriding him just cuz he made a reference to godfather or something, so what?
But the one thing I dislike about jay is his fans….you guys make him out to be a God or something, like dude never ever in his life put out a bad song, or a bad album…as if all this dude does is put out classic shit, when he really dont. But he has 11 #1 albums, hella fans, hella respect, a bad bitch on his arm, and loads of money…so what the fuck do I know right?
Fat Joe > jay-z
“We’ve seen people like LL [Cool J] have longevity, and we respect the heritage of what he’s done, but it’s not like, right now, he’s competing on the same level as Lil Wayne”
—–
Sorry but LL doesn’t compete with Lil and Young Niggas ! He don’t compete with Gucci and Wacka ! His career is longer than most of these niggas lives !! He’s in his own lane doing it for the love and hasn’t dropped a cd in 2 years. What the fuck is this fool talking about ? God rest his soul but you can’t see Michael Jackson competing with Trey Songz ! What kinda shit is that ? Hip Hop might wanna keep a young mentality but alot of our vets are adults. Selling
CDs in the millions isn’t all what Hip Hops about.
Gay-Z is the king of subliminals. Why did he have to take a shot at LL in this interview knowing full well they have unresolved beef? He never addresses anyone head on, but is always doing this dumb subliminal diss stuff. This guy is an ass.
LMAO. Yall think Em catalog is fucking with Jay??? Em has 5 albums gonna be 6. Jay has 11 albums 5 are classics so Em has as many albums as Jay has classic albums.
Just think for a second though if Tupac has all them songs and he died at 24. His catalog is sick. Kinda makes Jay look like he aint really done shit yet. Get back in the studio Big Homie!
Those some suck a DICK LIPS!!!! Put one of Beys Wigs he Be looking like RUPAUL NSHIT!
Jay-Z made a great point in the article. To sum it all up he simply said that he is relevant and still very successful as a rapper is because he stays true to himself, why be something you’re not!?! If you fail to do that no one will buy your music (including those of you in here defending your favorite rappers) if you don’t like the music you’re not going to buy it it doens’t matter if the person is your favorite rapper or not.
Additionally, based on some of the responses I read on this site from time to time, I feel old and a bit sorry for this yonger generation because it seems that simple comprehension which should be a basic skill is severly lacking.
@106
Em has 6, bout to be 7. Nobody counts Infinite for some reason.
And the only reason Jay has a better catalogue then everybody, is cuz he has a DEEPER catalougue then everybody. When you have that many tries at a new album, you better put out some quality shit once in awhile. And I wouldnt call that collaboration album of Jays, BP3, a classic cuz….its a collaboration album. Nigga got features out the ass.
Not hating though, Jay cool
Let it be said here once and for all…
All Jay-Z is, is the most PROLIFIC hip-hop artist of our times. That doesn’t mean he’s the most consistent (how can you be considered the most consistent if you have 4 undeniable clunkers in your catalogue?) or the greatest or the best or anything other ridiculous adjectives cats come up with to describe him.
“You should respect that he’s doing this because he truly wants to expand the culture. ..”
^^^
It’s that type of blind following of what Jay puts in the media (I think he may have said that vebatim!) that makes me and many other fans of Jay push back a little. Jay doesn’t do shit for the culture (NAME ONE BUSINESS DEAL JAY HAS DONE THAT IMPACTED HIP-HOP CULTURE…somebody, anybody?). Jay does business as any businessman does, FOR HIS OWN BOTTOM LINE…fucking sheep followers.
Just because you “grew up” with Jay doesn’t mean musically he’s not that great anymore. Shit, it happens (See Snoop, LL, or any other household name in hip-hop).
HOV THE G.O.A.T
ENOUGH SAID
I thought the discussion was on MATURING in Hip Hop… as much as I love the Wu, 40 year-old cats still on some mafioso-cook-cocaine rap ain’t cool. You’ve been selling records and touring for damn near 20 years homie, you ain’t on no corners slangin’ NOTHING.
all yall niggerz retard’d
@ Foots ok keep making excuses. BP3 most features only did chorus but if thats why it was a classic then maybe you should make an album and feature the same people since its so easy. Hahahahah what you should be asking yourself is how does he keep coming up with these songs while these other artists are taking years and come out with garbage. After all the albums and the 2 with R kelly and the features this dude is still top of the game. Best Rapper Alive talk always gotta involve Jay because he has been for a long time. Everytime an artist comes out they taking that risk of falling off and nobody has taken that risk more then Jay.
with the recession and all, Jay is the only concert I’m willing to pay to see in concert – 30 straight hits
… maybe Drake but he better be opening for Jay
@106 GOODPOINT AND @ MICHELLE GOOD COMMENT ON THE CONCERT BUT I CAN NOT LISTEN TO DRAKE IN CONCERT….i would have to start a water bottle fight and Drake will be the primary target!
Those some suck a DICK LIPS!!!! Put one of Beys Wigs he Be looking like RUPAUL NSHIT! His Coming to America Looking ASS waiting for B to take 1/2 his shit when divorced Alicia keys has a baby she still Dont She just collecting Js sucking Fans!! 1/2 Biatch Im out JoeCoolCamel!!!!!!!!!!
This thread is absurd. The fact that anyone who says “they know hip-hop” would have anything negative to say about J is outright disrespecting the entire genre.
Jay-Z is the Greatest rapper of all time!!! the GOAT in my book.
I think Jay-Z would retire, if he knew fans would be comfortable with those that are “popular” now. When he “retired” after “The Black” album, what happened? Fans and media were calling for his return. I bet he would love to retire but if the fans keep calling him saying they want a new album, the public wins.
About to redefine rap mami, either I’m
the illest nigga doing it or these niggaz is losin it
I read a article that said I was ruinin shit
But every time I look, I’m movin units in quick
So I’ma hit y’all, with these last two and split
and leave niggaz with nothing but my influences-es
– “City Is Mine”
He said that in 97 and ya’ll hated him for it.
Pllleeeeeasssse! Yawll sound like desperate housewives trying to hold on to your husbands. LL, Jay, Rae—its all good. Why does somebody have to be king or goat or whatever? Its so silly.