Jay-Z Quotes

I collect art, and I drink wine... things that I like that I had never been exposed to. But I never said, 'I'm going to buy art to impress this crowd.' That's just ridiculous to me. I don't live my life like that, because how could you be happy with yourself?

No, I'm not interested in politics. I have zero in... -Jay-Z

No, I'm not interested in politics. I have zero interest. I have interest in hope and people.

Politics - I still think it's a bunch of liars and a bunch of self-interest. It's not about the people: it's about themselves and their rise to power. They are voting on things based on whether they will have the support of the people when they vote next time. They don't have the balls to say, 'I believe in this. I don't care what happens.'

I've always believed in good music over bad music. I believe in two sorts of musics. And the lines that separate us, I don't believe in that. That's for people who need to easily define what they're hearing. Me, I'm cool with everything and anything I'm hearing that's music. It comes under one definition for me.

I learned to ride a ten-speed when I was 4 or 5. My uncle gave me the bike, hand-me-down, and everyone used to stare at me riding up and down this block. I was too short to reach the pedals, so I put my legs through the V of the frame. I was famous. The little kid who could ride the ten-speed.

I don't know where streaming will go in the future. The analytics that we're seeing tell us that streaming is the next thing, and downloads are going down. I feel like with the history of this platform, from vinyl to where we are now, it just seems like the next logical step.

I don't think any rapper can go back. You can be a car salesman, a bank teller - I mean, really good jobs, and people are still gonna look at you and be like, 'You used to rap; what happened?'

I try to make music with emotion and integrity. And authenticity. You can feel when something's authentic, and you can feel when it's not: you know when someone's trying to make the club record, or trying to make the girl record, or trying to make the thug record. It's none of that. It's just my emotions.

I grew up in Marcy Projects in Brooklyn, and my mom and pop had an extensive record collection, so Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder and all of those sounds and souls of Motown filled the house.

My mom always taught me - you know, little boys listen to their moms too much - that whatever you put into something is what you're going to get out of it.

Religion is like a personal computer. You let peop... -Jay-Z

Religion is like a personal computer. You let people in if you want to... We're all gods.

If your dad died before you were born, yeah, it hurts - but it's not like you had a connection with something that was real. Not to say it's any better - but to have that connection and then have it ripped away was, like, the worst. My dad was such a good dad that when he left, he left a huge scar. He was my superhero.

I'm a mirror. If you're cool with me, I'm cool with you, and the exchange starts. What you see is what you reflect. If you don't like what you see, then you've done something. If I'm standoffish, that's because you are.

My passion is music, you know, and music influences culture, influences lifestyle, which leads me to 'Roc-A-Wear'. I was forced to be an entrepreneur, so that led me to be CEO of 'Roc-A-Fella' records, which lead to Def Jam.

I'm far from being god, but I work god damn hard.

Discovering the context

This quote acknowledges the speaker's acknowledgment that they are not divine or godlike but emphasizes their strong work ethic and dedication to their endeavors.

I don't sit around with my friends and talk about ... -Jay-Z

I don't sit around with my friends and talk about money, ever. On a record, that's different.

I love what I do, and when you love what you do, y... -Jay-Z

I love what I do, and when you love what you do, you want to be the best at it.

Discovering the context

This quote highlights the connection between passion and excellence in one's work or pursuits. It implies that genuine love for one's chosen path fuels a desire to excel and continually improve in that area. It reflects on the intrinsic motivation and fulfillment that come from engaging in activities that bring joy and satisfaction.

I'm just going to make the music I love to make, a... -Jay-Z

I'm just going to make the music I love to make, and I'm going to mature with my music.

Discovering the context

The speaker expresses their commitment to creating music that aligns with their personal preferences and artistic growth, implying that their music will evolve as they do.

I never wanted to just glamorize the playa lifestyle and not touch on the down side. I wanted everyone who's in a desperate situation to know that, if they wanna choose that kinda lifestyle, they gotta be aware of everything that comes with it! It's not just about the cars, the ladies and the money.

I made the Yankee hat more famous than a Yankee ca... -Jay-Z

I made the Yankee hat more famous than a Yankee can.

Discovering the context

The quote implies that the person's association or endorsement of the Yankee hat, likely through their fame and influence, has elevated its status and recognition, surpassing the fame of the baseball team itself.

Obama provides hope. Whether he does anything, the hope that he provides for a nation and outside of America is enough. Just being who he is. You're the first black president. If he speaks on any issue or anything, he should be left alone.

I came into this music business at 26 years old. I was a fully developed man at that point. At that age, I didn't have anything to prove.

I think in London - and I don't wanna offend anybody in America, but this is a real statement - they still have the right approach to making music. In the U.S., people see it as a way to make money; they see it as a means to get out. It's a hustle, which is great - any way you can provide for your family that's legal is fantastic.

Growing up, politics never trickled down to the areas we come from. But people from Obama's camp, and Obama himself, reached out to me and asked for my help on the campaign. We've sat and had dinner, and we've spoken on the phone. He's a very sharp guy. Very charming. Very cool.

Belief in oneself and knowing who you are, I mean,... -Jay-Z

Belief in oneself and knowing who you are, I mean, that's the foundation for everything great.

My mom had early rap records, like Jimmy Spicer. In the middle of the records was a turntable and a receiver - I used to scratch records on it - and on top was a reel-to-reel. In front of that wall were more stacks of records. It was either Mom's record or Pop's record, and they had their names on each and every one.

You make your first album, you make some money, and you feel like you still have to show face, like 'I still go to the projects.' I'm like, why? Your job is to inspire people from your neighborhood to get out. You grew up there. What makes you think it's so cool?

Rap for me is like making movies, telling stories, and getting the emotions of the songs through in just as deep a way.

Successful people have a bigger fear of failure than people who've never done anything because if you haven't been successful, then you don't know how it feels to lose it all. You don't have that fear. So why do you think people get stuck in those boxes? It's that fear of going back down.

I didn't go to many movies. My mom would make a family outing and bring chicken in the theater. Smell up the whole place. The most impactful movies were 'Godfather II' and 'Scarface'. I loved the human complexity, and those movies are so well shot. Cinematic greatness. I really stopped going in my early twenties.

Jay-Z Quotes

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