“I’m not a businessman. I’m a business, man.”
A Candid Conversation With HOV
Rap mogul Jay Z stepped out of “retirement” from rapping this year to bring us his most revealing album thus far, 4:44. Once his 13th studio album hit Tidal and Sprint, praisers and critics alike wasted no time giving their opinions on the rapper / businessman’s new project. Some were even taken aback by lyrics.
Following the release, fellow New York rapper 50 Cent dissed the mogul’s effort in a now deleted Instagram video saying:
“The shit was too smart…some of that shit was like golf course music…they don’t wanna hear that shit…you can’t be the best rapper at 47, because the new niggas is here.”
Even so, Jay’s 4:44 still gained platinum status in less than a week.
Jay never responded to the criticism directly. Instead he stopped by Elliott Wilson’s Rap Radar Podcast for a sit down with Wilson and Brian “B.Dot” Miller. During the interview Jay thoroughly discusses the journey, messages, lessons, criticisms and more behind 4:44. Watch below.