“I was just running my own race,” Jay-Z said. “It’s best that you protect who you are and be true to who you are.”
There’s never been a moment in Jay-Z’s career where the entrepreneur and music icon didn’t have words of wisdom for those aspiring to ascend to greater heights. Countless hours of his interviews and performances have proved that he possesses a depth that hip hop heads often desire from rappers, but rarely find nowadays.
On the season 4 premiere of The Shop: Uninterrupted, Jay-Z didn’t disappoint when he shared that his mastery of making the right business moves comes from only aligning himself with things that make sense for him.
“I think it’s moreso about just knowing who you are and just doing what’s comfortable for you and not letting people pull you in a thousand different directions,” Jay-Z said. “It has to make sense for you. It can’t make sense for them — and it can’t be motivated by money.”
The mogul acknowledged that despite his success he has never been the biggest selling rapper of all time. He even admits that DMX occupied that distinction in 1998 when the late rapper made two number one albums in the same year, an accomplishment that is hard to come by for many of his peers. Jay-Z would go on to win rap album of the year at the Grammys, but he didn’t attend the ceremony because DMX didn’t receive a nomination. He, along with other rappers, boycotted the event.
The conversation became even more interesting when Jay-Z reflected on one of his fondest memories of DMX. While on tour with Redman, Method Man, Ja Rule, the Lox, and DMX, he recalls everyone having a good show, but there was something especially polarizing about DMX’s performance.
“X is about to go on, and I want to see him,” Jay-Z said. “He’s on before me. The lights are off. He’s in the hallway. He goes, “Doom, doom.” Now, the arena is shaking and I’m like this is cool…and then he goes, “Grrrrrrrr,” and the f—ing arena goes crazy.”
Jay-Z said that DMX was running back and forth on the stage with a thing of liquid that looks like blood. Then, midway through the performance DMX takes off his shirt to screaming women.
“First, the guys were going crazy. Now, the girls are going crazy — and then, he gets to the end and he starts a prayer. Now, they’re crying. The whole arena is crying. They’re crying tears! And they’re like, “Hey, now you go.”
At the time of the tour, Jay-Z had released his hit single “Hard Knock Life.” So, when it was time for his performance, he kicked it off with the child-voice riddled chorus making the contrast between him and DMX even more profound.
The entire barbershop, consisting of LeBron James, Maverick Carter, Bad Bunny, Nneka Ogwumike, and Paul Rivera, bursted out in laughter following Jay-Z’s story. Jay-Z would eventually find his place on the tour, focusing more on a-cappella raps highlighting his talent of lyricism. But, DMX sure gave him a run for his money.
The Shop: Uninterrupted is available on HBO: Max.
