Last night, I watched a show about Jay Z on Apple TV before I feel asleep. In just 30 minutes, I learned so much it was unreal.
Jay Z ain’t who most people think he is…
Now, there are not too many people who like Jay Z more than me. I listen to Reasonable Doubt like two times a week. I remember when “Hard Knock Life” hit the charts; that shit was out of this world.
I never really knew much about Jay other than he was a rapper, sold drugs, then made albums.
Turns out, most of that ain’t even true…
…but that makes me like him more.
Here’s the first lesson: pay attention to what someone does, not what they say.
You see, Jay Z wasn’t really some big-time drug dealer. He was obsessed with rap and used it to reach the drug dealer niche.
While Jay Z talks about selling dope and stuff, that’s not really what he’s doing for money. He rapped on the streets, in clubs, etc.
Most people don’t know this, but when he and Dame Dash split, Dame took all his masters. He literally only had the master to Reasonable Doubt.
So, while most people think Jay Z made his money from music and dope dealing, it’s not the case. He raps about those things, but his money has come from the businesses he owns. Rocafella Records being one of them.
Here’s the second lesson: he was obsessed with mastering his craft.
While other kids hung in the streets, played basketball, or sold drugs, Jay Z worked in writing. He wrote his songs, rhymes and raps every single day to the point his momma thought he was losing his mind.
He didn’t let the crabs hold him down. He got focused, obsessed and stayed the course no matter what temptation lie in wait.
Here’s the third lesson: be yourself.
Jay tried to do the pop culture thing that was popular for rappers at the time and it only f*cked his image up. He kept failing when he tried to be like everyone else. His records wouldn’t sell. They didn’t stand out.
As soon as Jay Z started finding his voice, the people were there to listen to him.
When he got real, shit got real.
This documentary is badass. There are so many business lessons to be learned from it.
__
Original article appeared at Hardcore Closer. Reprinted with permission.
Photo/video credit: YouTube/VYBO | Getty Images
4th lesson … it’s ok to disrespect women. Like his lyrics in “Bitches and Sisters”
Sorry, I struggle with highlighting someone like this as someone to look up to.
You choose your role models and leave others to choose theirs. There are billions of people out there. Stop trying to sell what you think about a person, to other people. May your bad deeds not be remembered of you more than your good.
Sorry, I have a hard time not LOL. Given the countless articles here at GMP berating ANYONE who supports Trump can put out an article like this which idolizes/admire someone whose songs blatantly fly in the face of disrespecting women, you’re going to call me out? Shame on you.
Different people have different good and bad things about them.
The fact that they did something bad doesn’t mean they never did anything good.
Thing is JayZ is one of the most successful rappers in history not just because of his rap skills but because of his business sense. Sure discourage the lyrics he spoke but there has to be a way to separate the two between examples to follow and examples to not follow.