Earlier this week rap mogul and Roc Nation boss Jay-Z stopped by The Breakfast Club at NYC’s own Power 105.1 for the first time to answer some questions fans have been dying to know. Jay’s latest album Magna Carter Holy Grail just dropped July 7 and already the album has gone platinum. While at The Breakfast Club Jay-Z dished out on the lyrics behind MCHG, almost signing Lil Wayne, fatherhood and more.
On “Holy Grail” lyrics
That song is about fame and the way fame is fleeting. The Holy Grail meaning like you chase this thing, these bright lights and these cameras and then you look back and want everything then end up with nothing. At some point you have to stop yourself. Do that whole first verse is me complaining about it; she cheats on me, she hangs out with Kanye West, Drake, and J. Cole. Then what I do? I took her back.
The second verse is about f*ck fame. It’s not really about anything. So I start to rationalize and it says, ‘There’s people dying back where I’m from,’ like putting it in real perspective. Like, I don’t care about this, people got real life problems where I live or where I grew up. People are dying and getting shot every day. Forty-something people got shot in Chicago. What do I care about being on Envy’s show? Let’s put it all in perspective–I got a good life, I got a great life and whatever comes with it, even the ridiculous rumors, it’s nothing compared to where I’ve been.
On almost signing Lil’ Wayne
The truth is after I had a meeting with Wayne I had a relationship with Baby. When I used to go to New Orleans I would hang out with him in the purple Prowler going down the street, no top, and people trying to jump in the car. I felt it was only right to call him. I called him out of respect like, ‘Yo, I was talking to Wayne and just letting you know.’ After that I think we received a letter at our office for like, tortuous interference, from a lawyer and I was like, ‘Whoa!’ and it just all went from there. I think I would rather lose that situation and do the right thing than the opposite. Because I think I could’ve signed him and told him after but I did the right thing and I’m cool with that decision.
On if he was mad at Lil Wayne for taking a shot at Beyonce
Nah, it’s a part of the sport and competition. I didn’t take it seriously. I didn’t view it as a threat. I thought it was just a flip of a line that I said because I had said, ‘You ain’t got my wifey money.’ I wasn’t really speaking to him but I guess he’s holding the flag so he did the right thing for his camp. I didn’t take it as a real threat; I took it as a flip of a line.
On if fatherhood has changed him
Absolutely. I hope I’m great, but I’m learning. It’s a new thing for me, and I guess it’s changed me in a way that… I mean… knowing what’s important, but I had a pretty good sense of that. It just reaffirmed the things I believed I knew.
On the rumors that Beyoncé faked her pregnancy
That’s probably the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard and the fact that people were running with that and had follow-up stories. At first, I thought it was one of those get press things, let’s run with it for press. Then slowly, I was like, ‘Oh, y’all believe this?’ That’s really messed up because the time when you’re supposed to be most joyous to have to deal with whether you say you care about it or not it’s annoying and you shouldn’t have to deal with that as a human being but that’s the position that we’re in.
Watch the whole interview below
