“Would you rather be a trend, or would you rather be Ralph Lauren?” JAY-Z speaks on the importance of longevity compared to being hot for a short time 👀

The FIRST ever BET Awards took place on 6.19.2001. JAY-Z won “Best Male Rapper” that year. Voted on by peers, journalists, & fans.

In 1999, Ruff Ryders dropped their 1st compilation album filled with songs from Ruff Ryders artists, including DMX. On that album, JAY-Z has a SOLO song that became an instant classic & although we don’t care about Billboard, it was the highest charting song from that album.

JAY-Z was asked if he was ever the “betrayer”… he said never consciously or with malice, but if a friend does something that gets them demoted, then that’s another story. He uses his late friend Irv Gotti as an example of feeling betrayed & then retaliating. Irv allowed Ja Rule to diss Jay, & Irv was going to sign Nas at the height of their beef. Jay also said he would still do anything for Irv & even helped him secure a TV deal with BET. (This was filmed before Irv passed)

All this time, the “hustle” JAY-Z is referencing in “Can’t Knock The Hustle” is actually rap.🤯 He was talking to drug dealers about not seeing the vision of him wanting to be a rapper because he made more money than them. “Hustlers were making so much money that rappers were corny. I almost had the hide the fact that I wanted to be a rapper”

International Boxing Hall Of Famer, Andre Ward said he the 3 years he was managed by Roc Nation was the most money he ever made in his 13 year career. & people said the deal didn’t work out🤣