Jay Z Covers ‘Vanity Fair,’ Talks Dealing Drugs & Beyonce Surrogate Rumors
Jay Z covers the November 2013 issue of Vanity Fair in a very Gatsby-like white tuxedo, and talked to the mag about everything from his upbringing, to raising his own child, to hip-hop blogs. But one of the most interesting bits he revealed is how his experience as a drug dealer taught him how to be the successful businessman he is today. MBA from the School of Hard Knocks.
“I know about budgets. I was a drug dealer,” he said. “To be in a drug deal, you need to know what you can spend, what you need to re-up. Or if you want to start some sort of barbershop or car wash — those were the businesses back then. Things you can get in easily to get out of [that] life. At some point, you have to have an exit strategy, because your window is very small; you’re going to get locked up or you’re going to die.”
Jay also revealed he sold crack but never used it, and that his mother knew he was dealing as a teen. Head below for more highlights from Hov’s interview.
On Blue Ivy’s listening habits: She does like her mother’s music—she watches [Beyoncé’s concerts] on the computer every night. But my album came out and I don’t know if Blue ever heard any of my music prior to this album—she’s only 18 months old and I don’t play my music around the house. But this album was new, so we played it. And she loves all the songs. She plays a song and she goes, ‘More, Daddy, more . . . Daddy song.’ She’s my biggest fan. If no one bought the Magna Carta [album], the fact that she loves it so much, it gives me the greatest joy. And that’s not like a cliché. I’m really serious. Just to see her—‘Daddy song, more, Daddy.’ She’s genuine, she’s honest, because she doesn’t know it makes me happy. She just wants to hear it.”
On his mother knowing he was a dealer: “We never really had those conversations. We just pretty much ignored it. But she knew. All the mothers knew. It sounds like ‘How could you let your son…’ but I’m telling you, it was normal.”
On rumors Beyonce used a surrogate: “I don’t even know how to answer that. It’s just so stupid. You know, I felt dismissive about it, but you’ve got to feel for her. I mean, we’ve got a really charmed life, so how can we complain? But when you think about it, we’re still human beings… And even in hip-hop, all the blogs — they had a field day with it. I’m like, ‘We come from you guys, we represent you guys. Why are you perpetuating this? Why are you adding fuel to this ridiculous rumor?’”
On money: “I’m not motivated by that… I don’t sit around with my friends and talk about money, ever. On a record, that’s different.”
Read the full interview over at Vanity Fair.
[via 2 Dope Boyz]
