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30 Life Lessons from JAY-Z to

Celebrate His 50 Remarkable Years on
Earth
50 is the new 30.

Yoh Phillips • Dec 4, 2019

Photo Credit: Dan Garcia

“Shawn Carter was born December 4th...” are

the first words Gloria Carter speaks to begin
JAY-Z’s The Black Album, his eighth studio
release. None of the seven albums that came
prior start with a personal narrative or
narrator. From the beginning, “December
4th” stood as a conceptually uncommon
introduction for Jay. If you didn’t know his
birthday then, you would never forget it after.

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It’s been 16 years since “December 4th.” JAY-

Z was 34 then, newly retired from rap, with
the world as his oyster. No one knew what
was next for the hip-hop superstar, and how
could they? Jay at 34 had the charts and the
classics, he was culture and commercial, a
distinction that no other contemporary
rapper balanced with his effortless zeal.
Other rappers have found their footing
between the spaces, but no one has reached
the pinnacle of their peak as they were
saying goodbye.

Now, 16 years after that short, but impactful

goodbye, another December fourth is here,
and JAY-Z turns 50. Knowing how many
legends hip-hop has lost in their 20s, 30s,
and 40s, to see Jay reach his 50s with the
likes of Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, Rakim, Slick Rick,
P. Diddy and more, it’s truly a milestone both
for him and the culture. Younger rap artists
can look at Jay and say, “I want that, 20-plus
years in the game with the passion to create
still in me.” There are a few other examples
that better reinforce that real longevity is
possible. More than luck is needed to turn a
few hot summers into burning decades.

To commemorate JAY-Z’s 50th year, we’ve

picked 30 teachable lessons from throughout
his discography, which we can apply to most
walks of life. Amongst the big singles and
endless quotables, Jay’s nuggets of
knowledge and his thoughtful outlook have
made him an artist not just to study, but to
enjoy. He paired the heart of a hustler with
the talk of a teacher, with every album
release a return to class. The best way to
honor any teacher, or rapper for that matter,
is to review their timeless words and
remember why they matter to us.

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Lesson 1: Do Not Believe Everything

Information ― both valid and inaccurate ―

travels fast. Rumors often spread as verified
truth, and facts become confused as childish
fables. Enter: the second verse of JAY-Z’s
“Ignorant Shit,” a verse opposing blind trust
with realistic skepticism. Jay wants you to
question what you read in headlines and
hear in rap songs ― even if those words
belong to one of hip-hop’s esteemed moguls.
At a time when prosecutors are using rap
lyrics as evidence in courtrooms and fans are
citing gossip sites as credible sources, it’s
important to remember that make-believe is
supposed to sound convincing.

Lesson 2: Stand Back for the Perfect View

JAY-Z dedicates the third verse on “Anything”

― a deep cut found on Vol. 3... Life and
Times of S. Carter and Beanie Sigel’s The
Truth ― to his nephews. He advises them
with warm brashness, in a way that only a
sophisticated, larger-than-life uncle could.
Jay doesn’t speak of riches or how to become
famous. Instead, he offers simple, coming-of-
age observations. Jay’s best nugget of
wisdom: “Standing back from situations
gives you the perfect view.” He’s right. The
closer you stand, the harder it becomes to see
with big-picture clarity.

Lesson 3: Be Each Other’s Crutches

Kingdoms are built, not born, but they aren’t

built alone. They require a team, crew,
collective, whatever the current name is for
those who help to make palaces out of
stones. Roc-A-Fella Records was JAY-Z’s first
kingdom, and he made sure to vocalize the
knights of his roundtable. “Nobody will fall
’cause everyone will be each other’s
crutches,” he raps on the 1996, Ski Beatz-
produced “Feelin’ It.” This timeless mantra
speaks to the strength of support; the kind of
mentality necessary in corporate settings and
street corners. In times of need, what’s better
than a helping hand? Be supportive, build
kingdoms, and don’t let each other fall.

Lesson 4: The Only Thing Worse Than GeSng Old

Is Not GeSng Old

Aging, although painful, is a reward. JAY-Z,

who released his first album at 26 years old,
is now globally renowned and revered at 50.
Even though getting older is a celebration,
everyone wants to be younger — even Jay
once said, “30 is the new 20.” On the Fool’s
Paradise remix of his 1996 debut single,
“Can’t Knock the Hustle,” he also said, “The
only thing worse than getting old is not
getting old.” Just look at Shawn Carter. He’s a
testament that one year can change your life,
and 10 years can change your family’s life.
Imagine what he can do with 50 more. It’s
not always easy, but another year is another
chance, and that’s all getting old needs to
offer.

Lesson 5: Watch for Friend & Foe

JAY-Z turned his hustler past into Platinum

plaques without losing his streetwise
skepticism. The quiet corners became sold-
out stadiums. “The same sword they knight
you with, they’ll good night you with,” Jay
raps on the highlight-reel worthy “Grammy
Family Freestyle.” The idea that every Caesar
has a Brutus dates back to his debut album.
It appears throughout his discography
(“Friend or Foe ’98,” “A Week Ago,” and
“Streets Is Talking”). Before Jay, it was Jean-
Michel Basquiat who wrote, “Most young
kings get their heads cut off.” Being cautious,
even if you aren’t in the music business or a
monarch of drug dealing, should be
supported. Not everyone has your best
interest at heart; we should always watch out
for these people.

Lesson 6: The Art of ReintroducXon

Longevity doesn’t happen without

transformation. To follow JAY-Z’s career from
1996 to 2019 is to see a Marcy-project hustler
change into a multifaceted business mogul.
With each move, like with each album, like
with each endeavor, Jay has always
reintroduced himself. The throwback jerseys
became Tom Ford suits; the wordy, rapid-fire
flow became a slower, more conversational
style of lyricism. He even went from selling
CDs from the trunk of his car to purchasing a
streaming service — ahem — for artists to
host and monetize their music online. JAY-Z
represents consistent change, not just
consistent actions. Each step of the way, he
has continued to reintroduce himself. Life is
a journey, and Jay is a lesson in never
standing still.

Lesson 7: The Mo[o

“My motto is, simply, ‘I will not lose!’” Jay

raps on “It’s Like That,” a selection from his
third studio album, Vol. 2… Hard Knock Life,
released in 1998. More than a single line, this
mantra appears throughout JAY-Z’s
discography, including “Change The Game”
and, most famously, the third verse and outro
of “U Don’t Know.” He delivers the bar as if
the spirit of a Gladiator jumped in his skin
and spoke through his vessel. That
confidence, to boldly say, “I will not lose!”
comes from a place of unwavering self-belief.
Another way to view this motto is outside of
literal winning or losing, and how it’s better
to claim the victory rather than questioning if
you can win. Don’t wonder about the
outcome, just don’t lose — ever.

Lesson 8: Be The Blueprint

What JAY-Z accomplished in hip-hop made

him a star. His success, both commercially
and culturally, made him a legend. How Jay
and his team used his stardom in music to
create businesses, build partnerships, and
generate opportunities around his brand is
what made him an icon. What artists and
entrepreneurs alike can take from Jay’s
advancements is how he continues to think
ahead. That’s what being the blueprint
allows you to do.

Hot and fresh pizza at Wawa - Make

tonight pizza night

Savory sauce and melted mozzarella on golden

thin crust make Wawa pizza the perfect choic…
Late night or dinner time, our oven is hot and
ready to serve up your pizza, your way
READ MORE

SPONSORED • BY WWW.WAWA.COM

Lesson 9: Let No Amount of Money Ruin This Thing

of Ours

There’s no escaping the opulence and

grandiosity of JAY-Z’s lifestyle in his lyricism.
Still, amid all the braggadocious celebration,
he doesn’t lose sight of how money attracts
the influence of greed, which can put lives
and businesses in jeopardy. On “Never
Change,” a fan-favorite, Jay raps, “Let no
amount of money ruin this thing of ours” to
no one in particular. For anyone who makes
money with friends, this is an essential
mantra. In any business or craft, not just
music, money, when valued over a person,
will create disharmony. You can always make
more money, but friendships and
relationships are harder to mend. Treat
people with more delicacy than you would a
piece of paper.

Lesson 10: Treat My First Like My Last and My Last

Like My First

If The Black Album was JAY-Z’s retirement

album, as he heralded it to be, “Treat my first
like my last, and my last like my first” would
have been one of his last messages. Even
though Jay was closing a chapter, he wanted
the finale to have the same drive and passion
as his first. Given comfort is the luxury of
wealth, this approach is easier said than
done. Which is why money shouldn’t be the
sole motivation in any art form. What
happens once you make it? Contentment
takes the place of creativity, and great art
isn’t made by the complacent. So don’t forget
why you started, even while crossing the
finish line.

Lesson 11: Dawg, In Due Time

Trusting a process often feels like trusting a

pyramid scheme. Especially for musicians,
where most of the life-changing variables are
often the most unpredictable. The wait can
feel infinite and make you anxious,
impatient, uncertain, and even depressed.
Imagine how it must’ve felt to be Kanye West,
signed to Roc-A-Fella Records, being told by
JAY-Z, “Dawg, in due time.” Although no
emerging artist wants to hear those words,
“Jay’s favorite line” is inevitable advice.
When the labels weren’t trying to sign Kanye,
Jay waited and worked with him until they
recognized his value beyond a producer. That
process took many moons to manifest, but
Jay wasn’t in a rush for an early harvest; he
knew the seeds planted would bear fruit.
Trust the process, JAY-Z did.

Lesson 12: You Can’t Heal What You Never Reveal

Maturity has made JAY-Z a more transparent

rapper. With every post-retirement album,
another layer is peeled back to share
personal revelations that would usually go
unsaid. The openness of his latest album,
4:44, feels like hearing the private
testimonies of Shawn Carter, and not a public
sermon by Iceberg Slim. His famous line,
“You can’t heal what you never reveal,” is a
mantra that reinforces how time doesn’t
mend wounds that remain hidden. Nothing
gets fixed without first acknowledging the
problem, including trauma.

Lesson 13: Legacy, Legacy, Legacy

JAY-Z didn’t learn to move in a room full of

vultures for a temporary job. No, his big-
picture vision for music and his career was
ownership. “My stake in Roc Nation should
go to you, leave a piece for your siblings to
give to their children too,” Jay softly raps to
his daughter Blu on the first verse of
“Legacy,” the closing track on 4:44. This isn’t
the first nor the only time Jay mentions
generational wealth in his music. Still, it’s
the clearest example of the opportunity
ownership offers; a chance to give a gift to
the future. You can’t give what you don’t
own. To think and move as an owner in
consideration of legacy is one lesson found
in JAY-Z’s music that will stand the test of
time.

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