Part 1 of Jay Z’s Rap Radar interview via Tidal, lead by journalists Brian “B.dot” Miller and Elliot Wilson, will probably be placed into the vault of “dope Jay Z interviews given in his lifetime”. In fact, the interview just may be one of Jay’s most vulnerable interviews to date. Back in the day, you could barely get Jay to speak on his relationship with Beyonce, but now he seems a bit more open. While he still doesn’t go deep into details when it comes to their relationship, he definitely gave us a little more than usual with this one.

 

Jay’s latest album 4:44 provided the open door to his willingness to disclose more than he has in the past. After releasing such an intimate body of work, it’s impossible to go back to being discreet. He let Jay Z chill and put Shawn Carter under the spotlight.

 

During the Tidal interview, many gems were dropped. You almost forget it’s an interview. Watching this interview felt more like being a fly on the wall as friends sat around having a conversation. B. dot and Wilson delivered the interview brilliantly. They didn’t force the conversation. They put the topics on the table and just let Jay flow.

 

As far as Jay-Z and his gems, he explains the intentions behind the 4:44 album, the process that led to its completion, and why he decided to let the more conscious side of who he is take the front seat with this project. Of course, you are going to talk at least a little business whenever you give Jay the mic, but this time we got to witness more than the business, man. He got to experience the man behind the business, Mr. Shawn Carter himself. The conversation went from industry talk and business moves, to community, creating legacy, and “self-correction”.

 

You could say we got some philosophy, business tips, and relationship advice all-in-one.

However, what stuck out the most, was Jay admitting that he has therapy sessions and his thoughts on the black community gaining and creating more avenues of ownership. “We are culture”, he says. It’s a simple statement that packs a hard punch. If we as a community were to really understand what that meant, we could see a real revolution. Jay also mentions the fact that he goes to therapy. This information alone is golden. The black community suffers from a lack of open discussions when it comes to mental health. Seeing a therapist doesn’t mean you are “crazy”. It means you have decided to go down the path of “self-correction” or better self-awareness, which is a great start to healing from any experiences you may need healing from.

 

Nothing was left off the table during this interview and it is only part 1.

Jay Z gave us Shawn Carter and now we want more. Hopefully Rap Radar and Tidal will be blessing us with part 2 soon. In the meantime, you can now watch part 1 of the interview via Tidal.