14 DAY TRIAL // Jay-Z is not a man of many interviews, not even when he has new material to promote. Some say this has to do with his name, which alone is able to sell his albums without him doing too much promotion. Others, with his private nature. However, when need be, he picks and chooses his interviewers – thus, he is featured in the latest O Magazine issue in light of the imminent release of his new album, “Blueprint 3.”
The album is scheduled for release on September 11, but it can already be found in its entirety on the Internet for free download, after having been leaked presumably by someone on the rapper’s camp. Not that Jay-Z minds it that much, unlike other performers of our time. Instead of kicking up a fuss and trying to plug the hole (or control the incontrollable, as some put it) and get his lawyers on the case, the rapper is at peace with what has happened, as he tells Oprah.
“I may be the most bootlegged artist in history. It’s a preview. I’m excited for people to hear the album. I’m very proud of the work I’ve done, so enjoy it.” Jay-Z says. And people are truly enjoying the album, with some reviewers even saying that it’s the best work he has come up with so far, and commending him for forgetting all about that rash decision he made a while back, when he announced he would be “retiring” from making music.
When asked about how come he was one of the few from his neighborhood to succeed, Jay-Z simply believes he had the right combination of “gifts.” “There’s the gift, there’s the spirit, and there’s the work – all three have to come together. If one of those things is off, it can stop you from becoming who you were meant to be.” he says. He also explains selling drugs at the tender age of 13 as follows: “If anyone did become something like that, they moved out. They never came back to share the wisdom of how they made it. If anyone made it, you never knew it. That’s why I’ve always said that if I become successful, I’d come back here, grab somebody, and show him how it can be done.”
In the same interview for O Magazine, the rapper has also discussed briefly his hurried marriage to Beyonce. They never planned to make of it a big secret as it happened, it just turned that way because they left preparations for the last minute, Jay-Z says. In doing so and making the wedding a very small affair, they also offended close friends, who expected an invite, but the star is convinced they understand now and are not holding a grudge against them for that.