Jay-Z emphasizes the importance of authenticity for aging rappers in a new interview.
The Roc Nation founder was recently named one of the 30 Greatest Living American Songwriters by The New York Times. During his interview with the outlet, the seasoned rapper and songwriter discussed his own creative process and how he has maintained his authenticity throughout his career. He believes that genuine storytelling is key to success in hip hop, regardless of the artist's age.
“It’s going to be inauthentic and people could feel that,” he said. “You can smell it. The best thing anyone can do is to tell their story and keep creating that way."
Elsewhere in the interview, Jay-Z gave props to Clipse for delivering the most authentic bars ever in their new album Let God Sort Em Out. He specifically highlights the duo's song "The Birds Don't Sing" featuring John Legend, which is a tribute to their late parents.
"I love what the Clipse are doing right now, and how it’s authentic to them and they’re telling a story about their mom and dad, who just passed away," Hov said. “Everything they been through is an authentic display and a piece of classic material. It could have came out in ’96 or 2026, because it’s real and authentic to who they are.”
See the entire interview here.