Rap legend and entertainment mogul Jay-Z sat down with GQ for an interview published on Tuesday as part of his first cover story in nearly a decade, and the hip-hop king and Roc Nation CEO was game to look back on a turbulent year: over the interview for a special 30 years of Jay-Z issue, he addresses the fury he felt about rape allegations leveled against him in a now-dismissed lawsuit, weighs in on the toll from the Kendrick Lamar–Drake rap battle, and shares some new details about his daughter with Beyonce, Blue Ivy.
The wide-ranging interview arrives as two of the rapper’s seminal early albums — his 1996 debut Reasonable Doubt and 2001’s The Blueprint — turn 30 and 25, respectively; he will honor the records that launched his massive career with two shows at Yankee Stadium this summer. Remarkably, in a music scene that can be fickle and tension-filled, Jay-Z has remained a constant across generations. While he’s released relatively little music over the past decade, he’s been busy elsewhere. Roc Nation has transformed the Super Bowl halftime show from the world’s biggest stage into a massive cultural conversation year after year.
But in late 2024, the internet — particularly the online hip-hop community — was abuzz over the federal indictment of Sean “Diddy” Combs and reports about his alleged “freak-off” parties. As speculation swirled about which celebrity might be named next, a lawsuit was filed in October in the Southern District of New York naming Jay-Z, whose real name is Shawn Carter. The allegation was heinous: the complaint claimed that decades earlier, Diddy and Jay-Z had raped a 13-year-old girl on the former’s property after that year’s MTV Video Music Awards. The case emerged amid a wave of civil accusations against Diddy following his federal indictment on sex trafficking and racketeering charges.
Livid over what he says was a baseless accusation, Jay-Z fought the case with intense focus. Watching a contemporary’s reputation disintegrate, he understood how even an allegation can permanently damage a public image. After several months of legal back-and-forth, the accuser dropped the case.
He told GQ about the draining experience in a sit-down that took place over two two-hour sessions.
“It was hard. Really hard,” Jay-Z said, referring to the legal fight. “I was heartbroken. I’m glad we got right to that so we could get that out the way. I was really heartbroken by everything that occurred. We’re in a space now where consequence is not thought about enough, because everything is so instant.”
“That whole [lawsuit], that shit took a lot out of me. I was angry. I haven’t been that angry in a long time — uncontrollable anger. You don’t put that on someone. That’s something you better be super sure about. It used to be like that. There was a line: no women, no kids. Those are things I took from the street. We lived and died by that. So it’s strict for me, like it meant a lot to me.”
The rap icon said he always believed he would prevail: “It’s not true. And the truth, at the end of the day, still reigns supreme.”
For the mogul, the turbulence continued into 2025. Roc Nation’s Super Bowl pick, Grammy winner Kendrick Lamar, was both a controversial choice as the first solo rap headliner and in the midst of a high-profile feud with Drake. Jay-Z described the moment as exhausting and overly toxic.
“We love the excitement and the sparring, but in this day and age there’s so much negative stuff that comes with it that you almost wish it didn’t happen,” he said.
“It’s too far. It’s bringing people’s kids into it. I don’t like that. I sound like the old guy wagging his finger, but I think we can achieve the same thing — as far as sparring with music — through collaboration more than tearing everything apart. Back then, you had the battle, it was fun, and you moved on. Now, I don’t know if it can hold up with the technology we have.”
Lamar ultimately emerged as the clear victor of the feud with his track “Not Like Us,” later delivering a widely watched and lauded Super Bowl performance.
“I chose the guy who was having a monster year. It was the right choice. What do I care about those two guys battling? What’s that got to do with me? Have at it. People drag everyone into it, like there’s some conspiracy to undermine Drake. It’s like, what the fuck? I’m Jay-Z!” he said, laughing.
The controversy proved a prelude to the next halftime selection, international superstar Bad Bunny, which sparked political backlash from some right-wing figures, including President Trump. Jay-Z stood by the decision, emphasizing his broader vision for the platform.
“I think everyone should experience music in its totality. For a lot of years, only one side of music was represented. We had the opportunity to create a more balanced picture of what popular music is today. These are the biggest artists in the world. I didn’t pick some indie artist from Portland. This is the most-streamed artist globally. It’s like, ‘Let’s let him play,’” he said. “It’s Rihanna!” he added with a laugh.
Jay-Z also spoke about his home life with his wife, Beyoncé, and their three children. Their eldest, Blue Ivy, is already showing musical promise — she plays piano and joined her mother on tour supporting Cowboy Carter.
“Blue is a crazy pianist, but she won’t let us get her a teacher,” he said. “She doesn’t want it to feel like a job. But she has perfect pitch. If she hears a song, she’ll say, ‘Play it again,’ and then teach herself. That’s just talent. She worked at performing, though, and it makes me proud. I don’t think we’re getting her off that stage anytime soon.”
Despite a year where he was hit on multiple fronts but never knocked down, rap’s reigning king remained standing. And it seems like his family was what helped him get through the darkest days.
“It gives everything meaning, everything. I’ll go cross-country, do what I have to do, and I’m back on the plane that night,” he said. “I love taking them to school. I love picking them up. Everything means so much more.”
