Jay-Z: I’m not trapped by success
Jay-Z The rapper grew up in Marcy, New York, and has been open about how tough his life was. He owned a gun aged 12, started dealing drugs when he was just 13 years old and was immersed in a life of crime by the time he turned 16. Music was his way to escape, but Jay found it hard to move on fully from what he went through.
It was working with fellow rapper Eminem in 2003 which eventually made him think about his situation. The two men hugged and Jay noticed Eminem was wearing a bulletproof jacket because he was so concerned for his safely.
“Why be trapped by your own success? He’s just a rapper. But people around him were causing a stir, getting into wars,” Jay explained. “It’s like the scene from the movies when the young hood says, ‘I gotta get out of this game,’ and the mobster says, ‘Ha! You ain’t getting outta nuthin’!’ You cannot live in a ghetto of the mind. You have to make sure you always in control.”
Although the 40-year-old is happy with the way his life has changed, he hasn’t forgotten his roots. He is still friends with some of the people he grew up with, although that also causes him problems. One of his good pals will no longer see him for fear he might get the star embroiled in something dangerous.
“These are hardcore people,” Kay told Q magazine. “They know if I’m in a club with them and their enemies come by, then it’s on. Enemies do not say, ‘Oh he’s hanging with Jay tonight. Let’s shoot him tomorrow.’ Out of respect to me he’s leaving me alone.”
