JAY-Z

His thirteenth studio album was praised by critics and fans alike, and the legendary rapper was recently nominated for massive eight Grammy Awards.

JAY-Z sat down with New York Times Executive Editor Dean Baquet for a conversation on therapy, politics, marriage, the state of rap, being a black man in Trump’s America to his Grammy-nominated album 4:44.

Would you rather be a trend, or you rather be Ralph Lauren? You know what I mean; like, you rather be a trend, or you rather be forever?

I’m the person that looked at the Mona Lisa and be like, Man, that’s gonna be cool in 40 years. I play forever. And so my whole thing is to identify with the truth. Not to be the youngest, hottest, new, trendy thing.

Jay-z, 99 problems
Jay-z, 99 problems
Jay-z, 99 problems

Ali Graham

BAQUET
So now I gotta ask my one gossipy question. Talk about Kanye West and your relationship with him, which you alluded to a little bit in the album. When’s the last time you talked to him?

JAY-Z
I [talked to] Kanye the other day, just to tell him, like, he’s my brother. I love Kanye. I do. It’s a complicated relationship with us.

BAQUET
Why is it complicated?

JAY-Z
‘Cause, you know — Kanye came into this business on my label. So I’ve always been like his big brother. And we’re both entertainers. It’s always been like a little underlying competition with your big brother. And we both love and respect each other’s art, too. So it’s like, we both — everyone wants to be the greatest in the world. You know what I’m saying? And then there’s like a lot of other factors that play in it. But it’s gonna, we gonna always be good.

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interview by Executive Editor Dean Baquet -New York Times