JAY-Z Reveals If He Would Take $500,000 or Lunch With Himself

JAY-Z is settling one of the internet’s long-standing debates. 

In an upcoming interview with Gayle King for CBS Mornings, the GRAMMY-winning rapper and businessman is asked by the anchor if he would take $500,000 or an opportunity to dine with himself and gain career knowledge.

While some folks on the internet chose the latter as they believe they will gain more money after the rapper imparts his wisdom on them,  JAY advises against that.

“You’ve gotta take the money,” the 53-year-old mogul says with a laugh. 

As King reiterates that he would be passing up the chance to get a wealth of information, JAY doubles down and shares that it’s all in the music. 

“You’ve got all that in the music for $10.99,” the “Empire State of Mind” rapper says. “I wouldn’t tell you to cut a bad deal. Like, take the $500,000, go buy some albums, and listen to the albums. It’s all there. If you piece it together and really listen to the music for the words, well, what it is, it’s all there.”

Referencing his album, The Blueprint, JAY — whose real name is Shawn Carter — adds that the trajectory is easy to follow if the people listen closely.

“Everything that I said was gonna happen, happened. Everything that I said I wanted to do, I’ve done,” he says. “The blueprint to me and my life and my journey is there already.”

King’s exclusive sit-down with the “Hard Knock Life” rapper premieres in two parts this week. King revealed that she didn’t expect that response from the rapper.

“I wasn’t expecting that,” she told co-anchors Nate Burleson and Vladimir Duthiers. “I thought he would say ‘It could be a very good lunch.’ But he said, he’s a smart businessman.”

King also admitted that their interview, which took place inside of the Brooklyn Public Library’s Book of Hov Exhibit, came after “several very annoying asks” as JAY doesn’t do many interviews.

The veteran journalist also teased what’s to come from their conversation.

“Later on, we talk about his wife, Beyoncé, being on tour, his daughter, what that meant to him,” she said. “I’m very, very, very excited about it.” 

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