Jay-Z: “I Can’t Relate To A 15-Year-Old!”

VIA SOHH:

Jay-Z recently spoke on the perception of age within the rap game and why he is not willing to easily give up his spot to younger emcees.

Peep our “Hip-Hop Needs To Grow Up” piece by clicking here!

The hip-hop mogul also spoke on what new rappers are catching his attention.

“I hear it all the time — ‘Yo, he should let the young guys, the new generation of guys come in,'” Jay explained in an interview. “But you don’t become the front-runner in music because someone lets you. You have to claim your shoes…If you grow up listening to hip-hop, you love hip-hop and that’s the end of it. But if you’re a 30 year-old rapper still trying to make music like you’re 15, then you’re making it narrow. At my age, I can’t relate to a 15 year-old. I deal with mature and relevant topics for my age group — it has to all be based on true emotions. The more diversity and the more mature we make hip-hop, the bigger the net you cast…Kanye is really the father to the next generation — he’s from the school of Q-Tip, and now Drake and Kid Cudi are from the school of ‘Ye. And, when you look at Kanye, you have to look at Lil Wayne. I think they’re like Kobe Bryant and LeBron James.” (Reuters)

Check out our Jay-Z gallery below and share your thoughts on old vs. young in hip-hop in the comments!