Jay-Z on The Oprah Show: Full Interview

Posted on September 25th, 2009 - By Bossip Staff

Categories: Interviews, Jay-Z, News, Oprah

oprah

Oprah gets Jay-Z to talk about some things that regular Hip-Hop fans might not know about him. Oprah talks about his upbringing, also the use of the word “n*gga” and how they don’t see eye to eye on its verbiage.

Pop the top and watch the interview… He also mentions the Chris Brown and Rihanna situation

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  • copycat

    Jigga jigga dat nicca jigga….i luv him

  • Pookie

    Argghhh can’t view from work….damn it!!!!

  • uptowngirl

    Nice interview.

  • Bk stand up

    I absolutely love Jay-Z! The realest dude in the rap game hands down. He showed Oprah that not all rappers are ignorant.. I respect jay so much! This Blueprint 3 was so grown man.. I keep it in the CD player.. I been down wit Jigga since 1999.. He the truth and its not denyin it..

  • http://deleted Yasmin

    I love Jay-Z.
    Im glad Oprah Finally Stopped Discriminating.
    I hope She Has More Rappers on Her shOw.
    Get Busy. :)

  • imjustsayin

    JAY-Z IS THE TRUTH!

  • shar

    If that word was not used by black people it would call out all those racists who use it. He has to justify it because of his back catalogue. I used to think like Jay-Z then I evolved.

  • shar

    Shame that Oprah was riding his …. tho. It’s a bit cringe making. This is all PR, I still like Jay Z, he is clever but I am not taken in.

  • Inga’s Left Nipple

    Why does he act so uncomfortable during interviews? Well, when he interviews with white people, anyway…

  • BlackSuperior

    And also the N word is wrong I am sorry Jay, He say we use it to change the meaning of the word.

    If that is the case then, if another race use it towards us, then we should not get mad and act like we want to fight. It is stupid to use the word I don’t care how much money you make.

    We keep giving these excuse and it logically don’t make sense. The O was right, that was maybe the last words our black hung men women and children heard and thats got to stand for something.

    I pray for our RACE TO WAKEUP.

  • chaka1

    @shar

    I agree. The older you get, the more your views start to evolve. I strongly disagree with the use of the N-word. We are the only culture that uses such a horrible term to degrade each other in public. When do hear white people calling each white trash as a term on endearment? Jews calling each other k**es? or Hispanics calling each sp**s? Shameful…

  • shar

    @ chaka1
    Thank u – amen of course you can listen to black music and still be racist, he is just stringing words for Oprah to say, “I had a lightbulb moment”. He has to theorise what he does to appeal to all those university educated people.

  • The Official Mrs. Carter

    Through that whole interview all yall focused on was his reasons for not eliminating the N word? I understand Oprah’s position but as a person who uses the word regularly I understand Jay too…Like he said in another interview if a white man called him boy he would be offended…its the intent of the word you may not agree but I understand…I thought it was a good interview and good look for him…I love Jay and has loved him since ’96 I knew that man was going places…lol he looks good, he clever in his responses and he’s humorous…whats there not to like? He’s arrogant?? so what!! I would be too..he’s paid the cost to be the boss…ITS THE ROCCCC!!!!

  • shar

    chaka1

    @shar

    I agree. The older you get, the more your views start to evolve. I strongly disagree with the use of the N-word. We are the only culture that uses such a horrible term to degrade each other in public. When do hear white people calling each white trash as a term on endearment? Jews calling each other k**es? or Hispanics calling each sp**s? Shameful…
    ___________________________________________________
    “I just had a lightbulb moment” haha.
    Thank you, well said. You made me laugh, it’s true. He is protecting his back catalogue. Is he gonna sing those songs at Glastonbury to a mostly white audience and have them repeating it back. In my country you say that word on reality tv and you are white you get shoved off telly. A football commentator lost his job for saying someone was a lazy Nword. And the stupid man did not understand what he said wrong.

  • shar

    chaka1

    @shar

    I agree. The older you get, the more your views start to evolve. I strongly disagree with the use of the N-word. We are the only culture that uses such a horrible term to degrade each other in public. When do hear white people calling each white trash as a term on endearment? Jews calling each other k**es? or Hispanics calling each sp**s? Shameful…
    ___________________________________________________
    “I just had a lightbulb moment” haha.
    Thank you, well said. You made me laugh, it’s true. He is protecting his back catalogue. Is he gonna sing those songs at Glastonbury to a mostly white audience and have them repeating it back. In my country you say that word on reality tv and you are white you get shoved off telly. A football commentator lost his job for saying someone was a lazy Nword. And the stupid man did not understand what he said wrong.

    He also acknowledges about what he has said about women in his songs but he still sings those songs. He has to justify to protect his back catalogue and keep his cred and stay in with his “boys”.

  • shar

    @hi
    I couldnt believe it. and jay z’s answer about the N words was so stupid I bet if some white kid called him the n word he would punch him out just like he punched that girl in the face.______________________________________________

    Lol – he would too.

  • Nick in Atl

    Okay- Jay was feeling himself a little much giving hip-hop credit for being the single most important factor in eliminating racism? Look- white people have always loved our music. Hell, they loved jazz in the 1920′s when we as performers still had to enter through the back door. Now their kids love us- so what. What he’s not realizing is that once he gets to a certain level he’s not just some black guy. He’s the “exceptional” black guy. Every other black person that they see still gets the same derogatory perception. They’re not walking down the street, looking at black folk saying- I respect you now because I idolize Jay-Z or Kanye.

  • dayg715

    …how she gonna play Ludacris and Ice Cube like that? why didn’t jay z call her out on that bullshit? modern day uncle toms.

  • The Official Mrs. Carter

    @hi
    I couldnt believe it. and jay z’s answer about the N words was so stupid I bet if some white kid called him the n word he would punch him out just like he punched that girl in the face.______________________________________________

    Lol – he would too.

    Yeah and if that same white kid said to him ‘come here boy’ he would probably react the same way…

  • peter illyich

    Its all well and good to take a word and as Jay Z said , take away its “power” by adopting it in common usage and using it as a term of endearment ( ? ). Problems arise out of this because whites and other races then think they can use the word, which as we all know, is a big NO NO. The word is still very powerful and degrading to many black people and as much as I admire him, Jay Z is one of the few people out there who could really influence a generation into maybe understanding what that word meant to Oprah’s generation and before that. He chooses to take the easy route and retain his street cred by incorporating the word in his lyrics. Thats the difference between black entertainers today and generations before. The artists from the 40′s,50′s and 60′s all felt a certain responsiblity to uplift their people. The artists today are consumed by money only.

  • wash ya ass

    Jay is the new King of pop

  • yummyumm

    Is this the Jew show or something? I can’t beleive people are actually falling for this mess. This celebration of black wealth in America when it’s all an illusion. Do we not recognize the times we’re living in? Are we really proud of this. I’m ashamed.

  • F@CK IS WRONG WIT DESE BROADS?

    He chooses to take the easy route and retain his street cred by incorporating the word in his lyrics.
    *******************************
    since when did the word give a person street cred?…just sayin…

  • shar

    @F is wrong
    ___________________________________________________
    Oh yeah, that’s right people never hear, rap or sing back other parts of songs. Noel Gallagher was probably at the back of the crowd waiting for the Nword part.

  • hi

    I will give oprah props for putting something in my head during the interview and this just proves how ignorant jay z is.

    she said that she dislikes the N word because in many cases it was probably the last word a man that was black and lynched probably heard. with the killing of the black census taker in the south recently with the noose around his neck makes me just think about how hurtful that word is and Im not even black. the word is hurtful I have never liked it and when I have heard non blacks use it, I make it a point to let them know that I dont like hearing that word, hopefully it helps them think twice about using it again. jay z is perpetrating racism not eradicating it. If I were black there is no way I would want to be grouped as someone ignorant, a mysoginist.

    just like asians have the stereotype of being smart which may or may not be true depending on the person, I would never want to be grouped with someone like jay z his money is all tainted, obtained by doing ppl dirty and degrading women, defending some one like kanye, his little money maker. I cant stand by stupid stuff like that.

  • Biggiejackson

    reply to hi… You must be a white female tree hugger or repub… its not the same word or intent…. PEOPLE FORGET THE INTENT BEHIND THE WORD IS WHAT MAKES IS POWERFULL. OR IGNORANT OR LACK OF UNDERSTANDING IS WHAT I FIND AMAZING…. WITH FOLKS LIKE EMINEM WHO SPEAKS DIRECTLY TO WHITE KIDS HE HAS BEEN A LARGE PART OF THE RACE ISSUE… LETS REFER TO A LINE FROM THE JIGGA MAN HIM SELF ” IM A SMALL APART OF THE REASON THE PRESIDENT BLACK!”

  • wash ya ass

    whey glock9 dey , I know he has some tings fi sey bout dat

  • shar

    @F is wrong
    ___________________________________________________
    Oh yeah that’s right people like you will like him if he replaced Nword with eg if I was a “9 to 5 Nword with “If I was a 9-5 worker ….would you still want me”. It’s a hard word, he’d be in Will Smith Fresh Prince territory without it.

  • Jay

    Did you hear them say he was 39? LMFAO!!!!

  • F@CK IS WRONG WIT DESE BROADS?

    but a true talent would have broken through in like one or two albums not 10 albums later.
    **********************************************
    u dont listen to him do you? i can tell u dont….
    all of those people are trying to get to his level, to be able to still be relevant and successful 10 albums later, to have more number 1′s than elvis, to branch off into the businesses that he’s gotten into and master them successfully. the only person on ur list of people that can compete with that is beyonce and i’m sure his business savvy has rubbed off on her too… get a clue and stop sniffin glue

  • shar

    Think I am gonna go up to an Orthodox Jew and say “What up my K*..” when he gets upset and calls the police I will say hey but it’s the intention. He just a sand N*** like me.

  • shar

    @F is wrong
    I was making a point- he was lazy he wanted it to rhyme “9-5 N.. by the name of Jigga”. I can deconstruct. I know he wasn’t dissing the working man, he was making a point that his money made him attractive to that type of woman who was saying that they cannot get around on his bus pass (haha).
    He’ll give it up partially when he runs for Governor and he no longer raps.

  • Viggo

    I liked the interview,I wish it was longer but I guess it was a prelude to the magazine interviewed which I found to be insightful. I regards to the N-word, I agree with Oprah and a bit with Jay. I think he should have elaborated in terms of the usage amongst young black people as apposed to justiifying it’s use in general(in a non racist intent). I say this because he was in an audience that was comprised of mostly caucasion people whose children more than likely listen to Jay-Z and them using the N-word is not justifiable ever in my opinion. It’s one thing for people of a certain race / or group to tear down the verocity of a word that has been used to keep them down, its another for another group to think that, that gives them permission to use it just because it no longer has the same stigma.

  • Anonymous

    I used to like Jay Z. But since he got with Beyonce, has become just as self-absorbed and cocky as she is. He thinks he is untouchable. They won’t have any children, because they both are too in love with themselves, plus their marriage is fake.

    Sorry, I take President Barack and Michelle Obama over these those two clowns any day.

  • shar

    I think Jay-Z is smart, he can rhyme but do I want to be around people who are going to throw that word around because its taking the power out of it – no. Hell I was listening to a Curtis Mayfield cd and had workmen in my home, forgetting about the word and I don’t want them to think it is okay to say that sh to me because it is not

  • NOPHACE THE GREAT

    @ Man, I just don’t care™

    What exactly makes him a has been if his music is still very much relevant 2day? If it wasn’t relevant he would have the #1 album in the country

  • shar

    @ F is wrong
    ___________________________________________________
    No, my intention is not malicious in going up to the Jewish man. I don’t hate Jewish people. I’ll be saying it with a smile on my face and my hand outstretched for a handshake.

  • hypocrite

    jz, tried to supress kanye and now he uses him for all his “hits” kanye is jz’s trusted little monkey. thats why jz has been the only loser to stick up for stupid kanye. jz needs kanye more than kanye needs him. with out kanye there would be no modern day jz.

    Jz is an ugly ni*ger, I’m taking the power out of the word, its endearing.

  • F@CK IS WRONG WIT DESE BROADS?

    Jz is an ugly ni*ger, I’m taking the power out of the word, its endearing.
    ********************************
    GUESS UR LIVING UP TO UR NAMESAKE HUH?
    u shud also add intellectually challenged to ur name too cuz u seem to be that also… :)
    but im sure u already know ur faults

  • F@CK IS WRONG WIT DESE BROADS?

    No, my intention is not malicious in going up to the Jewish man. I don’t hate Jewish people. I’ll be saying it with a smile on my face and my hand outstretched for a handshake.
    ************************************
    umm yea, it is. and personally if i was the jewish man i’d try to have them take u up to an asylum so they can run sum tests on you… no offense but i can tell u that u are reminiscent of a rick ross look-alike with the mental capacity of flava flav with a smile on my face and even give u a hug. how wud u take it?
    u can take as negative if u dont know me and im telling u this from a strangers unabashed opinion or if i know u and i sa this to u, we cud jus be playin the dozens wit each other and i really shudnt take offense on jokes between friends… still all about intent and the context of a relationship…

  • F@CK IS WRONG WIT DESE BROADS?

    wow u guys are sum negative nancy’s! i mean, who really wants to harp on the negative he has done, negativity is a disease, it kills.

  • NOPHACE THE GREAT

    F@CK IS WRONG WIT DESE BROADS?

    wow u guys are sum negative nancy’s! i mean, who really wants to harp on the negative he has done, negativity is a disease, it kills.
    _______________________
    ITS CALLED JEALOUSY!! BECAUSE THEY WILL NEVER BE WHERE HE IS FINANCIALLY THEY HATE ON HIM AND FOCUS ON THE NEGATIVITY!! IT DOESNT HAVE TO BE JAY-Z THAT GOES FOR ANYBODY!! BECAUSE FOLKS WILL NEVER HAVE WHAT THE NEXT SUCCESSFUL PERSON HAS THEY HAVE TO TEAR THEM DOWN!! THATS THE NATURAL REACTION OF A HATER

  • shar

    @ f is wrong
    I have made my point, and was following on from yours. There is intent on one side and there is interpretation on the other. As someone said if some white kid went up to Jay and “what my N”, he’d punch him like that woman he hit.
    “no offense but i can tell u that u are reminiscent of a rick ross look-alike with the mental capacity of flava flav with a smile on my face and even give u a hug. how wud u take it?”
    Is that a term of endearment said before a lynching? Yeah and those two join you in your company using the Nword.

  • shar

    The very people who you are trying to diss me with (Rick and Flav).

  • LADY ARCHITECT (SO TACTICAL)

    HEY PEOPLE

  • NOPHACE THE GREAT

    @ Man, I just don’t care™

    STOP GOING FULL RETARD…ERYBODY KNOWS U DONT GO FULL RETARD!!!!

  • LADY ARCHITECT (SO TACTICAL)

    WOW YALL ARE GOING HARD

  • oh hell no

    @man I just dont care

    ignore that down south person, it’s evident this person is a frigging retard. dont waste your time on them.

  • Bk stand up

    Jigga is that dude. He’s so adorable.

  • Cokoliscious

    Oprah loves to jump on bandwagons. She is going really hard with the trash factor this season. First she let Whitney explain in detail how she rolled her joints as if that was necessary then she let raggedy mackenzie phillips spew nastiness that might or might not be true. Now she has Jigga after she claimed to not wanting to promote the sexism and violence of rap. Oprah loves Beyonce and was probably talked into having her husband on the show to give him the legitimacy. His face was evil as hell when it came to Beyonce I think they don’t talk about each other because their is only so many ways you can express fake love without people catching on.

  • DDub (The truth and nothin’ but)

    Hey black people, let’s give props to other black people. smh.

  • NOPHACE THE GREAT

    @ DDub (The truth and nothin’ but)

    Hey black people, let’s give props to other black people. smh.
    __________________________
    I GIVE PROPS TO EVERYBODY REGARDLESS OF RACE!!!

  • Sunrise

    Oprah needs to stop talking about a situation that she was not there to witness, stop thinking that she is the Mother for black people, and let Joyce continue to raise her own son. If CB and his Mom were white she would have been more thoughtful about this.

  • txgals

    I like him but I love her.

  • http://Bossip cont.

    My point exactly Jay-Z been private. He don’t show his mama, sista, or none of his hoes, and he had all of this before Beyonce so Oprah need to fall back Jay been up on his game.

  • Not a Robo cop

    if they only give you lemons then you make lemon pie.

    lol

  • http://Bossip .dan

    Last I remember his momma was no model or clothing designer, producer,etc sister’s either.

  • Man, I just don’t care™

    @NO PHACE

    Really dude, seriously. Sean “Jigga-boo” Carter can’t rap. He can’t.

    I know you have put your faith in a false prophet, but our God is a forgiving one.

  • the truth

    I have one question. If all black people stop using the N word. Do you think racist will stop saying it. NO
    So why does anyone give someone that power. I been called the N word quite a few time in my life. Do I get upset. Nope. “I tell then the only n**** i see is is in frount of me. buy a dictonary. and look it up.
    Black people need to stop giving that word so much power

  • http://Bossip talon

    @Man,I…. I was just letting you know!

  • NOPHACE THE GREAT

    @ Man, I just don’t care™

    @NO PHACE

    Really dude, seriously. Sean “Jigga-boo” Carter can’t rap. He can’t.
    _______________________
    YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT…HE CAN’T RAP WHICH IS EXACTLY WHY HE JUST PUT OUT HIS 11TH #1 ALBUM!! LMFAO!! MEN LIE, WOMEN LIE, BUT #’S DONT!!!

  • Man, I just don’t care™

    @NOPHACE THE GREAT
    “YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT…HE CAN’T RAP WHICH IS EXACTLY WHY HE JUST PUT OUT HIS 11TH #1 ALBUM!! LMFAO!! MEN LIE, WOMEN LIE, BUT #’S DONT!!!”
    _______________________________________________________

    “A half-truth is the most cowardly of lies”

    See, numbers don’t tell the whole truth either. You got Eminem outselling ‘Pac too so now what?

  • NOPHACE THE GREAT

    @ MIJDC

    See, numbers don’t tell the whole truth either. You got Eminem outselling ‘Pac too so now what?
    ________________________
    THATS STILL NOT A LIE!! EMINEM IS A WAAAAYY BETTER LYRACIST THAN PAC! SO U STILL STAND CORRECTED

  • Man, I just don’t care™

    @NO PHACE
    “THATS STILL NOT A LIE!! EMINEM IS A WAAAAYY BETTER LYRACIST THAN PAC! SO U STILL STAND CORRECTED”
    __________________________________________________________
    :shock:

    Is you serious mayne?

  • NOPHACE THE GREAT

    @ EVERYBODY

    WHY IS IT THAT WHEN PEOPLE TEND TO DISAGREE THEY START TO CALL NAMES AND TALK BOUT FOLKS MAMAS AND ALL THAT. I MEAN DAMN ISNT EVERYONE ENTITLED TO THEIR OWN OPINION?

  • NOPHACE THE GREAT

    @ Man, I just don’t care™

    @NO PHACE
    “THATS STILL NOT A LIE!! EMINEM IS A WAAAAYY BETTER LYRACIST THAN PAC! SO U STILL STAND CORRECTED”
    __________________________________________________________

    Is you serious mayne?
    _________________________

    AS A HEART ATTACK!!! Pac was GREAT @ what he did but he was not the best and nowhere near it either!!!

  • Man, I just don’t care™

    @NO PHACE
    “AS A HEART ATTACK!!! Pac was GREAT @ what he did but he was not the best and nowhere near it either!!!”
    ________________________________________________________

    Ok, now I know your car ain’t got no engine.

    ‘Pac was the greatest ever and everyone has tried to take a least a portion of his style.

    I can see you have been duped completely.

    “The Emporer has no clothes.”

  • NOPHACE THE GREAT

    @ ‘Pac was the greatest ever and everyone has tried to take a least a portion of his style.
    _______________
    You are entitled to your opinion just like I am mine!!

  • DOWN SOUTH BITCHES COOCHIES STANK”!

    @@@@Man, I just don’t care™:

    Ya mama takes snack breaks in between each breath…
    Pac was easily the most influential rapper of all time but he was NO WHERE CLOSE to being the BEST!

  • NOPHACE THE GREAT

    PAC MADE TOOO MANY WACK SONGS LIKE “WHAT’S YA PHONE #” TO BE CONSIDERED THE BEST!!!

  • NOPHACE THE GREAT

    @DOWN SOUTH & MIJDC

    y’all dudes are wilding out!! ROTFLMFAO!!!!

  • TJ

    Oprah is so fake! I can’t stand her and she’s got ol camel faced devil worshiper on her show! SMH!

  • DDub (The truth and nothin’ but)

    I see y’all done changed this into a Pac and Biggie thread. I give props to them but Jay here now, let’s give him some respect and credit. He’s more than held it down since they passed.

  • NOPHACE THE GREAT

    typo ** but**

  • 2Cent

    I’m not really a fan of anyone, EXCEPT Jay-Z…that man is the TRUTH!

  • NOPHACE THE GREAT

    @ 2Cent

    I’m not really a fan of anyone, EXCEPT Jay-Z…that man is the TRUTH!
    __________________
    I think its time for u to step outside the box and explore other artist!! Jay-z isnt the only dude making good music

  • Man, I just don’t care™

    @2CENT
    “I’m not really a fan of anyone, EXCEPT Jay-Z…that man is the TRUTH!”
    ________________________________________________________

    You should really really listen to Kanye West then. Jay Z is like a cheap and inferior imitation by comparison.

  • memchee

    jay-z seemed very out of place on oprah’s show.

    a show whose core viewers are middle class 40-something viewers.

    the n-word explanation was a sad display….

  • BFREE

    Hating azz MF’S! I call people the N word and the B word. Thats the type of language people use growin up in the hood. When we all was there noone gave a damn about how we talked in the hood!Because these azzholes never came there period! O because hes rich now he has to talk the way people want him to? Get the F$ck out of here! Go to the ghetto and live there and we will see if you talk prim and proper! Face it and get a grip!Time change but people dont!

  • SuchAF”n Lady

    OMG thank you BFREE….I was bout to say the same thing. Cuz he got a lil money now hes supposed to stop talkin the he always has…fu%k outta here. the hood breeds soume foul mouths it is what it is. n O need to stop actinlike she has never called anybody a B!t@h cuz she has!!!

  • Lovegood

    This is what Oprah and Shawn C are promoting. Soooo sad. These two are very influential in the black community.

  • E.R

    Jay-Z Iz da the truth….BK We Go Hard, We Go Hard…R.I.P B.I.G…If it wasn’t for New York..hip hop wouldn’t be where its at today..

  • www.yahweh.com

    You will not survive what is coming next on this world if you don’t repent of sin (I Yahchanan 3:4, 7-8) and convert to keeping Yahweh’s Laws (Acts 3:18-23). You are not praying to the Creator Yahweh when you pray to God, El, Elohim, Lord or the many other titles that have been used to replace the Name of the Creator. Yahweh will not answer you when you pray using these pagan titles.

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