![]() ![]() After debuting in the late '90s with Reasonable Doubt and In My Lifetime, Vol 1, he began a chart run that notched over a dozen number one albums spread over two decades, including the multi-platinum, Grammy-winning Vol. In addition to his solo work, Jay-Z also found mainstream crossover success with pop, R&B, and rock artists, notably collaborating with protege Rihanna on their Grammy-winning "Umbrella" (2008) alternative metal outfit Linkin Park on 2004's genre mash-up. You’re supposed to rap, carry a boom box, wear chains, and go Everyone’s supposed to stay in their lines and be neat. What are you doing collecting art? WhatĪre you talking about? Wait a minute, you’re getting out of the zone. On June 18, the 40/40 Club, on West 25th Street, New York City, was jammed with basketball fans there to see the Miami Heat versus the San Antonio Spurs in Game Six of the N.B.A. Downstairs, the sports bar was noisy with paying customers. Upstairs in his owner’s suite, Jay Z leaned back on one of the white leather sofas that line the large room. The noise in this room came from the game on two large flatscreen TVs and the loud camaraderie of Jay’s guests-most of whom are his closest friends, people who’ve been in his inner circle for years. Among them: Juan Perez, the president of the newly formed Roc Nation Sports William “World Wide Wes” Wesley, a consultant to CAA Sports, which has recently partnered with Roc Nation Sports Tyran “Ty Ty” Smith, a friend of Jay’s for 25 years and head of A&R for Roc Nation Records and his longtime trusted publicist, Jana Fleishman. Jay wore a white T-shirt, black hoodie, jeans, and striped socks from the Stance sock company (he’s an investor). His white sneakers were in front of him on the floor. When you meet Jay Z for the first time, or even the first few times, or get a rare, perfunctory interview, he is a thoughtful, guarded, reticent man. His friend the producer Rick Rubin once described Jay to me as “the coolest guy in the room.” Any room. Everyone knows he’s really smart, really talented, really rich, and wildly successful. But in his private suite, he’s the Jay Z that only his friends and family get to see: extroverted, curious, gregarious, hilarious, and downright chatty. He laughs a lot-his trademark short, staccato laugh. And there’s a lot to laugh about when you’re with this group. These are guys who came up together from the streets the language was raw. Some in the room were rooting for the Spurs, or, rather, against the Heat. At first, when Jay’s pal LeBron James was having a mediocre game, Knicks fan Juan Perez yelled profane and hysterically funny insults at the TV. Various people stopped by to say hello: the singer Ne-Yo, Charlotte Bobcats point guard Kemba Walker-people pay respects to Jay not unlike they did to Don Corleone in The Godfather. The 40/40-a baseball term that means getting 40 home runs and 40 stolen bases in one season-is Jay’s home away from home.
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