Movies from Jay-Z

Knocked Up

For fun loving party animal Ben Stone, the last thing he ever expected was for his one night stand to show up on his doorstep eight weeks later to tell him she's pregnant.
Jay-Z
Musician, Entrepreneur
Apatow stated that Jay-Z revealed: “Oh my God, Knocked Up! That scene where your wife goes “Doorman, doorman, doorman!” That’s my favorite scene of all time!”
Movies from Jay-Z

True Romance

Clarence marries hooker Alabama, steals cocaine from her pimp, and tries to sell it in Hollywood, while the owners of the coke try to reclaim it.
Jay-Z
Musician, Entrepreneur
What's your favorite movie? [Cliche, but, really great. Godfather2. True Romance is high on my list]
Movies from Jay-Z

The Godfather: Part II

In the continuing saga of the Corleone crime family, a young Vito Corleone grows up in Sicily and in 1910s New York. In the 1950s, Michael Corleone attempts to expand the family business into Las Vegas, Hollywood and Cuba.
Jay-Z
Musician, Entrepreneur
The most impactful movies were Godfather II and Scarface. I loved the hu­man complexity, and those movies are so well shot. Cinematic greatness. I really stopped going in my early twenties.
Movies from Jay-Z

Scarface

After getting a green card in exchange for assassinating a Cuban government official, Tony Montana stakes a claim on the drug trade in Miami. Viciously murdering anyone who stands in his way, Tony eventually becomes the biggest drug lord in the state, controlling nearly all the cocaine that comes through Miami. But increased pressure from the police, wars with Colombian drug cartels and his own drug-fueled paranoia serve to fuel the flames of his eventual downfall.
Jay-Z
Musician, Entrepreneur
The most impactful movies were Godfather II and Scarface. I loved the hu­man complexity, and those movies are so well shot. Cinematic greatness. I really stopped going in my early twenties.
Movies from Jay-Z

Once Upon a Time in America

A former Prohibition-era Jewish gangster returns to the Lower East Side of Manhattan over thirty years later, where he once again must confront the ghosts and regrets of his old life.
Jay-Z
Musician, Entrepreneur
I recently watched Once Upon a Time in America (1984) on a plane. Back in the day, Noodles”—played by Robert De Niro— “was my man.
Movies from Jay-Z

Pulp Fiction

A burger-loving hit man, his philosophical partner, a drug-addled gangster's moll and a washed-up boxer converge in this sprawling, comedic crime caper. Their adventures unfurl in three stories that ingeniously trip back and forth in time.
Jay-Z
Musician, Entrepreneur
“Man, the way Tarantino went back and forth in time, that’s it. I love Pulp Fiction (1994). I name-checked it before, but it was a big influence on my writing. If you listen to ‘Meet the Parents,’ the way he uses time as an element is big in that song.”
Movies from Jay-Z

American Gangster

Following the death of his employer and mentor, Bumpy Johnson, Frank Lucas establishes himself as the number one importer of heroin in the Harlem district of Manhattan. He does so by buying heroin directly from the source in South East Asia and he comes up with a unique way of importing the drugs into the United States. Partly based on a true story.
Jay-Z
Musician, Entrepreneur
“It immediately clicked with me,” said Jay-Z, who has made passing references to gangster movies in previous recordings but has never delved so deeply into the genre.
Movies from Jay-Z

Annie

An orphan in a facility run by the mean Miss Hannigan, Annie believes that her parents left her there by mistake. When a rich man named Oliver "Daddy" Warbucks decides to let an orphan live at his home to promote his image, Annie is selected. While Annie gets accustomed to living in Warbucks' mansion, she still longs to meet her parents. So Warbucks announces a search for them and a reward, which brings out many frauds.
Jay-Z
Musician, Entrepreneur
"When the TV version [of Annie] came on, I was drawn to it," he says. "It was the struggle of this poor kid in this environment and how her life changed. ... It immediately resonated."
Books from Jay-Z

Between the World and Me

Hailed by Toni Morrison as “required reading,” a bold and personal literary exploration of America’s racial history by “the single best writer on the subject of race in the United States” (The New York Observer)#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER | NATIONAL BOOK AWARD WINNER | NAACP IMAGE AWARD WINNER | PULITZER PRIZE FINALIST | NATIONAL BOOK CRITICS CIRCLE AWARD FINALIST | NAMED ONE OF THE TEN BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY The New York Times Book Review • O: The Oprah Magazine • The Washington Post • People • Entertainment Weekly • Vogue • Los Angeles Times • San Francisco Chronicle • Chicago Tribune • New York • Newsday • Library Journal • Publishers WeeklyIn a profound work that pivots from the biggest questions about American history and ideals to the most intimate concerns of a father for his son, Ta-Nehisi Coates offers a powerful new framework for understanding our nation’s history and current crisis. Americans have built an empire on the idea of “race,” a falsehood that damages us all but falls most heavily on the bodies of black women and men—bodies exploited through slavery and segregation, and, today, threatened, locked up, and murdered out of all proportion. What is it like to inhabit a black body and find a way to live within it? And how can we all honestly reckon with this fraught history and free ourselves from its burden? Between the World and Me is Ta-Nehisi Coates’s attempt to answer these questions in a letter to his adolescent son. Coates shares with his son—and readers—the story of his awakening to the truth about his place in the world through a series of revelatory experiences, from Howard University to Civil War battlefields, from the South Side of Chicago to Paris, from his childhood home to the living rooms of mothers whose children’s lives were taken as American plunder. Beautifully woven from personal narrative, reimagined history, and fresh, emotionally charged reportage, Between the World and Me clearly illuminates the past, bracingly confronts our present, and offers a transcendent vision for a way forward.Praise for Between the World and Me“Powerful . . . a searing meditation on what it means to be black in America today.”—Michiko Kakutani, The New York Times “Eloquent . . . in the tradition of James Baldwin with echoes of Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man . . . an autobiography of the black body in America.”—The Boston Globe “Brilliant . . . [Coates] is firing on all cylinders.”—The Washington Post “Urgent, lyrical, and devastating . . . a new classic of our time.”—Vogue “A crucial book during this moment of generational awakening.”—The New Yorker “Titanic and timely . . . essential reading.”—Entertainment Weekly
Jay-Z
Musician, Entrepreneur
America. Please. read. "Between the world and me" by Ta-Nehisi Coates
Books from Jay-Z

The Autobiography of Malcolm X

Now available as an eBook for the very first time! • ONE OF TIME’S TEN MOST IMPORTANT NONFICTION BOOKS OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY In the searing pages of this classic autobiography, originally published in 1964, Malcolm X, the Muslim leader, firebrand, and anti-integrationist, tells the extraordinary story of his life and the growth of the Black Muslim movement. His fascinating perspective on the lies and limitations of the American Dream, and the inherent racism in a society that denies its nonwhite citizens the opportunity to dream, gives extraordinary insight into the most urgent issues of our own time. The Autobiography of Malcolm X stands as the definitive statement of a movement and a man whose work was never completed but whose message is timeless. It is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand America. Praise for The Autobiography of Malcolm X “Malcolm X’s autobiography seemed to offer something different. His repeated acts of self-creation spoke to me; the blunt poetry of his words, his unadorned insistence on respect, promised a new and uncompromising order, martial in its discipline, forged through sheer force of will.”—Barack Obama, Dreams from My Father“Extraordinary . . . a brilliant, painful, important book.”—The New York Times “A great book . . . Its dead level honesty, its passion, its exalted purpose, will make it stand as a monument to the most painful truth.”—The Nation “The most important book I’ll ever read, it changed the way I thought, it changed the way I acted. It has given me courage I didn’t know I had inside me. I’m one of hundreds of thousands whose lives were changed for the better.”—Spike Lee “This book will have a permanent place in the literature of the Afro-American struggle.”—I. F. Stone
Jay-Z
Musician, Entrepreneur
My influences, whether they wrote a book or not, is Muhammad Ali and Malcolm X — who did write a book — you know.
Books from Jay-Z

The Greatest: My Own Story

In his own words, the heavyweight champion of the world pulls no punches as he chronicles the battles he faced in and out of the ring in this fascinating memoir edited by Nobel Prize-winning novelist, Toni Morrison. Growing up in the South, surrounded by racial bigotry and discrimination, Ali fought not just for a living, but also for respect and rewards far more precious than money or glory. He was named Sportsman of the Century by Sports Illustrated and the BBC. Ali redefined what it meant to be an athlete by giving hope to millions around the world and inspiring us all to fight for what is important to us. This is a multifaceted portrait of Muhammad Ali only he could render: sports legend; unapologetic anti-war advocate; outrageous showman and gracious goodwill ambassador; fighter, lover, poet, and provocateur; an irresistible force to be reckoned with. Who better to tell the tale than the man who went the distance living it?
Jay-Z
Musician, Entrepreneur
My influences, whether they wrote a book or not, is Muhammad Ali and Malcolm X — who did write a book — you know.
Books from Jay-Z

Nigger

“Powerful and ugly and beautiful…a moving story of a man who deeply wants a world without malice and hate and is doing something about it.” —The New York Times“Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. I understand there are a good many Southerners in the room tonight. I know the South very well. I spent twenty years there one night…” “Last time I was down South I walked into this restaurant, and this white waitress came up to me and said: ‘We don't serve colored people here.’ “I said: ‘That’s all right, I don’t eat colored people. Bring me a whole fried chicken.’ “About that time these three cousins come in, you know the ones I mean, Klu, Kluck, and Klan, and they say: ‘Boy, we’re givin’ you fair warnin’. Anything you do to that chicken, we’re gonna do to you.’ About then the waitress brought me my chicken. ‘Remember, boy, anything you do to that chicken, we’re gonna do to you.’ So I put down my knife and fork, and I picked up that chicken, and I kissed it.”
Jay-Z
Musician, Entrepreneur
I don't know who turned me on to this autobiography, but his sense of humor and the hardships he went through stayed with me—especially the scene where he started running home from school. It led to his joining thetrack team, which led to a scholarship to college. Running opened up a whole world for him.
Books from Jay-Z

Purple Cow

The cult classic that revolutionized marketing by teaching businesses that you’re either remarkable or invisible. Few authors have had the kind of lasting impact and global reach that Seth Godin has had. In a series of now-classic books that have been translated into 36 languages and reached millions of readers around the world, he has taught generations of readers how to make remarkable products and spread powerful ideas. In Purple Cow, first published in 2003 and revised and expanded in 2009, Godin launched a movement to make truly remarkable products that are worth marketing in the first place. Through stories about companies like Starbucks, JetBlue, Krispy Kreme, and Apple, coupled with his signature provocative style, he inspires readers to rethink what their marketing is really saying about their product. In a world that grows noisier by the day, Godin's challenge has never been more relevant to writers, marketers, advertisers, entrepreneurs, makers, product managers, and anyone else who has something to share with the world.
Jay-Z
Musician, Entrepreneur
This is straight marketing advice: Your product has to be a purple cow—it has to be distinct to have any success. You have to be clear on your product: What are you? What are you putting out there? For years I never did an ad for [my company] Rocawear, because I cared more about the quality than the face in front. I hadn't read this book back then, but when someone puts words to feelings you have, it's like, "Wow, that's exactly what it is."
Books from Jay-Z

Outliers

Learn what sets high achievers apart--from Bill Gates to the Beatles--in this #1 bestseller from "a singular talent" (New York Times Book Review). In this stunning book, Malcolm Gladwell takes us on an intellectual journey through the world of "outliers"--the best and the brightest, the most famous and the most successful. He asks the question: what makes high-achievers different?His answer is that we pay too much attention to what successful people are like, and too little attention to where they are from: that is, their culture, their family, their generation, and the idiosyncratic experiences of their upbringing. Along the way he explains the secrets of software billionaires, what it takes to be a great soccer player, why Asians are good at math, and what made the Beatles the greatest rock band.Brilliant and entertaining, Outliers is a landmark work that will simultaneously delight and illuminate.
Jay-Z
Musician, Entrepreneur
This book is about the principles of timing and repetition—about preparing yourself for luck, really. He talks about a hockey team, and how the players born in January had a year up on the guys born in December. They were fortunate that their birthday was early, but they also practiced—they put the work in. The book resonated with me because I was born at a time when there was an influx of incredible music into the culture, and I was lucky that my mom and pop were huge record collectors. In my house, I had music by Michael Jackson, Marvin Gaye, Prince, and the Commodores, and I'm listening to it every single day.
Books from Jay-Z

The Odyssey

'Tell me, Muse, of the man of many turns, who was driven far and wide after he had sacked the sacred city of Troy' Twenty years after setting out to fight in the Trojan War, Odysseus is yet to return home to Ithaca. His household is in disarray: a horde of over 100 disorderly and arrogant suitors are vying to claim Odysseus' wife Penelope, and his young son Telemachus is powerless to stop them. Meanwhile, Odysseus is driven beyond the limits of the known world, encountering countless divine and earthly challenges. But Odysseus is 'of many wiles' and his cunning and bravery eventually lead him home, to reclaim both his family and his kingdom. The Odyssey rivals the Iliad as the greatest poem of Western culture and is perhaps the most influential text of classical literature. This elegant and compelling new translation is accompanied by a full introduction and notes that guide the reader in understanding the poem and the many different contexts in which it was performed and read.
Jay-Z
Musician, Entrepreneur
This epic poem was kind of difficult for me to get through, but it has a beautiful rhythm. I got lost in reading about Odysseus' struggle to get home and his longing for someone so strong, as his wife was, waiting for him. That's like a dream—that kind of strength, love, loyalty.
Books from Jay-Z

The Celestine Prophecy

You have never read a book like this before...The Celestine Prophecy contains secrets that are currently changing our world. Drawing on the ancient wisdom found in a Peruvian manuscript, it tells you how to make connections between the events happening in your own life right now...and lets you see what is going to happen to you in the years to come.The story it tells is a gripping one of adventure and discovery, but it is also a guidebook that has the power to crystalize your perceptions of why you are where you are in life...and to direct your steps with a new energy and optimism as you head into tomorrow.A book that comes along just once in a lifetime to change lives forever.
Jay-Z
Musician, Entrepreneur
This is the other book I live by. It's fiction—a guy travels to find a secret book that has a series of principles. The story is a metaphor for life: I could go left or right, I could be stuck, or I could keep advancing. Some people are happy where they are. I tried to hire a guy once, and I said, "Don't you have ambition to be bigger?" And he said, "No, I'm good." I had to respect that, but for me that was the wrong relationship.
Books from Jay-Z

The Seat of the Soul

'A very important book' Paulo Coehlo'The Seat of the Soul changed the way I see myself. It changed the way I view the world' OprahThe Seat of the Soul has sold millions of copies around the globe and is a #1 New York Times bestseller. This fully updated edition contains celebratory prefaces by Oprah Winfrey and Maya Angelou, a new Foreword by the author, as well as an extensive study guide to help readers find deeper meaning and fulfillment in their lives.This iconic book encourages you to become the authority in your own life. It will change the way you see the world, interact with other people, and understand your own actions and motivations. In it, Gary Zukav takes you on a penetrating exploration of the new phase that humanity has entered: one where harmony, cooperation, sharing and reverence for life become more important than the ability to manipulate and control. Using his scientist’s eye and philosopher’s heart, Zukav shows us how to participate fully in this evolution, enlivening our everyday activities and all our relationships with meaning and purpose.
Jay-Z
Musician, Entrepreneur
There are two books that I absolutely live my life by. This is one of them. Growing up, I was always curious about religion. This book made the most sense to me; it's about the way you live your life. I believe in karma and doing the right thing even if it may not advance you as far as you want. If every single person felt the same way about karma and intention, then the world gets fixed tomorrow. But temptation gets in the way. Zukav is right: It may take lifetimes to learn.
TV Shows from Jay-Z

Time: The Kalief Browder Story

The story of a teenager wrongfully charged with theft and jailed at Riker's Island prison for over 1,000 days.
Jay-Z
Musician, Entrepreneur
This is important. spike tv 10pm/9c
Music recommended by Jay-Z
20 songs

Jay- Z Playlist: Couple Songs From 2020 (So Far) - 20 Tracks

Jay-Z revealed an epic list of 20 songs he enjoyed in the first half of 2020.
Jay-Z
Musician, Entrepreneur
Jay-Z revealed an epic list of 20 songs he enjoyed in the first half of 2020.
Music recommended by Jay-Z
25 songs

JAY-Z's Year End Picks 2018

Jay-Z Picked 25 best songs
Jay-Z
Musician, Entrepreneur
Jay-Z Picked 25 best songs
Music recommended by Jay-Z
2 songs

2 Songs Mr. Carter Loves

Jay-Z
Musician, Entrepreneur
Music from Jay-Z

James Blake

Jay-Z
Musician, Entrepreneur
Outside of rap what artists or albums are you currently listening to? [James Blake and some Gonj..I can't spell it, so]
Music recommended by Jay-Z
5 songs

5 Musical Influences for Jay-Z

Jay-Z
Musician, Entrepreneur
Music from Jay-Z

Night Of The Living Baseheads

Jay-Z
Musician, Entrepreneur
I always think of that Public Enemy song, "Night Of The Living Baseheads". At night, it was like zombies walking around, very dangerous. A lot of money was being made by black kids and they was fighting over that money and then they had Uzis. Can you imagine?
Music from Jay-Z

Illmatic

Jay-Z
Musician, Entrepreneur
Nas made Illmatic [1994] when he was 19, which was an incredible accomplishment—I can’t even understand it.
Music from Jay-Z

Ms. Lauryn Hill

Jay-Z
Musician, Entrepreneur
That’s intriguing to me. Like, when Lauryn Hill got pregnant, and she wrote that line “they said, Lauryn, baby, use your head/but instead I chose to use my heart” [from “To Zion” off The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, 1998], I thought that was just such a powerful time for her. That was like a crossroads for her—like, people must have been telling her, “What are you gonna do? You’re gonna put your career in jeopardy if you have this baby.” But she just made the decision to have her kid, and she was talking about it on this record.
Goods from Jay-Z

Cigars: COHIBA Behike BHK 52



Jay-Z
Musician, Entrepreneur
what cigar would pair best with listening to MCHG? [Behike.. or Commador #factsonly
Goods from Jay-Z

Jean Michel Basquiat Giclee Canvas Print Paintings Poster Reproduction

Image Dimension:20.4" X 15" inches or 52cm X 38.2cm. Print Dimension:Plus approx 1.5" to 2" (4cm - 5cm) white border around the image output.. Material:Top quality heavy weight waterproof cotton canvas.. Frame:NO Frame/NO stretch bar included. Only the prints.
Jay-Z
Musician, Entrepreneur
I’ve got a nice collection of paintings – a Basquiat, a black-and-white Warhol that’s like a Rorschach test, and I com­missioned Takashi Murakami to do a ten-foot joint for me. It’s almost like the explosion in Hiroshima with his famous skeleton head. There’s a wall above my fireplace reserved for it.
Goods from Jay-Z

Andy Warhol "Rorschach 4" 1984 Custom Framed Pop Art



Jay-Z
Musician, Entrepreneur
Why did you pick Andy Warhol for Decoded’s cover? Besides him being a genius? I just thought it was, first of all, “decoded.” Rorschach is very famous. People see different things. People get different things out of different songs. You know, some songs mean something for you. That sort of thing. It just felt in line with the book. As well as it being one of my favorite images. I own one of those over the fireplace in my living room. It’s, like, one of the best pieces in my house and I’m very attracted to it.