Jay-z’ GQ’s April cover story By Frazier Tharpe.
“Exclusive: The Jay-Z Interview”).
with a companion video cover story released shortly before), it marks one of Jay-Z’s rare in-depth sit-downs in nearly a decade.
The two-hour interviews took place in January 2026, with Jay-Z following up via texts for clarifications (like correcting the math on his D’Ussé cognac deal). Photography is by visual artist Rashid Johnson, featuring striking portraits of Jay-Z (now 56) holding African masks against patterned backdrops.
The story looks back at the 30th anniversary of Reasonable Doubt (due in June 2026) while tracing Jay-Z’s journey from his defiant Marcy Projects roots to billionaire mogul. It also explores his family life, business independence, thoughts on hip-hop culture, and the difficulties of 2025. Jay-Z calls the year “hard. Really hard,” saying, “I was heartbroken… that shit took a lot out of me. I was angry.” He’s referring to the now-dismissed 2024 civil lawsuit alleging sexual assault from decades earlier, which he labels frivolous but still emotionally devastating. He refused any settlement and leaned on his family and tight inner circle. His outlook now? “We played enough defence. 2026 is all offence.”
The article is a candid, reflective, and pure Hov — billionaire wisdom mixed with that unbreakable Marcy Projects defiance piece.
Read the full story on https://www.gq.com (or watch the video cover).
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