Jay-Z opens up about some deeply personal chapters of his life in the fourth episode of JAŸ-Z in 8, his eight-part conversation series with producer Rick Rubin.
During the episode, Jay-Z revisits Where Have You Been, a song that addresses growing up without his father. In his conversation with Rubin, he recalls eventually reconnecting with his father as a teenager. The reconciliation came shortly before his father died, adding new context to one of the more personal songs in his catalog.
The episode also shifts toward Jay-Z’s approach to making music. He discusses the discipline behind his studio sessions and reflects on the period when conversations about his place among rap’s leading artists were growing.
Several songs guide the discussion, including Allure, Where I’m From, Can I Live and Don’t You Know. Jay-Z also looks back at the thinking behind The Black Album and how his plans to retire influenced the project.
The series uses these songs as starting points for Jay-Z and Rubin to explore the experiences, decisions, and relationships behind the music.