GLENDALE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 12: Jay-Z attends Super Bowl LVII at State Farm Stadium on February 12, 2023 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Roc Nation)
One viral question keeps social media users in a chokehold, and it centers on one of hip hop’s icons, Jay-Z: $500,000 or dinner with the rapper?
After months of online debates, the “Big Pimpin'” rapper finally offered what choice he’d make — and what choice he advises others to make. Speaking with Gayle King for CBS Mornings, Jay chuckled after Gayle posed the famed question.
“You gotta take the money. What imma say,” Jay-Z said before doubling down. “Yeah, because you got all that in the music for $10.99. That’s a bad deal. I wouldn’t tell you to take a bad deal. Take the $500,000, go buy some albums and listen to the albums.”
The artist continued explaining that all the advice he can give is already available in his music.
“If you piece it together and really listen to the music, for the words for what it is, it’s all there. Everything that I said was gonna happen happened. Everything I said I wanted to do, I’ve done. There’s the blueprint, The Blueprint literally to me and my life and my journey is there already.”
For context, Jay seemed to be specifically referencing his three-part body of work. He released the first album of the series 22 years ago, in September 2001, and followed with the second, ‘The Blueprint 2: The Gift & Curse,’ in November 2002. The third part, ‘The Blueprint 3,’ came in September 2009.
The viral question has seen quite a few versions over the years. However, the $500K version seems to have surfaced earlier this year, particularly on X (formerly Twitter).
Still, this is the first time we’ve heard Jay-Z react to the question. We came close to getting an answer last week when a fan approached the rapper, revealing that he’d respectfully take the $500,000 over the celebrity dinner.
Jay, who was wearing dark sunglasses, didn’t give much of a response but slightly smiled and extended his hand for a dap.
After The Shade Room shared a clip of Gayle and Jay-Z’s conversation, the comment section exploded with reactions.
@dianapjai wrote, “Now yall nitwits can stop with the ‘knowledge you’ll gain’ think pieces trying to sound so woke lmao.”
@mrcheffito wrote, “Rule number 1 get the money 1st rule number 2 don’t forget to get the money,” quoting Young Dolph’s song “Get Paid.”
@dr.cblack wrote, “His lyrics are literally the face of the Brooklyn Museum right now. At this point, it’s on you if you don’t know.”
@closetwhisperer wrote, “That’s what I’m saying. Jay been talking about hustling & making it for decades. Has he taught you nothing. Take the damn money lol.”
See more reactions in the post below.
