My mom always taught me - you know, little boys listen to their moms too much - that whatever you put into something is what you're going to get out of it.

— Jay-Z

My mom had early rap records, like Jimmy Spicer. In the middle of the records was a turntable and a receiver - I used to scratch records on it - and on top was a reel-to-reel. In front of that wall were more stacks of records. It was either Mom's record or Pop's record, and they had their names on each one.

— Jay-Z

No, I'm not interested in politics. I have zero interest. I have interest in hope and people.

— Jay-Z

Only God can judge me, so I'm gone, either love me or leave me alone.

— Jay-Z

Politics - I still think it's a bunch of liars and a bunch of self-interest. It's not about the people: it's about themselves and their rise to power. They are voting on things based on whether they will have the support of the people when they vote next time. They don't have the balls to say, 'I believe in this. I don't care what happens.'

— Jay-Z

Racism is taught in the home. We agree on that? Well, it's very hard to teach racism to a teenager who's listening to rap music and who idolizes, say, Snoop Dogg. It's hard to say, 'That guy is less than you.' The kid is like, 'I like that guy, he's cool. How is he less than me?

— Jay-Z

Rap has been a path between cultures in the best tradition of popular music.

— Jay-Z

Religion is like a personal computer. You let people in if you want to... We're all gods.

— Jay-Z

Rosa Parks sat so Martin Luther King could walk. Martin Luther King walked, so Obama could run. Obama's running so we all can fly.

— Jay-Z

Shakespeare was a man who wrote poetry. I'm a man who writes poetry. Why not compare yourself to the best?

— Jay-Z