Memphis Bleek Shares Theory on Why Jay-Z Doesn’t Rap Anymore: ‘Business Is His Personality’

Memphis Bleek has a pretty good working theory as to why his mentor Jay-Z hasn’t really released music, aside from a handful of features, since his last solo album, 2017’s 4:44, and his The Carters joint album with wife Beyoncé.

Bleek sat down with Shannon Sharpe’s Club Shay Shay and talked about why he thinks Jay isn’t as consistent with making music as he used to be, after the NFL Hall of Famer mentioned that the legendary rapper is more known these days for his business acumen.

“Jay always been the businessman,” Bleek said. “If you go back to his first album, second album; around that time, he always was talking about retiring after his first album. Then he was like, ‘I’mma retire after the second album.’ He never wanted to do this and be this glamorous superstar; he wanted to be the biggest businessman. So that’s why, if you see, music is the backbone, but his business is his personality. You know what I mean? That’s who he is: the businessman. And that’s what overshadows the music.”

He added: “Jay needs to be challenged to do music. Not saying that somebody need to diss him or competition. He just feels like there’s no one on his level. When Eminem was making music, Pun was making music, Biggie, 2Pac, those guys, he had competition to be like, ‘Oh, I got to be number one.’ It’s no competition for Jay now, unless he wants to battle me.”

Sharpe also brought up seeing some fans on social media wondering why Jay doesn’t help Damon Dash with his current financial situation, and before he could finish, Bleek immediately cut him off, saying Jay isn’t that type of person. “That’s not Jay,” he said. “I’m just letting you know that right now. I’m his friend, he ain’t giving nothing away to the loved ones. You have to earn it, you gotta work, and then the person who was chopping at his tree for so long, I just don’t see it happening.”

In other Hov business news, his much-publicized Times Square casino bid was denied in a 4-2 vote by the Community Advisory Committee.

You can watch the full conversation below.