Jay-Z really does run this town. The Brooklyn rapper recently made history... again, after being inducted into another Hall of Fame. From the star-studded ceremony to his speech, hang on while we break down everything you need to know about his latest win.
The 23-time (yes, 23) Grammy winner was all smiles on Saturday, October 30, after earning a spot in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame - making him the first living solo rap artist to ever do so. Safe to say, Hova was just as speechless as we were after accepting the induction by former President Barack Obama and Dave Chappelle. "Growing up, we didn't think we could be inducted... We were told that hip-hop was a fad," the artist began his speech. "Much like punk rock, it gave us this anti-culture, this subgenre, and there were heroes in it."
Speaking of heroes, Carter also took a minute to give thanks to his own. "When thinking about what I was going to say tonight, these heroes just kept coming to my mind, Rakim and Big Daddy Kane and KRS-One and Chuck D, and, of course, a fellow inductee, LL Cool J," the rapper continued. "I was like, 'That's what I want to do. I want to be like those guys.' And so I set out on my journey."
No doubt about it, Hova's road from Brooklyn to Hollywood has been one for the books. And perhaps we could all learn a thing or two from it. But don't quote us on that one - "Hopefully, I'm informing the next generation that anything is possible," Jay assured. "I don't know what's next... there's good and bad, life is about balance."
From being another teen with a dream to becoming the legend people dream about, Jay-Z is living proof that nothing is off limits if you aim high. And we can't wait to see where this next chapter takes him. "We did it, Brooklyn!" the 4:44 artist concluded.
Stay tuned for more hip hop news. And of course, a big congrats to Mr. Carter!
