Hip-hop icon Scarface recently sat down with Shannon Sharpe on Club Shay Shay and shared an unforgettable story about Jay-Z — one that shows both Hov’s legendary talent in the booth and his generosity behind the scenes.
Scarface recalled being in the studio with Jay-Z and witnessing his now-famous writing process — or rather, lack thereof. Sitting quietly in a corner, Jay listened to Kanye West’s beats, rocking back and forth until one piano-driven track caught his ear. Without jotting down a single word, he stepped into the booth and delivered a flawless verse on the spot. “I’m sitting at the board stuck,” Scarface laughed, remembering how Jay would dap him up and leave while he was still writing his own rhymes.
But Scarface’s respect for Jay-Z goes far beyond his artistry. When Scarface faced kidney failure and complications from COVID-19, Jay-Z — along with DJ Khaled — stepped in to help. “They chucked me a lifeline,” Scarface said. “Can’t nobody tell me [anything] about Jay-Z and DJ Khaled… I’m thankful.” He praised Jay as the “keeper of the culture” who often plays a big brother role in hip-hop, citing other times Jay has quietly helped artists like Lil Wayne, DMX, and 21 Savage.
The conversation also touched on Jay-Z’s current relationship with music. Scarface doesn’t expect him to drop another album unless he’s truly inspired. “We rap because we were hungry,” he explained. “We ain’t starving no more… That man’s got kids. He’s prepping his girls. You see that?”
From his effortless studio magic to his behind-the-scenes generosity, Scarface’s stories reinforced the image of Jay-Z not just as one of hip-hop’s greatest MCs, but as someone who looks out for his peers when it matters most. “Can’t nobody compete with him,” Scarface said simply — a sentiment that felt like both a compliment to Jay’s talent and his character.
Source: Club Shay Shay
