Has Jay-Z’s Chapter in Hip-Hop ended?

Somebody, please cue the theme song for the Jeffersons because Jay-Z’s origin story is the definition of movin’ on up! Born and raised in the Marcy housing projects of Brooklyn, Jay-Z’s environment was like an asylum of impoverished hysteria, in which the madness created a madman with a thirst for money, power, and respect. What initially started as a means to escape the chaos of the streets eventually morphed into a light that no one could diminish.

 Jay-Z wasn't always Jay-Z, of course; he was one only known as Shawn Carter, a perceived hoodlum with no skills or future within the industry. He was considered an industry reject, with no labels willing to foot the bill for his dreams of a debut album. This adversity sparked the idea to launch independently with 80% ownership and 20% distribution from an outside source. Roc-a-fella Records was born, and Def Jam was offered a deal they couldn't refuse. His debut album, "Reasonable Doubt," gave way to a lengthy multiplatinum career that has accumulated record-breaking awards and history-altering titles. He's no longer known for his notorious feuds with previous business partners or rappers, nor that one infamous incident back in 99'. Hip-Hop's first billionaire is a business mogul, investing in self-funded sports agencies, high-end alcohols, half-time shows, streaming companies, and even a school of the arts.

His latest major accomplishment is an entire exhibit within the Brooklyn Central Library entitled “The Book of HOV.” Fans and admirers can explore the two floors it’s held in, surrounded by unseen images and art cumulated by the rapper throughout his career. With all of this greatness going around, he still stayed true to his hip-hop roots, releasing up until 2018. Longtime fans question if he’s taking an extended hiatus from the game or silently taking a step back into the shadows of it permanently. He’s notorious for having produced stars within the industry like Rihanna, Kanye, and Ne-Yo, especially as the CEO and President of Roc-a-Fella and Def Jam records simultaneously at a point in time.

When questioned about his actual retirement date in a reasonably recent interview on Kevin Hart’s Peacock show, “Hart to Heart,” Jay states that “I was tired” of consistently releasing works back-to-back but reflects on it as a gift. “Who am I to turn it off?” He proceeds about future ventures. Besides, Jay is already handing out verses for free like Oprah did those cars back in 04’. Whether he returns to the mic full-time or not would solely be on his terms. He’s had a full circle moment, from a hobby to how Jay gets his next meal that night, and has turned right back to how it originated. HOV is a jack of all trades and a master of none, but he made the blueprint for this one.