Jay Zs Autobiography

In this episode, the hosts revisit a favorite past episode while working on new content, specifically an upcoming piece about Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. They discuss Jay Z's memoir "Decoded," drawing parallels between Jay Z's early passion for rap and the relentless practice ethic of athletes like Jordan. The episode delves into Jay Z's journey from the Marcy Projects to fame, emphasizing his work ethic, the influence of mentors, and his strategic approach to the music business. They also explore Jay Z's partnership with Readwise, allowing fans to access his extensive notes and highlights on entrepreneurship. Essential themes include the transformative power of mentorship, the importance of self-belief before ability, and the dedication to practice as a path to mastery. The episode concludes with a limited-time offer for listeners to join Founders Notes, a tool encapsulating the collective wisdom of history's greatest entrepreneurs.

• Speaker A is sharing a favorite episode from two years ago.
• Speaker B highlights that it may have been missed the first time.
• Speaker A enjoys the episode and is working on a new one related to Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant.
• Speaker B confirms the upcoming work and mentions a great Michael Jordan story in the episode.

"I made this episode about two years ago, and I wanted to repost it."

This quote indicates Speaker A's fondness for a past episode and the desire to share it again with the audience, likely because of its value or personal significance.

• Speaker A discusses a daily practice of reading and rereading notes and highlights.
• Speaker B talks about an app called Readwise used by Speaker A.
• Speaker A mentions a partnership with Readwise to share a searchable database of notes and highlights.
• Speaker B encourages signing up for Founders Notes to access this database.

"There's also a reference to my daily practice of reading and rereading my notes and highlights in what I call this gigantic searchable database."

The quote reveals Speaker A's meticulous approach to learning and the use of a database to organize information, demonstrating the value of consistent study habits.

• Speaker A and B discuss a limited-time offer for Founders Notes.
• Users can pay once for lifetime access to Speaker A's notes and highlights.
• Speaker B suggests this tool can be used throughout one's career.
• The offer is time-sensitive and could end any time.

"And now, for a limited time only, you can sign up and pay once and get access to every highlight and note I have ever done and every highlight and note I will ever do."

This quote is a promotional statement emphasizing the exclusivity and value of the limited-time offer for lifetime access to a comprehensive resource.

• Speaker B and C discuss Jay Z's influence and the impact of his memoir "Decoded".
• Speaker B has been a fan of Jay Z for over two decades and takes notes on his advice.
• Speaker C has a motivation folder on Instagram with Jay Z's advice.
• Speaker B regrets taking so long to read "Decoded" and praises its quality.

"I've been listening to his music repeatedly for over two decades. I'd watch interviews with him. I'd take notes on what he says."

The quote reflects Speaker B's long-term admiration for Jay Z and the habit of learning from his words, indicating the deep impact Jay Z has had on the speaker.

• Speaker B and C highlight the theme of belief preceding ability.
• Jay Z believed he could rap before actually doing it, illustrating self-belief.
• Practice is emphasized as crucial, with references to Michael Jordan's dedication.
• The private practice of successful individuals is often unrecognized by the public.

"Entrepreneurs, the great founders of history, they would combine Kanye West levels of self-belief with the work ethic of Kobe Bryant."

This quote encapsulates the essence of what Speaker B and C believe makes a successful entrepreneur: immense self-belief and an unparalleled work ethic, drawing parallels between entrepreneurship and the mindset of renowned athletes.

• Speaker B and C discuss Jay Z's early life, his discovery of rap, and his relentless practice.
• Jay Z used rap as a way to recreate himself and reimagine his world.
• His dedication to practice and self-improvement is likened to the work of other successful figures.
• The recount of Jay Z's past is an excerpt from his book.

"That night, I started writing rhymes in my notebook. From the beginning, it was easy, a constant flow."

This quote is a reflection of Jay Z's natural affinity for rap and his immediate commitment to honing his craft, showcasing the origins of his path to success.

• Speaker B and C discuss the value of studying the biographies of great entrepreneurs.
• They note the practice of reading and re-reading highlights to absorb knowledge.
• The importance of practice and learning from others is a recurring theme.

"I spend hours, hours every day when I'm not reading books or when I'm not making podcasts, reading the highlights."

This quote from Speaker B shows a commitment to continuous learning and the recognition of the value in revisiting and reflecting on accumulated knowledge.

• Speaker B and C talk about Jay Z's practice of studying other artists and breaking down their approach to their craft.
• Jay Z analyzed the music of Run DMC, Rakim, and others to develop his own style.
• He viewed rap as an art form and learned by dissecting the work of those he admired.

"There was no one like Rakim. His flow was complex, and his voice was ill. He was approaching rap like literature, like art."

The quote shows Jay Z's appreciation for Rakim's artistic approach to rap, which influenced his own perception of the music genre as a form of art and literature.

• Don Valentine, founder of Sequoia Capital, emphasized the importance of cash flow in business.
• Valentine's advice to entrepreneurs was to focus on cash flow because running out of money is the primary reason businesses fail.
• Gross margins and cash flow are the two critical business metrics according to Valentine; other financial metrics are less important.

"At all costs, you better avoid these bars. Don Valentine says, all companies that go out of business do so for the same reason: they run out of money."

This quote highlights the critical advice from Don Valentine about avoiding the fate of running out of money, which is the common downfall for businesses.

• Jay Z likens the entrepreneurial journey to a crash course, not high school, where mistakes have real consequences.
• He emphasizes the need for self-reliance and trusting one's own judgment in business.
• Jay Z's lyrics reflect the entrepreneurial mindset, focusing on survival, health, wealth, and insight.

"This is a crash course to Saint high school. If we make mistakes, they have very, very real consequences."

The quote underscores the serious nature of entrepreneurship compared to the relative safety of school, highlighting the gravity of mistakes in the business world.

• Jay Z reflects on his own experiences of learning from mentors like Big Daddy Kane and the importance of focusing on the finer details of one's craft.
• He draws parallels between his learning experience and that of Kobe Bryant learning from Michael Jordan.
• The narrative emphasizes the value of mentorship and studying successful individuals to improve one's own skills and performance.

"I got an invaluable education watching him perform."

This quote from Jay Z illustrates the significant impact that observing and learning from a mentor can have on personal growth and skill development.

• Jay Z offers advice to stay focused on one's grind, regardless of financial success.
• He echoes the sentiment of Herb Kelleher, founder of Southwest Airlines, about the necessity of continuous effort to maintain success.
• The advice is to maintain consistency in one's approach to work, regardless of the level of success achieved.

"Success has to be earned over and over again or it disappears."

Jay Z echoes the wisdom that success is not a one-time achievement but requires ongoing dedication and effort to sustain.

• Jay Z's lyrics express a desire to not just survive but to thrive and push limits.
• He contrasts the safety of a 9-to-5 job with the risks and rewards of entrepreneurship.
• The theme of seeking more than just survival is a common thread in entrepreneurial motivation.

"Nine to five is how you survive. I ain't trying to survive. I'm trying to live it to the limit and love it a lot."

Jay Z's quote captures the essence of the entrepreneurial spirit, which is about pursuing passion and pushing boundaries beyond mere survival.

• Jay Z discusses the complexity and depth of great rap, which requires attentive listening to understand its layers.
• He criticizes the superficial listening habits of many and encourages a deeper engagement with the content.
• The discussion highlights the value of critical listening and the rewards of uncovering deeper meanings in art and business.

"Great rap should have all kinds of unresolved layers that you don't necessarily figure out the first time you listen to it."

This quote from Jay Z stresses the richness of complex art and the importance of re-engagement to fully appreciate and understand its nuances.

• Jay Z uses the concept of a "faint" to illustrate strategic deception in business, as demonstrated by the PayPal team during their IPO.
• The story of PayPal's strategic maneuver against eBay exemplifies the importance of foresight and clever tactics in business negotiations.

"Every hustler knows the value of a faint. It keeps you one step ahead of whoever's listening."

Jay Z's quote highlights the strategic value of misdirection in business to maintain a competitive edge.

• Jay Z expresses admiration for Russell Simmons' business model and the impact he had on the hip hop industry.
• Simmons' approach to branding and lifestyle curation is seen as a blueprint for the modern hip hop mogul.
• Jay Z's own business ventures, such as Rockaware, were inspired by the model established by Simmons.

"I was looking at Russell and thinking, I want to be this dude, not his artist."

The quote reflects Jay Z's aspiration to emulate the success of industry pioneers like Russell Simmons and to become an influential mogul himself.

• Jay Z discusses his evolution from competing with other rappers to focusing on self-improvement in both art and business.
• He recognizes the value of win-win situations and the non-zero-sum nature of the business.
• Jay Z's perspective on competition highlights the importance of personal development over engaging in rivalries.

"I'm only competing with myself to be a better artist and businessman, to be a better person with a broader vision."

This quote encapsulates Jay Z's matured outlook on competition, prioritizing self-improvement and a broader vision for success.

• Hip-hop culture has provided a drive and strength for individuals from challenging backgrounds.
• It offers a means to redeem tough life lessons and utilize them for positive change.
• Jay Z's album "4:44" is likened to a wealth of knowledge, equating to a million dollars' worth of ideas for the price of an album.

"This is what the streets have done for us. They have done for me. They've given us a drive. They've made us stronger through hip hop."

The quote emphasizes the transformative power of hip-hop culture in providing resilience and ambition.

"It's a million dollars worth of game for 999."

This quote from Jay Z underscores the value he believes his music offers, far exceeding its monetary cost.

• Successful founders and investors often possess extensive historical knowledge.
• History books can contain ideas worth billions, echoing a sentiment from "Poor Charlie's Almanac."
• The study of history is linked to understanding and navigating the future of industries.

"And the best investors, they all have deep historical knowledge."

This quote highlights the importance of historical knowledge in the success of business leaders and investors.

"There's ideas worth billions of dollars in a $30 history book."

This quote parallels the concept that valuable insights and ideas can often be found in inexpensive resources like history books.

• Basquiat's life and work are analyzed for their good ideas and to avoid the bad.
• He is an example of someone who transcended his initial art form (graffiti) and incorporated diverse cultural elements into his work.
• Jay Z identifies with Basquiat's drive to be the best and sees parallels in their work and impact.

"Basquiat was from Brooklyn. Like me, he started off living in the streets as a graffiti artist."

This quote draws a parallel between Basquiat's beginnings and Jay Z's, highlighting a shared background and humble beginnings.

"He's probably among the most famous artists in the world. Two decades after his death, I own a few of his paintings. His technique feels like hip hop."

Jay Z relates Basquiat's artistic technique to hip-hop, suggesting a shared essence and approach to their respective crafts.

• Jay Z values the authenticity of staying true to oneself and one's vision.
• Steve Jobs is cited as an example of someone who remained authentic and did not compromise, leading to Apple's success.
• The idea that changing oneself to fit popular trends is akin to becoming the 'walking dead'.

"You don't want to get your wish in death. You want it in life."

This quote reflects the desire to achieve one's goals and recognition during one's lifetime, not posthumously.

"I'm building insanely great products because that's what I feel I should do."

This quote from Steve Jobs, as related by Jay Z, emphasizes the importance of pursuing one's vision with conviction, regardless of market trends.

• Jay Z collects maxims, song lyrics, and art as reminders of important life lessons and motivations.
• Visual cues such as paintings and lock screens serve as daily inspiration and reinforcement of core values.
• The concept of enduring and conquering challenges is a recurring theme in these reminders.

"Most kings get their heads cut off."

This quote, from a Basquiat painting owned by Jay Z, serves as a cautionary reminder of the perils of success and leadership.

"By endurance we conquer."

This maxim, used by Jay Z as a personal reminder, emphasizes the value of resilience and perseverance in achieving success.

• Jay Z discusses the dangers of success, including the temptation to change oneself to remain relevant.
• The stories of rappers who have faced betrayal, addiction, and financial ruin serve as warnings.
• Jay Z's focus is on long-term success, emulating the longevity of his heroes in various fields.

"Rappers who have been dangled over balconies for their publishing money, that's a true story, by the way, held by their ankles."

This quote illustrates the extreme and sometimes violent challenges that artists can face in the music industry.

"I'm not interested in being good at podcasting for a year or two, but a decade after decade after decade, because that is what my heroes did."

This quote reveals Jay Z's aspiration for enduring success, mirroring the sustained achievements of his role models.

• Jay Z views his music career as another form of entrepreneurship, not a vow of poverty.
• He emphasizes the importance of managing one's business and not succumbing to the stereotype of the tortured artist.
• The idea of the 'creator economy' is not new, and Jay Z has long embraced the concept of being a 'business, man'.

"I'm not a businessman. I'm a business, man."

This iconic quote from Jay Z encapsulates his approach to his career, where he views himself as an enterprise.

"When I committed to a career in rap, I wasn't taking a vow of poverty. I saw it as another hustle."

Jay Z rejects the notion that artists should not be concerned with the financial aspects of their work, seeing it as another avenue for success.

• Jay Z uses visualization techniques similar to athletes to manifest his goals.
• He acknowledges the power of the mind and the importance of feeding it with positive and empowering thoughts.
• Intuition and gut feelings are recognized as valuable, even if they cannot be quantified or fully understood.

"The mind is powerful place, and what you feed it can affect you in powerful ways."

This quote underscores the significance of mental focus and visualization in achieving one's objectives.

"Just because we don't understand it doesn't mean it's not powerful."

Here, Jay Z acknowledges the mysterious yet potent nature of intuition and its role in guiding decisions.

• Discipline and a commitment to excellence are key traits shared by successful individuals, from athletes like Michael Jordan to artists like Jay Z.
• Talent alone is not sufficient; it must be coupled with hard work and a dedication to one's craft.
• The concept of 'n of one founders' is likened to seeking the exceptional individuals who embody both talent and discipline.

"The thing that distinguished Jordan wasn't just his talent, but his discipline, his laser like commitment to excellence."

This quote highlights the importance of discipline and dedication in achieving greatness, as exemplified by Michael Jordan.

"That is the kind of consistency that you can get only by adding dead serious discipline to whatever talent you have."

Jay Z emphasizes that talent must be matched with serious discipline to achieve consistent, long-term success.

• Mentorship accelerates the learning curve by allowing one to learn from others' experiences.
• Jay Z discusses the importance of mentors in his life who encouraged him to pursue music seriously.
• Acting with confidence, even if it is initially a projection, is crucial in convincing others of one's capabilities.

"Clark thought I had something new to offer to this world that he loved. He's like, stop dealing drugs, Jay. Take the rap shit seriously. You're good at it."

This quote reflects the pivotal role of mentorship in Jay Z's transition from drug dealing to a music career.

"Dame Dash projected bulletproof confidence. If you're not like this, act like you are."

The advice here is to embody confidence, even if it doesn't come naturally, as it can be a self-fulfilling prophecy.

• Jay Z values flexibility and the ability to adapt to new opportunities without being constrained by rigid plans.
• He compares his life to poetry, characterized by unpredictable leaps rather than linear progression.
• Flexibility is seen in various successful figures who remain open to change and innovation.

"Allowed me to stay open to the next thing without feeling held back by a preconceived notion of what I'm supposed to be doing next."

Jay Z values the ability to remain open to new possibilities, unencumbered by fixed expectations of the future.

"My life has been more poetry than prose, more about unpredictable leaps and links than simply steady movement, or worse, stagnation."

This quote captures Jay Z's philosophy of life as a series of creative and unexpected journeys rather than a predictable path.

• Jay Z discusses the lasting impact of poverty and the drive to overcome the associated shame and limitations.
• The desire to escape poverty can be a powerful motivator, but the psychological effects may linger despite financial success.
• The narrative of rising from poverty to wealth is a common theme among self-made individuals.

"The sad shit is that you never really shake it all the way off, no matter how much money you get."

This quote reveals the deep-seated emotional impact of poverty, which persists even after achieving wealth.

"I remember coming back home from doing work, so selling drugs out of state with my boys in a caravan of Lexus's that we parked right in the middle of Marcy."

Jay Z reflects on a moment of triumph that symbolized a temporary escape from the shame of poverty.

• Speaker B reveals his humble beginnings and determination in the music industry.
• Dame Dash's role in keeping Speaker B focused on music through a makeshift tour.
• The makeshift tours served as a learning experience akin to college road trips.
• Speaker B juxtaposes his music endeavors with his job selling drugs.
• Speaker C reflects on the authenticity of Speaker B's narrative in rap music.

"Dame was getting frustrated trying to keep up with me, so he put together a makeshift tour to keep me focused on music." "In some ways, these were like my college days, taking road trips, bunked up with friends, learning my profession." "Time job selling drugs."

The quotes highlight the early struggles and efforts to pursue a career in music while dealing with the challenges of Speaker B's environment and other commitments. They draw a parallel between the structured learning of college and the unorthodox, real-life education received through touring.

• Rap music is celebrated for its human element, allowing artists to express multiple facets of their identity.
• Speaker B discusses the relatability of having both good and bad influences and the importance of acknowledging internal contradictions.
• Speaker C appreciates the genre's recognition of the complexity of human nature.

"It's so human, it doesn't force you to pretend to be only one thing or another, to be a saint or a sinner." "Having a devil on one shoulder and an angel on the other, is the most common thing in the world."

The quotes emphasize the humanizing aspect of rap, which allows for a more nuanced representation of life, acknowledging that people can embody conflicting characteristics and that this is a normal part of the human experience.

• Speaker B and Speaker C discuss the drive and determination exemplified by entrepreneurs like Sam Brothman.
• The story of Sam Brothman's relentless pursuit of a hotel deal illustrates extreme levels of ambition and pain tolerance.
• Speaker B connects this entrepreneurial spirit to Jay Z's own persistence in the music industry.

"Sam's like, all right, where's the guy at? He's in this remote Yukon territory or wherever it is. How do I get there?" "So Sam Brothman winds up getting meeting the guy, negotiating a deal in the camp spot, and getting the hotel before that other guy, sitting with his feet up, even knew what hit him."

The quotes recount the extraordinary efforts of Sam Brothman to secure a business deal, demonstrating the lengths to which some entrepreneurs will go to achieve their goals. They parallel Jay Z's own tenacity in overcoming obstacles in his career.

• Jay Z's career progression involved overcoming industry rejections and establishing his own record label.
• His approach to business was hands-on, personal, and resourceful, often doing things that did not scale to build momentum.
• The formation of Roc-A-Fella Records is highlighted as a strategic move to maintain control over his music and career.

"After every label in the industry turned us down, Dame Biggs and I decided, fuck it. Why be workers anyway?" "We didn't know the business yet, but we knew how to hustle. We wrote it down."

These quotes describe Jay Z's response to industry rejection and his proactive steps to create his own path. They underscore the importance of determination, resourcefulness, and the power of writing down goals to achieve success.

• Jay Z reflects on the influence of rappers like Slick Rick and Scarface on his own storytelling abilities.
• He discusses how rap can convey complex emotions and experiences that resonate deeply with listeners.
• The ability of artists to express and connect with the audience through their stories is highlighted.

"Slick Rick taught me that not only can rap be emotionally expressive, it can express those feelings that you can't really name." "The power of his stories come in part from his willingness to pull the covers off of taboos, to get into the shit that people pretend isn't really happening."

These quotes illustrate the impact that storytelling in rap has on both the artist and the audience. They point out how rappers like Slick Rick and Scarface have inspired Jay Z to use music as a means to explore and share deeper emotional truths.

• Jay Z emphasizes the significance of staying true to oneself and not being swayed by external opinions.
• He shares his personal practice of giving himself space to think and create without being influenced by others.
• The song "Beach Chair" is analyzed as a reflection of Jay Z's philosophy on life and success.

"I'm not afraid of dying. I'm afraid of not trying every day, hit every wave like I'm Hawaiian. I don't surf the net. No, I've never been on Myspace." "Technology is making it easier to connect to other people, but maybe harder to keep connected to yourself."

These quotes highlight Jay Z's approach to life, focusing on effort and authenticity rather than following trends. They stress the importance of self-reflection and maintaining a personal connection amidst a world increasingly dominated by technology.