This is Fresh Air, I'm Terry Gross. We're continuing our series of favorite music interviews from our archive with Jay-Z and Lizzo.

First we have Jay-Z, who's been incredibly successful as a rapper and an entrepreneur.

We spoke in 2010 after he published his memoir, Decoated, in which he wrote about growing up in a housing project

and watching crack destroy his neighborhood.

He saw drugs before finding success in the recording studio and on stage.

His book also tells the stories behind 36 of his songs.

He holds the record for the most number one albums by a solo artist on the Billboard 200.

In 2017, Jay-Z became the first rapper to be inducted into the songwriter's Hall of Fame.

His 2009 record with Alicia Keys, Empire State of Mind,

became something of a New York anthem. He's also known as Beyoncé's Husband.

Let's start with one of Jay-Z's signature songs, Izzo, HOVA from his 2001 album, The Blueprint.

I appreciate that.

Jay-Z, welcome to Fresh Air. It's great to have you on our show.

What were your first rhymes like? You got your first boombox when you were nine.

Your mother gave it to you because she thought it would help keep you out of trouble.

Yeah, just so, I was focusing on music. I wouldn't be running the streets all while so she tried

to encourage me to pursue my dreams and music early on. My first rhymes were pretty much very

boastful and academic, but they were kind of advanced for a young kid. I put a piece of one of them.

It was like I'm the king of hip hop that renewed the re-bop, the key and the lock with words,

so provocative as long as I live. I look back on that rhyme now, I'm like, man, it's pretty prophetic.

So, you were about nine when you wrote that? Yeah, well, yeah, between nine and eleven,

those were my first rhymes. Okay, so provocative is a pretty big word for a kid at age.

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