JAY-Z Speaks On Rap Retirement: ‘Who Am I To Shut It Off

JAY-Z rarely grants interviews but thanks to having a tight bond with Kevin Hart, Hov agreed to sit down with the stand-up comedy dignitary for an episode in the second season of his Hart to Heart series.

In a teaser clip shared on Wednesday (July 13) the Roc Nation founder reflected on his brief three-year hiatus following 2003’s The Black Album and isn’t closing the door on returning to the booth in the future.

“I tried that,” he said of the 2003 retirement. “I just needed a break. I was really burnt out at that time. I was releasing an album every year… I just looked up one day and was like, ‘I’m tired.’ I had never been on a vacation until I wanna say 2000 — my whole life. I was really burnt out in that moment.”

Hov doesn’t know exactly what’s ahead for him musically these days as he’s not actively working on a project, but he isn’t ruling out another album in the future.

“I’m not actively making music or making an album or have plans to make an album, but I never want to say that I’m retired,” he admitted. “It’s a gift, so who am I to shut it off? And it may have a different form or interpretation. Maybe it’s not an album, maybe it is. I have no idea, but I’m just going to leave it open.”

JAY-Z’s most recent solo album, 4:44, celebrated its fifth anniversary in June. Look for the rest of the conversation to arrive on Thursday (July 14) when Hart to Heart‘s season two hits Peacock with additional guests including Saweetie, Tracee Ellis-Ross, Pete Davidson, Chris Rock and more.