JAY-Z stopped by BBC Radio 1 recently to discuss everything from his recent 4:44 album to Trump's presidency with Clara Amfo. During their conversation, the rapper shared his thoughts on the state of the world in the wake of the terrorist attack and white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia.
"I believe that everything that happens in life is for your greatest good, and I don’t think that this is happening if we weren’t prepared to handle it," JAY said. "I’m just looking forward to what’s next after that, because usually when things are darkest, then light is on its way. I’m not fearful."
Though he didn't mention Trump by name, JAY also shared his thoughts on the president.
I believe that we are resilient, especially us as black people and especially the culture. We’ve been through so much more than this guy," he said. "This guy, I’m looking at him like, man, this is a joke, with all—I can’t even say with all due respect—with all disrespect. I just think he’s not a very sophisticated man, especially when it comes to the idea of until everyone is free, no one is free. Period. That’s just a fact. We are all linked some kind of way. So if you oppress a certain people, everyone is in danger, karmically and in real life. If I’m being oppressed and you have this big, nice mansion, I’m coming inside there. That’s gonna happen, that’s just how life is. So just on a practical level, that just makes sense. On a spiritual and karmic level, if we’re all children of God, then we’re all brothers and sisters, and at some point, if you’re doing that to your brother, then that can’t last.
After the conversation, he payed homage to his collaborator and Linkin Park vocalist Chester Bennington, who passed away in July. Watch JAY-Z perform "Numb/Encore" in the Live Lounge below.
Thumbnail image: Theo Wargo/Getty Images.
