Jay-Z has insisted he’ll “never” say he’s retired — even if he’s not currently planning any new music.
The 52-year-old star – whose wife is Beyonce treats us to her Renaissance era – admittedly, while he’s “open to whatever” and wouldn’t want to “close” his gift to the world, his plans for the future aren’t too clear.
Speaking to Kevin Hart on the comedian’s Hart to Heart talk show, he said, “I don’t know what happens next. I am not actively making music or making an album or have any plans to make an album.
“But I never want to say I’m retired… It’s a gift, and who am I to close it? It’s open to whatever.’
The Empire State of Mind rapper’s most recent album was 4:44 in 2017, while he and his wife Beyonce released their collaboration album Everything Is Love the following year before heading out for the On The Run II tour.
The hip-hop star announced his retirement in 2003 with a huge Madison Square Garden party, but it didn’t last long.
He continued to work with the likes of Linkin Park and officially ended his retirement just three years later when he dropped Kingdom Come and American Gangster the following year.
Jay – whose real name is Shawn Carter – admitted he was “terrible” about retiring, but he was “burnt out” at the time.
He explained: “I was really burned out at the time. I put out an album every year – ’96, ’97, ’98.
And in between, soundtracks, albums by others, Roc-A-Fella, back-to-back touring. And you know, I looked up one day and I thought, “I’m tired.”
‘I had never been on vacation until I would say 2000. Like all my life. And I was just really burned out at that point.’
Though not focused on his music now, Jay-Z kept busy and became hip-hop’s first billionaire in 2019, while owning a range of brands, from entertainment company Roc Nation to his Armand de Brignac champagne.
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