Exclusive: Jay-Z Breaks His Silence—“We Played Enough Defense, 2026 is All Offense”

“It’s been a minute,” says Jay-Z as he sits across from GQ’s Frazier Tharpe. Thirty years on from his debut album—a milestone that will hit with the _Reasonable Doubt_ anniversary in June—Jay-Z, now 56, is more influential than ever before. But the journey hasn’t been without controversy, criticism, and challenges—most recently in the form of a civil lawsuit brought against him at the tail end of 2024. The self-made billionaire (touching three times over) reflects on the tidal wave of turmoil that rippled through 2025, which was punctuated by the unwavering support of his wife, Beyoncé, alongside their tight-knit family. The pair also cover the evolution of hip-hop and Jay’s thoughts on the Kendrick vs. Drake beef, alongside him quarterbacking the Super Bowl’s halftime show within the kaleidoscopic nature of the zeitgeist. Three decades into the game, Shawn Carter reintroduces himself. This is the GQ Video Cover Story with Jay-Z. #JayZ #ShawnCarter #GQ *Credits:* Director: Nick Collett Director of Photography: Carter Ross; AJ Young Editor: Brady Jackson Talent: Jay-Z; Frazier Tharpe Producer: Sam Dennis Senior Producer: Michael Beckert Creative Producer: Kristen DeVore Line Producer: Jen Santos Production Manager: Evie Roop Talent Booker: Dana Mathews Camera Operator: AJ Young; Taylor Frontier; Jenna Huskisson; Brooke Mueller; Mike Maliwanag Assistant Camera: Adam Lee; Ethan Smith; Molly White Gaffer: Shay Eberle-Gunst Grip: Dominik Czaczyk DIT: