Shawn Carter, better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, songwriter, businessman, and record executive. Because of his platinum albums and numerous business ventures, he has amassed a fortune estimated to be worth 810 million dollars. Jay-Z has chronicled his ascent from rags to riches through the use of clever street lyrics.
Here are some of Jay-lyrics Z’s and the financial lessons we can take from them
- “My mom took her money. She bought me bonds; that was the sweetest thing of all time.”- Song: “Legacy” This song has to do with Jay-Z’s mum, Gloria, and the song claims she purchased Jay-Z bonds. A bond is a fixed income instrument that represents a loan made by an investor to a borrower (typically corporate or governmental). While bonds do carry some risk, they are still considered a prudent investment. When Jay-Z’s mother purchased those bonds, she did so with his future in mind. His mom definitely had a part in his success story.
- “Y’all on the Instagram holding money to your ear/ there’s a disconnect we don’t call that money over here, yeah.”- Song: “The Story of OJ” Jay-Z was dissing those who flaunt their money in this song, specifically those who take photos with piles of cash. Those who are truly wealthy, he claims, do not parade their wealth around. If you are wealthy, you are not required to demonstrate this by flaunting your wealth.
- “I can’t help the poor if I’m one of them/ so I got rich and gave back, to me that’s the win-win.”- Song: “moment of clarity” With the money he had saved over the years, he was able to establish a foundation with his mother. Since its inception, the foundation has provided millions of dollars in scholarships and professional development. In this case, the financial benefit of giving back is that donating to a charitable cause can be repaid via tax deductions. Philanthropic donations can be deducted for up to 50% of your gross income. Jay-Z also claims that you can’t help your loved ones if your financial situation isn’t in order.
- “Jay-Z be Popping tags/ leaving the mall with heavy bag/ you know the boy got a love for the cash.”- Song: “Poppin Tags” Jay-Z discusses his materialistic tendencies. Spend your money on material possessions that bring you joy, but exercise caution with excessive spending. Jay-Z asserts that emotional spending is a problem for everyone, regardless of income level. Budgeting is the only way to reign in excessive or emotional spending. Maintaining a budget forces you to be accountable and keeps you out of debt.
- “Financial freedom my only hope/ forget living rich and dying broke.”- Song: The story of OJ” Ja claims that after flaunting his lifestyle, he has finally realized that it is more prudent to focus on accumulating long-term wealth. Most people come to this realization as they age. They come to this conclusion due to increased responsibilities and priorities. There is no such thing as too early to begin investing; begin early and do not underestimate the power of compound interest. The investment will provide you with increased financial independence.
Conclusion
Jay-Z is a good example of how financial success does not come easy. He started from the bottom, and now he’s here. With hard work and ingenuity, you can start from wherever you are financially and make your way to the top as well.
