He's all business. In his earlier work he was more of a lyricists. He pivoted and started selling more record, making commercial music. His timing was right and he executed perfectly. In his own words.

"I dumb it down for my audience

and double my dollars

they criticize me for it

yet they still yell "Holla"

If skills sold

Truth be told

I'd probably be

Lyricly

Talib Kweli"

The glorification of drug dealing and gun carrying is a huge turn off album after album.

I thought it was an OK read, thankfully light on the hagiography, although (like Gates and technology), I think Jay-Z is much more interesting as a businessman than a musician.

To me he represents the best of the meritocracy in action: incredible success without the gifts of money, power or connections at birth, survival and achievement though skill, intelligence, hard work and refusing to ever give up. I have so much genuine respect for him.

I love love love that they added a Jay-Z song to the page in a classy, non-automatic way. It enhances the article so much. Well done on WSJ's part there.

Don't sleep on these hip hop guys. They're born hungry. Look at Russell Simmons, Diddy, Jay-Z and 50 Cent, and (technically not a rapper) Usher. They all have pretty impressive business portfolios.

"I sell ice in the winter, I sell fire in hell. I'm a hustler baby, I sell water to a well."

Jay-Z. An inspirational guy. Other startup folks think so too, given how often I see Jay-Z quotations on Twitter.

"Y'all not remembering. My motto is simply: I will not lose."

It is truly heartwarming the amount of love that HN readers have for Jay Z.

Damn it feels good to be a gangsta.

He is a big pimpin I guess...

He talks about how people look down on the genre because of the foul language, but I have to wonder. Would Gates and Buffet and the rest of the business world put up with a foul mouthed individual? I very much doubt that he talks like he raps and more than likely he keeps his mouth in check when trying to make million dollar deals.