Jay Z Reacts to His First TV Appearance & Recalls Battling Busta Rhymes in High School (Video)

Last night (October 20), Jay Z appeared as a guest on “Jimmy Kimmel Live.” The ABC television program has been taping in Brooklyn, New York this week, reportedly just walking distance from Jay’s 560 State Street hustling residence in the pre-Roc-A-Fella Records days (as chronicled on “Empire State Of Mind”).

That subject, among other nuggets from Shawn Carter’s youth came up in an interview that also delved into sports and Tidal, as Usher, Nas, and Bibi Bourelly performed “Chains.”

Kimmel notably screened the footage of a circa 1990 BET “Rap City” performance of Jay Z alongside onetime mentor, Big Daddy Kane. The moment served as Jay’s believed first TV appearance, where the fast-rapping MC dropped a verse. Making light of one of his verse’s lyrics (“Jay-Z’s embarrassin’“), the Roc Nation mogul reflected, “That was embarrassing […] I was a prophet, ’cause that was very embarrassing…the haircut, the shirt.”

Notably, Kane was a guest performer during Jay’s opening 2012 Barclays Center concerts. Kimmel asked Jay about the gentrification in the Atlantic Yards section of Brooklyn. In an odd moment, Jay asserted that he was not responsible for it. He also described the area before renovations as an area filled with heroin users, something he said, “was good for business, but back [then].”

Kimmel asked Jay Z if his artistic ambitions ever included a onetime ownership stake in an NBA basketball team, private jets, or luxury appliances. “My goal was to have a gold album; I thought I was being crazy,” said Jay, who went asked bluntly if he thought he could achieve 500,000 units sold of an album, said, “No.”All 12 of Jay’s studio albums have achieved gold certifications. In fact, all of those releases have at least platinum or better status.

Although not mentioned by name, host Jimmy Kimmel asked Jay about attending George Westinghouse Career and Technical Education High School alongside The Notorious B.I.G. and Busta Rhymes. “Me and Busta Rhymes actually had a Rap battle in the lunch-room,” Jay shared with late-night ABC audiences. Asked who won the challenge, the “Why We Die” collaborator apparently mouthed “c’mon, man,” before saying, “I love Busta Rhymes, but…”

In a 1989 battle that has no benefit of camera footage, who do you think won: a Jaz-O protege era Jay Z, or a formative Leaders Of The New School/Native Tongues era Busta Bus?

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