AceShowbiz - Jay-Z is reflecting on his nearly 30-year career in a revealing eight-part documentary series, co-hosted by legendary producer Rick Rubin. The first two episodes premiered on HBO on September 18, with new episodes scheduled to release weekly.

The series revisits more than 25 of Jay-Z's songs, using each track as a way to explore his lyrics, personal growth, and artistic evolution. One of the most surprising insights shared is that Jay-Z initially didn’t see rapping as his ultimate goal or dream.

He explained that in the early days, many rappers had a different style and lifestyle that he didn’t aspire to. While other artists arrived in more modest vehicles, he and his peers were already coming in luxury cars like 4Runners, Lexuses, and Acuras. This contrast made him feel that becoming a rapper might actually be a step backward from where he was headed.

Even after releasing his critically acclaimed album Reasonable Doubt, Jay-Z seriously considered leaving music behind. He wanted to pursue a career more like Russell Simmons, focusing on business and mogul ventures because he didn’t love the artist lifestyle. He admitted to disliking the parts of being an artist that involved shooting music videos, doing interviews, and public speaking.

Despite those feelings, Jay-Z ultimately continued his music career, which has become legendary. In the documentary, he also delves into some of his favorite moments from his catalog, including the intro to The Dynasty, which he calls his favorite album intro of all time.

One notable lyric he explained was from The Dynasty intro, where he references a scripture tattooed on the arms of himself, The Notorious B.I.G., and Junior M.A.F.I.A. This line symbolizes the close bond and shared history between them.

Speaking about his friendship with The Notorious B.I.G., Jay-Z shared how their relationship deepened after working together on "Brooklyn’s Finest" and attending The Kings of Comedy show together. Biggie even suggested they move to Atlanta and buy houses close to one another, though that plan never materialized.

Interestingly, Jay-Z revealed he removed a specific Biggie lyric referencing Carolina from "Brooklyn’s Finest" because he wanted to avoid fueling the East Coast/West Coast rivalry that was affecting the hip-hop community at the time.

The documentary offers an intimate look at Jay-Z’s journey, challenges, and relationships that shaped his career. Fans can watch highlights from the first two episodes on HBO and YouTube as the series continues to unfold.

This article is based on reporting originally published by Xxlmag.