“In a recent interview with The Art of Dialogue on YouTube, Beanie Sigel revealed an intriguing aspect of Jay-Z’s recording process: his penchant for wearing The Notorious B.I.G.’s iconic Jesus Christ chain in the studio. According to Sigel, this ritual was a significant part of Jay’s creative routine, symbolizing a focused dedication to his album projects. Sigel emphasized that Jay-Z’s approach to recording was unconventional, lacking a traditional ‘process’ but instead relying on unique rituals like wearing Biggie’s chain.
The symbolic significance of the Jesus Piece, famously worn by Biggie, was carried on by Jay-Z after he acquired it following Biggie’s passing. Jay-Z’s acknowledgment of this ritual in his 2010 autobiography, ‘Decoded,’ further underscores its importance in his creative process.
Sigel also shared insights into Jay-Z’s distinctive approach to lyricism, highlighting that he never witnessed Jay-Z write with pen and paper in the studio. Instead, Jay-Z’s method involved composing entire songs mentally, a skill set that Sigel credits to Jay’s influence. Sigel recalled a pivotal moment when Jay-Z challenged him to abandon traditional writing methods, opting instead for a freestyle approach to song creation. This exchange, according to Sigel, transformed his own approach to recording, leading him to adopt Jay-Z’s method of crafting lyrics without pen and paper.
The interview provides a fascinating glimpse into the creative dynamics between two influential figures in hip-hop, shedding light on Jay-Z’s unorthodox but highly effective approach to music-making.”
