THE UNDERRATED INFLUENCE OF JAY-Z
GQ: Jay still feels underrated today, in 2026, in a way, for his style influence.
Don C: I agree. When people say who the freshest rappers of all time, he’s not mentioned with A$AP Rocky, Pharrell, and Ye.
Emory: And all those guys would mention him.
Don C: Exactly. Exactly. Exactly.
Emory: Why is he underrated? I think maybe because….
Don C: He doesn’t conform to the fashion community. That’s what I think.
Emory: You only seeing him at a fashion show when his friend is involved with it.
Don C: He doesn’t go to fashion shows. But the first time you see Jay [at one], he’s in Versace, you know what I’m saying? And he don’t get the credit he deserves.
Emory: I think the answer to that question is, Hov isn’t on Twitter, he’s not on Instagram, he’s not on a podcast. I mean, he’s not going on Drink Champs. Only time you’re going to catch it is if he’s rapping about it. And then also, I just think his drip is in the nuance. It’s in the detail. And it’s more subtle than some other cats.
Baque: I don’t think it’s so much about not acknowledging his fashion, but I think it’s really more about acknowledging the business that he’s built. He’s one of the few rappers to transcend the music and the culture into just being a global powerhouse.
When I think of him, I think of Roc Nation now. I remember walking into Jay Brown’s13 office and I thought I was in the future—there was a screen with all the analytics going. For the last 10 years, I think Jay has, I don’t want to say outgrown this…. But when you bring up those other names, like Rocky or even Tyler or whatever, hopefully for those guys in 10, 15 years, they’ll have something….
Don C: They’ll transcend.
Baque: They’ll transcend. This is just a moment in time that we’re talking.
Emory: ’Lo, you bring up a good point. I saw Tyler say in an interview that Jay is the one that suggested to him like, “Hey, check out this watch.” I’m not knocking anyone else, but you’ll hear cats say, “I was the flyest.” Jay’s more concerned with having the business, right? Legacy. What’s the last song on 4:44?
Baque: “Legacy, legacy.”
Emory: In that song he’s rapping about breaking generational trauma. He’s not rapping about clothing. The way he raps about money isn’t boasting. He’s rapping about his kids and his family being set up.
Baque: Exactly.
Lorenzo: We did the 4:44 merch, and then we did this full shoot with a bunch of female models. We actually took it back to Roc La Familia vibes. His messaging on 4:44 as a husband, as a man maturing—it was just so inspiring for so many different reasons. I just really wanted to be a part of that project. And I think he’s one of the very few men that have matured elegantly in the rap game.