The Internet Gasps at Jay-Z’s Taste in Music

The rapper from Brooklyn is undeniably one of the best in the game. But why are fans taken aback by his wide-ranging musical taste? He incorporates his deep understanding of music history into his lyrics, while also curating and sharing playlists on Tidal for music enthusiasts. His latest playlist features “Under The Table,” by Fiona Apple. It’s a whimsical tune about perseverance and refusing to be silenced. Fans took to Twitter in amazement at the “standout” selection. When just at the dawn of 2020, artists like Snoh Aalegra and Solange made his year-end playlist of 2019.

In a 2009 interview with MTV Jay-Z describes his experience with music as a youth. “I grew up around music, listening to all types of people,” he said. “I used to jam to classic tunes by Donny Hathaway, Marvin Gaye, and the like. I appreciate music with soul, whether it’s rap, R&B, or pop. If I can feel their soul through the music, that’s what I vibe with.” He relates to music as it feels. As all music lovers do. When you can feel an artist’s authenticity in the record, that’s all that matters.

So, Hov adding Fiona Apple to his playlist rotation doesn’t come as a surprise. You have to have an ear for exploration in music. Always being open to the many sounds.

What do you think? Add your thoughts below and peruse the playlist here.