Jay-Z admits he shot his older brother Eric when he was 12 years old, while he grew up in a Brooklyn housing project ravaged by violence.
The rap superstar and business mogul spoke about the incident for the first time in The Guardian‘s weekend magazine, admitting he opened fire on his brother after he stole a ring from Hova to feed his drug habit.
“I thought my life was over,” he said. “I thought I’d go to jail forever. It was terrible. I was a boy, a child. I was terrified.”
However, Jay-Z was never prosecuted over the incident, as his brother did not press charges. In fact, Eric even apologized for his crack addition when Jay visited him in the hospital.
An account of the ordeal can be heard on Jay’s track ‘You Must Love Me,’ from his second album ‘In My Lifetime, Vol. 1.’ On the track, he raps, “Saw the devil in your eyes, high off more than weed, confused, I just closed my young eyes and squeezed.”
Jay-Z, real name Shawn Carter, now has a business empire and a fortune estimated at $450 million. He is the CEO of Roc Nation records and co-owns the 40/40 nightclub chain and the New Jersey Nets.
The rapper has won 10 Grammy awards, has had 11 No.1 albums and is married to pop superstar Beyonce. He is currently celebrating the release of his book ‘Decoded’, which was part of Oprah’s ‘Ultimate Favorite Things Ever.’
