Thirty years on from his debut album—a milestone that will hit with the Reasonable Doubt anniversary in June—Jay-Z, now 56, is more influential than ever before. But the journey hasn’t been without controversy, criticism, and challenges—most recently in the form of a civil lawsuit brought against him at the tail end of 2024.

The self-made billionaire (touching three times over) reflects on the tidal wave of turmoil that rippled through 2025, which was punctuated by the unwavering support of his wife, Beyoncé, alongside their tight-knit family. The pair also cover the evolution of hip-hop and Jay’s thoughts on the Kendrick vs. Drake beef, alongside him quarterbacking the Super Bowl’s halftime show within the kaleidoscopic nature of the zeitgeist.

Three decades into the game, Shawn Carter reintroduces himself. This is the GQ Video Cover Story with Jay-Z.