
Rick Rubin: What Jay-Z Did in 30 Minutes Left Me Speechless!
- Rick Rubin describes how Jay-Z listened to the beat for 99 Problems, let it loop repeatedly, sat in the back mumbling/humming for 20â30 minutes, then went into the other room and recorded the first verse in just three takes. No written lyrics, everything was composed in his head.
- Jay-Zâs process is unique: unlike other rappers, he never writes physically but shapes words and flow internally, like a saxophonist improvising a solo.
- âIndefensibleâ is a positive term for Rubin â it means pushing things to extremes beyond reason and expectations. Only through this can revolutionary works emerge.
- Rubin stresses: Creativity is beaten out of us over our lives â by school, rules, and comparison. Instead, we should express ourselves freely and follow intuition (or âthe universeâ).
- Comparisons are pointless: Michael Jackson vs. Prince, Kanye vs. Drake â each artist has a unique perspective. Itâs not about better or worse, but authentic self-expression.
- Rubin has meditated (Transcendental Meditation) since age 14. He meditates 20 minutes twice daily â often with artists like Tom Petty, Johnny Cash, or Red Hot Chili Peppers before sessions.
- Meditation helps him see beneath the surface and connect with a deeper, intuitive level. For him, itâs the key to creativity and self-knowledge.
- Rubin distinguishes four phases: Seed, Experimentation, Crafting, and Completion/Editing. Only when the work is nearly finished should a deadline be set.
- No pressure on art: Donât let commercial expectations drive you. True greatness comes from doing what you love and offering it as a âgift to the universe.â
- Examples of âmiraclesâ in the studio: Johnny Cashâs debut album recordings were originally just tests in the living room â they turned out better than the studio versions.
- Rubin himself experienced a severe depressive episode in his early 30s after a mentor was forced out. He felt like he had been shot with a poison arrow, had panic attacks, and couldnât sleep. Therapy and antidepressants helped him.
- This taught him: Sometimes something needs to die â a career, relationship, or lifestyle â so something new can emerge. Suicidal thoughts often come from feeling trapped, but in reality you can hit the reset button and start a whole new life.
- âThe soft overcomes the hardâ â Rubin quotes the Tao Te Ching. Water drips on a rock and wears it away. Often non-action is the best action.
- Johnny Cash: Humble, quiet, deeply spiritual. Rubin learned humility and the power of silence from him.
- Tom Petty: The ultimate craftsman â everything had to be in time and in tune, every word intelligible. He worked two years on an album without hurry.
- Adele: She can sing a song 30 times in a row and nail it every time â like a throwback to 70s singer-songwriters. Authenticity is her hallmark.
- âThe Creative Act: A Way of Beingâ (2023) â Rubinâs book on creativity as a life philosophy. It consists of 78 chapters (inspired by the 78 tarot cards).
- âThe Book of HOVâ (HBO documentary, Sept. 2024) â An eight-part series on Jay-Z, revealing the poet and lyricist behind the businessman. Intimate, unusually personal insights.
- âDonât listen to what anyone tells you. Be true to yourself, work hard, never give up.â
- Most great artists are âordinary people who made a decisionâ â like Eminem, who constantly writes to become better.
- Creativity starts with perspective: Go to museums, read old books, watch great movies. The best ideas often come from areas unrelated to your field.
Final question of the interview: Who would you call in a 60-second thank-you call? Rubin: His wife and child â they have changed his life and shown him the world with fresh eyes.





