Jay-Z rose to fame as a steely-eyed chronicler of street life and ended up the foremost pioneer of what hip-hop songwriting could be. He breaks down the creative tool kit — including lyrical flow and the emotional engines that power his music — that has defined his style for decades. He is one of The New York Times Magazine’s 30 greatest living American songwriters. Interview by Jody Rosen. Video by @joshuacharow. #nyt30greatest #AmericanSongwriters #JayZ

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