Jay-Z Covers UK Esquire Magazine

In his cover story:
“Musically I think he has brilliant arranging skills. The way he puts different words , sounds and textures together is anything but straightforward and more complex than it appears.

Although the message is different, its a bit like the first time I heard Public Enemy. There’s clearly an intelligence at work in his lyrics (and I like “the beats”, as the kids say).

’99 problems’ sums up that deceptive simplicity he has. It sounds like an almost asinine statement, but it works perfectly in the rhyme that’s repeated. Whether you want to take it on face value or whether you want to take it as someone who’s being boastful. It’s like a movie pitch in one line.”