Rap mogul Jay-Z has spoken publicly for the first time about the intense anger he felt after being sued for sexual assault, explaining why he refused to settle the case.
The lawsuit, filed in 2024 by a Jane Doe, alleged that Jay-Z and Sean “Diddy” Combs assaulted her at a 2000 VMAs As an afterparty when she was 13. Both men strongly denied the claims. Jay-Z later sued Jane and her lawyer, Tony Buzbee, for malicious prosecution and defamation. Jane eventually dropped her suit last year, and Jay’s case was dismissed a few months later.
In a new GQ interview, Jay-Z described the ordeal as draining and said it made him angrier than he had been “in a long time.
“You don’t put that on someone — that’s a thing you better be super sure about. Especially a person like me… There was a line: no women, no kids. That meant a lot to me,” he said.
Despite having the option to settle the case quickly, Jay-Z said, “I can’t take a settlement — it ain’t in my DNA… I can’t do it. I would die.”
The rapper also revealed that he relied heavily on support from those around him during this period, choosing not to channel his anger into music, which he felt could have added negativity to the world.
“I’m not sure people needed me to add to the negativity. Any music I tried writing then was all bad,” he admitted.
Since 2017’s 4:44, Jay-Z has not released a solo album. He said he has instead focused on collaborating with his wife, Beyoncé, supporting her recent projects.
Looking ahead, Jay-Z hinted at being ready to play “all offense” in 2026, but whether this includes new music remains unclear. He is scheduled to perform several shows this year, including two nights at Yankee Stadium in New York City.
“I just need to create something honest and timeless that reflects who I am… not just something people like,” he said.
