Jay-Z Admits to Shooting His Brother When He Was 12

By PopEater Staff Posted Nov 22nd 2010 05:45AM

Jay-Z admits he shot his older brother Eric when he was 12 years old, while he grew up in a Brooklyn housing project ravaged by violence.

The rap superstar and business mogul spoke about the incident for the first time in The Guardian's weekend magazine, admitting he opened fire on his brother after he stole a ring from Hova to feed his drug habit.

"I thought my life was over," he said. "I thought I'd go to jail forever. It was terrible. I was a boy, a child. I was terrified."

However, Jay-Z was never prosecuted over the incident, as his brother did not press charges. In fact, Eric even apologized for his crack addition when Jay visited him in the hospital.

An account of the ordeal can be heard on Jay's track 'You Must Love Me,' from his second album 'In My Lifetime, Vol. 1.' On the track, he raps, "Saw the devil in your eyes, high off more than weed, confused, I just closed my young eyes and squeezed."

Jay-Z, real name Shawn Carter, now has a business empire and a fortune estimated at $450 million. He is the CEO of Roc Nation records and co-owns the 40/40 nightclub chain and the New Jersey Nets.

The rapper has won 10 Grammy awards, has had 11 No.1 albums and is married to pop superstar Beyonce. He is currently celebrating the release of his book 'Decoded', which was part of Oprah's 'Ultimate Favorite Things Ever.' For more, check out The BoomBox.

Tags: Jay-Z

Comments

(14)

Monday 22 November

By dragz0

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This is old news, posted to cast Jay-Z in an unfavorable light. As was stated in the piece, he rapped about it in a song from his second album that was released THIRTEEN years ago. The title of the article should not read "Jay-Z Admits to...", it SHOULD read "Jay-Z Opens Up About...". Sad.

By caylinto

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Wanna know where people go to snag an interracial relationship, say, Just for future reference? “interracial Central”? “San Carlos” ? or “San Francisco”?*** Blackwhite Cupid C /om *** is the real place that is packed with them. ;)

Wanna know where people go to snag an i-nter-racial rel-ations-hip, say, Just for future reference? “i-nterr-acial Central”? “San Carlos” ? or “San Francisco”?*** BlackWhite Cupid C 0/om *** is the real place that is packed with them. ;)

By kpingzing

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What did this family do at Thanksgiving have a UFC fight to the death. You can take the boy out but he will always be a useless punk.

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Keep in mind that he is 29 years older and in a different mindset. To say, "You can take the boy out but he will always be a useless punk", doesn't acknowledge all of the poor people who's rent he has paid or all of the people who have received food from him in the holiday season or the people who have been helped by him fighting to supply water in remote areas of Africa.

By JOHN

What I find most interesting is that the author of this article makes no mention whatsoever as to how and where a twelve year old boy got access to a handgun. They make it sound like it's something that anyone would have had access to. Nice...

By rhonda

Good point John! They also don't say where a 12-year-old boy got a ring that he would be willing to KILL his brother over it. Maybe from a drug sale himself. I wonder if JayZ mentions that he was a drug dealer himself and probably sold and/or GAVE drugs to his brother!

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Rhonda, he was a drug dealer. He has rapped about his past in his songs and has publicly admitted to his prior, felonious behavior. He has since reformed and is not the same kind of person that he was.

"I hope that worthless ape gets AIDS. I hope whatever illegitimate children he has get raped and die of anal blood loss. You are a piece of crap, Shawn. You are only rich becuase white people love dangerous violent blacks rapping about all their funny exploits (like shooting your brother)" So Shawn Carter is an ape now? Wait, not JUST an ape, a WORTHLESS ape. Because of what he did when he was a PRE-TEEN, his children deserve to be sodomized and to die from blood loss? Oh, white people love dangerous blacks eh? Eminem and Nelly sell more records than Jay-Z. Eminem is white, Nelly is a fun-time party rapper. I love when people actually have something intelligent to say but you add nothing to the conversation. Stop with the stupidity and think.

Tuesday 23 November

By Lesley Kupahurasa

@ DragzO i think you are jealousy man! Jay Z is rich coz he worked for it, right! he sweated for every cent in his bank account. He is just good in evrything he does. His money is not from drugs as some of you, not from sluggiish deals as some of you! its from sweat and intelligency! Look to what he does in Africa charity organisation and the like! Wake Up!

By Meri

We don't believe you! You need more people!

By kelly Brown

This was such a long time ago, but I really love how Jay has no problem revealing personal things from his childhood. I'm so happy things ended up the way they did for him. I can tell he's a good guy. I've been a fan of his since day one, and he's one of the realest artists out here.

So much hate in the world!!! We all made mistakes in our past, and most of you still are.

Go buy "DECODED", its the best book out there right now, worth every dollar. We're proud of you Jay, my husband and I love you.

Wednesday 24 November

By PAUL WILLIAMS

JAY-Z CAN PLAY THE ROLE OF THE LATE MINISTER LOUIS FARRAKHANN HE LOOKS JUST LIKE HIM

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