Jay-Z Sparks Controversy with Comments on Blacks and Emotions, Elon Musk Comparison

By Rob Redding

Editor & Publisher

NEW YORK, March 24, 2026, 2 p.m.— Rapper and mogul Jay-Z made headlines today after suggesting that Black people are inherently “emotional,” sparking widespread debate. The comments came during an interview with GQ Magazine, set to be featured in the upcoming edition.

In the interview, Jay-Z drew a comparison between himself and right-wing entrepreneur Elon Musk. “Everything has to be a hundred percent Black-owned,” he said. “It’s Black-owned if I own one percent of it. Elon Musk owns 20 percent of Tesla. You wouldn’t say it’s not his. You wouldn’t say it’s not ‘white-owned.’ I don’t even know if I’ve ever heard the term ‘white-owned.’” He chuckled, adding, “Have you?”

The hip-hop legend also addressed his NFL deal and the pushback he faced early on. “I think it was understandable,” Jay-Z admitted. “We’re an emotional people.”

The remarks come amid a tumultuous week in politics and social media.

President Trump has entered Iraq, which is a country that has repeatedly attempted to target him. Simultaneously, social media was ablaze with controversy after a Trump said he was “glad” that former FBI head Robert Mueller died. And the president sent controversial ICE agents airports to help with traffic flow, as Democrats in Congress has been unhappy with their performance.