Celebrity

Jay-Z and Gayle King Interview: Rapper Talks On 6th-Grade Teacher’s Influence

The Jay-Z and Gayle King: Brooklyn’s Own” conversation airs at 9 p.m. ET.

Published November 15, 2023

So, you’re probably curious about what Jay-Z was like back in the day, right? Well, a teaser clip for CBS’ Jay-Z and Gayle King interview has just dropped, and it’s giving us a peek into the rapper’s early years. In it, Jay-Z proudly talks about how he was reading at a 12th-grade level when he was just in 6th grade. He credits his sixth-grade teacher, Miss Loudon, for lighting the fire under his passion for learning. Jay-Z fondly reminisces about her and the impact she had on him.

Jay-Z and Gayle King’s interview will also highlight his three-decade career at his Book of HOV exhibit at the Brooklyn Library.

Jay-Z and Gayle King Interview: Rapper Talks On 6th-Grade Teacher's Influence — CBS

“Miss Loudon was my sixth-grade teacher,” he says with a smile. “In the sixth grade, I was reading’ on a 12th-grade level.” It’s amazing how a teacher’s enthusiasm can shape a student’s future, isn’t it? The rapper goes on to share how thrilled he was about his achievement and how everyone around him shared that excitement. “That excited me. ‘Cause everyone was excited. And Miss Loudon was excited. It felt like me riding my bike at 4, the way people reacted to that.” It’s heartwarming to hear about the positive impact a teacher had on him.

This revelation gives us a glimpse into Jay-Z’s early education and the pivotal role a teacher played in nurturing his academic potential. Jay-Z’s recollection not only highlights his joy in achieving a high level of literacy but also the infectious enthusiasm of Miss Loudon, who celebrated his accomplishment. The full interview, “Jay-Z and Gayle King: Brooklyn’s Own,” is now available on CBS, and it sheds light on his three-decade career at his Book of HOV exhibit. The Black Album MC’s music triumphs, business wins, and philanthropic deeds are reportedly all spotlighted at the library, which will be available for fans to visit until next month.

How was JAY-Z impacted by his teachers growing up?

See more from his interview with @GayleKing, tonight at 9pET/8pCT on @CBS and @paramountplus. pic.twitter.com/Dcae8fFw06
— CBS Mornings (@CBSMornings) November 14, 2023

“I think what matters most today, is being a beacon and helping out… my culture,” Jay-Z revealed in a trailer last week for his upcoming interview. “People of color. I think I pull the most satisfaction from that. Making music earlier was, like, my first love. I could sit there for hours. It consumed me. Just finding words and figuring out words and how to say this and different ways to say that and different pockets and melodies and how to write this song… That consumed me. That’s why my pace was so fast. I had so much material … And I think now, you know, the idea of, of taking that platform and, you know, reproducing it for others or doing something like Reform [Alliance, Jay’s nonprofit] … I think I derive the most joy from that.”