In a recent interview with XXL Magazine, Rick Rubin speaks on his involvement with Jay-Z’s Magna Carta Holy Grail; it turns out that Rubin did not have a hands-on role in the making of the album. Apparently, he was simply asked to listen to it and provide his opinion. Read an excerpt from the interview below.
“The point of me being in the commercials was that he was filming a documentary and he asked me—I imagine he’s just comfortable talking to me—to come listen to the songs with him and just talk about the songs. Just listen to it and talk about it, and that’s what we did. It was fun.
I liked what I heard, but it was a little difficult — after just coming from the Kanye sessions — to listen to Jay’s album, because they’re so different. I was in a very alternative and progressive headspace, and Jay’s record is a more traditional hip-hop record.”