They say to become a billionaire, you’ve got to screw over a lot of people. It’s a harsh reality that often accompanies the rise of those at the top. Think about how Mark Zuckerberg “stole” Facebook from the Winklevoss twins, or how Bill Gates was accused of taking Apple’s ideas. Then there’s Elon Musk, the tech mogul whose controversial moves are as famous as his successes. But today, let’s turn our attention to another figure who knows a thing or two about hustling — Jay-Z.

Now, don’t get me wrong, this isn’t about throwing shade at Hov. In fact, he’s a textbook example of how to make it to the top using a combination of street smarts and slick business tactics. Jay-Z is a hustler in the purest sense, and his path to becoming a billionaire involved a fair amount of bending the rules, playing the game, and making some questionable decisions along the way. If you want to understand the shady side of business, look no further than Jay-Z.

Tidal: Jay-Z’s Expensive Bet

Let’s start with Tidal, Jay-Z’s music streaming service. When he launched the platform, he had a noble mission: to pay artists more than other streaming platforms like Spotify. Sounds great, right? But here’s the problem — while Jay-Z was touting Tidal as the next big thing, it never lived up to the hype.

At first, Jay-Z tried to sell Tidal as an exclusive club for music lovers. He brought out a slew of high-profile artists — Beyoncé, Rihanna, Madonna — to endorse the platform, even having them say, “We own part of Tidal!” The public ate it up, and Jay-Z’s credibility as a businessman grew. But soon, reality set in. People weren’t ready to ditch Spotify or Apple Music just to listen to the latest Beyoncé album. They weren’t even willing to stick around when Kanye West dropped The Life of Pablo exclusively on Tidal, only for it to be available on Apple Music a week later. Fans felt scammed. And the worst part? Tidal’s subscriber numbers weren’t anywhere near what Jay-Z claimed they were.

So, what does a savvy businessman do when his venture is failing? He sells it — and that’s exactly what Jay-Z did.

The $300 Million Hustle: Jay-Z and Jack Dorsey

Enter Jack Dorsey, the billionaire co-founder of Twitter. After Tidal’s struggles, Jay-Z reached out to his wealthy friend and convinced him to buy the service for $300 million. The deal was struck, but here’s where things get interesting: Jay-Z made sure to secure himself a seat on the board of Dorsey’s company, Square, once the transaction was complete. It wasn’t just a business move; it was a way for Jay-Z to make sure he continued to benefit from the deal even after selling a failing service.

But did Jack Dorsey really understand what he was buying? The deal was surrounded by controversy. Shareholders were furious. Legal documents showed that Tidal’s business numbers were far worse than Jay-Z had made them appear. But when Dorsey was questioned about it, he defended the purchase, claiming that Tidal had potential. Jay-Z, the master hustler, continued to play the role of the business mogul — even as the evidence suggested otherwise. He had sold a sinking ship to Dorsey, walked away with $300 million, and secured his future in Dorsey’s company.

But was Jack Dorsey just another pawn in Jay-Z’s game? Some people argue that Jay-Z knew exactly how to get Dorsey to buy into a failed business. Was it a bad decision on Dorsey’s part, or did he and Jay-Z have some sort of behind-the-scenes deal all along? Either way, Jay-Z made out with a fortune, while Dorsey’s company and the shareholders were left holding the bag.

The Record Label Hustle: How Jay-Z Played the Game

But Jay-Z’s shady business tactics didn’t start with Tidal. In fact, he’s been hustling his way to the top since the very beginning. Let’s rewind to when Jay-Z first started out in the rap game. At that time, record labels weren’t giving him the time of day. Nobody wanted to sign him, despite his obvious talent. So what did he do? He and his friends Dame Dash and Biggs Burke started their own independent label, Roc-A-Fella Records.

Now, they didn’t have much money to play with. So, instead of investing in the usual things like tours or big marketing campaigns, they bought flashy cars, expensive clothes, and jewelry. On the surface, this seemed like irresponsible spending, but it was all part of the hustle. The goal was to make Roc-A-Fella look like a big deal. And it worked. They started getting attention, and people began asking, “Who is Jay-Z?”

But the real genius came next. Jay-Z and his crew weren’t just selling music. They were selling an image. They made people believe they were bigger than they were, and it worked. Eventually, the big record labels came knocking. But Jay-Z didn’t settle for a typical deal. Instead of accepting a 5% royalty rate — the standard deal for artists — Jay-Z managed to strike a 50/50 deal with Universal. It was unheard of at the time and made Jay-Z one of the most powerful players in the industry.

The Power of Image: How Jay-Z Built His Empire

Jay-Z’s ability to create an image of success has been one of his most powerful tools. He doesn’t just sell music, clothing, or alcohol; he sells a lifestyle. His brand isn’t about the product itself — it’s about the story behind it. Whether it’s his alcohol brand, D’Ussé, or his clothing line, Jay-Z knows how to create the illusion of exclusivity, luxury, and success. And people buy into it.

This ability to “fake it till you make it” isn’t just about pretending to be bigger than you are — it’s about creating a narrative that people want to believe. Jay-Z has mastered this, and it’s been a key factor in his rise to billionaire status.

Conclusion: The Hustle Is Real

So, who got screwed in all of this? Jay-Z walked away with hundreds of millions, whether from selling Tidal to Jack Dorsey or negotiating a 50/50 deal with Universal. The shareholders got burned, especially when it came to the Tidal deal, while Dorsey’s company ended up with a failing platform. Some people argue that Dorsey was simply outplayed, while others believe Jay-Z had his eye on the prize the whole time.

At the end of the day, Jay-Z’s story is a lesson in the art of the hustle. He’s a master at creating value from nothing, convincing people to buy into his vision, and making sure that he gets paid for it. Whether you agree with his methods or not, there’s no denying his success. In the world of business, as Jay-Z himself would say: “It’s just business.”

And for the rest of us? Well, we’re left to watch the game unfold and maybe pick up a few lessons on how to hustle our way to the top. But remember, as the saying goes: don’t hate the player, hate the game.