Due to work obligations and other priorities, I have not had the chance to compile a "They Say" feature in a while. I've been earmarking material for several "They Say" features, but it turns out I've accumulated so much stuff that I'm better off dumping it and starting fresh. Nonetheless, I've kept a few items that resonated the most to me. I hope you'll enjoy the junk. I'm sure it'll hold you over while we implement a few ideas.

• That was some little shit. Don't make it a big section at the end of the article.
  - Jay-Z, "Jay-Z: The Book of Jay", Touré, Rolling Stone [12.15.2005]
• That was the highest mountain ever climbed in the game. The feeling is beyond words.
  - Nas, "Jay-Z: The Book of Jay", Touré, Rolling Stone [12.15.2005]

I

You are now looking at one smart black boy!

After ten years of successfully running Roc-A-Fella, Shawn has proven himself to be an astute businessman, in addition to the brilliant artistic talent that the world sees and hears. We are fortunate that he has agreed to take over as president & CEO of Def Jam Recordings. I can think of no one more relevant and credible in the hip-hop community to build upon Def Jam's fantastic legacy and move the company into its next groundbreaking era.
                              Def Jam Chairman Antonio "LA" Reid on the appointment of Jay-Z as President and CEO of Def Jam

I have inherited two of the most important brands in hip-hop, Def Jam and Roc-A-Fella. LA Reid and the Universal Music Group have given me the opportunity to manage the companies I have contributed to my whole career. I feel this is a giant step for me and the entire artist community.
                              Jay-Z's comments on his new job

I have it written on [my renegotiated contract] that what he does, has nothing to do with my project. Well, I can say this: on LA