The producer said Hov's "already recorded the verse in his mind a hundred times" before it comes time to lay it down.

Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. For decades, JAY-Z has been more than just a rapper — he's an architect of modern Hip Hop and a case study in creative excellence.

Memphis Bleek says Jay-Z is back in the studio, sparking hopes that the Hip-Hop icon may finally return with a new album after eight years. JAY-Z and the word “retirement” have never truly mixed, but ...