You make your first album, you make some money, and you feel like

"You make your first album, you make some money, and you feel like you still have to show face, like 'I still go to the projects.' I'm like, why? Your job is to inspire people from your neighborhood to get out. You grew up there. What makes you think it's so cool?" These powerful words from Jay-Z speak to the tension between success and identity, between staying true to one’s roots and the evolution that success demands. In this statement, Jay-Z challenges the notion that remaining in the circumstances of one’s origins is an automatic marker of authenticity. Rather, he advocates for the aspiration to transcend, to use one's newfound success not to glorify the struggle of the past but to inspire others to rise above it.

In ancient cultures, the idea of moving beyond one’s station or circumstances was not just common, it was often revered. Hercules, for example, was born a mortal, destined to live a life of toil and hardship. Yet, through his strength and heroic feats, he transcended his humble origins and ascended to greatness. His success wasn’t about clinging to his initial struggles but about using his gifts to create a new path—not just for himself but for those who would come after him. Similarly, Jay-Z's call to move beyond the projects is a call to honor one’s journey while also recognizing that the true goal is to inspire others to elevate themselves, not remain stuck in the cycle of hardship.

Consider the example of Socrates, who, though born into relative obscurity, chose to pursue knowledge and intellectual enlightenment far beyond the expectations of his social class. His mission was not to glorify his beginnings but to encourage others to seek truth and wisdom above all else. Socrates did not stay confined by the limitations of his status; instead, he used his journey as an example of how one could transcend circumstances through learning and growth. This aligns with Jay-Z's message: success is not a reason to stay tied to one's past but a platform from which to raise others.

The projects, as Jay-Z mentions, are not a destination but a starting point. To stay in the projects once success has been achieved is akin to living in the past—to honor the struggle but not allow it to define the future. History is full of figures who escaped the confines of their beginnings. Consider the story of Frederick Douglass, who was born into slavery yet rose to become one of the most powerful voices for abolition and civil rights. Douglass could have stayed bound to the harshness of his origins, but instead, he transcended them, using his experiences to empower others to do the same. The key, as both Jay-Z and Douglass would argue, is not to remain in the struggle but to grow beyond it.

Jay-Z’s perspective also speaks to the human tendency to glorify suffering and struggle as part of authenticity. Throughout history, many have believed that pain and hardship are essential parts of the human experience, but they are not the end goal. The ancients understood this, and many of the greatest figures of history, whether Alexander the Great or Queen Elizabeth I, demonstrated that growth and success are about using experience to propel one forward, not being tethered to it. Struggle is unavoidable, but to remain in it is to misunderstand its true purpose. It is through overcoming that one finds true greatness, and through transcending that one becomes an example to others.

The message here is profound: success should not be an excuse to stay rooted in the past, nor should it be used to glorify the struggles that once defined you. Like Jay-Z, the goal should be to transcend, to use your journey as a tool for growth and inspiration. To inspire others is to show them that the path to greatness lies in progress, not in the perpetual glorification of where you started. Just as the ancient philosophers were not bound by their humble beginnings but used their wisdom to inspire the future, so too must we use our success to inspire those around us to rise above their circumstances.

The lesson from Jay-Z’s words is clear: aspire to transcend, and use your success not to stay rooted in the past but to elevate others. True authenticity is not found in remaining the same, but in continuously growing and adapting. Let us embrace the future with the knowledge that success is not the final destination—it is the platform from which we can inspire change, transcend our struggles, and offer hope to others. Transcend your beginnings, not to forget them, but to honor them by creating a future where the next generation can achieve even more.