Whats Hapnin': Jay-Z Admits To Shooting Crackhead Brother

Rapper Jay-Z said he thought his “life was over” when he shot his brother as a child growing up in Brooklyn’s violent housing projects.

Jay-Z, real name Shawn Carter, admitted to the U.K.'s Guardian newspaper, that at 12 years old, he shot his brother, who was addicted to crack at the time, after he stole a ring from him.

“I thought my life was over. I thought I’d go to jail forever,” he tells the Guardian.

But his brother did not press charges against him, and apologized for his addiction instead.

“It was terrible. I was a boy, a child. I was terrified,” he said.

At the time, Jay says it was easy to get guns, even at such a young age.

“Guns were everywhere. You didn’t have to go far to get one. Just everywhere,” he said. “[Guns] were around every day. There were shootouts, but I never shot anyone else. Most people in shootouts don’t get shot.”

He admits he was shot at three times, but survived unharmed.

“It’s like there was some rogue angel watching over us,” he said.
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