JUST IN - Jay-Z Reveals One Of His Last Conversations With Kobe Bryant

American rap star and record executive, Shawn ‘Jay-Z’ Carter has revealed one of his final conversations with late NBA legend Kobe Bryant who on January 26 died...

along with his daughter Gigi Bryant and seven others in a tragic helicopter crash in Calabasas, California.

Jay-Z opened up about his relationship with Kobe Bryant on Tuesday, Feb. 4 while speaking to students at the University of Columbia, by Roc Nation Sports.

“Kobe was a guy that looked up to me and we’ve hung out multiple times. He was last at my house on New Year’s and he was just in the greatest space that I’ve seen him in,” the rapper continued.

“One of the last things he said to me was, ‘You’ve gotta see Gianna play basketball,’ Jay-Z said. “That was one of the most hurtful things because he was so proud, and the look on his face was… I looked at him and said, ‘Oh she’s going to be the best female basketball player in the world.'”

“That’s all I’ll say on that. He was just a great human being and was in a great space in his life,’ Jay-Z concluded.

“Just a great human being and was in a great space in his life.” pic.twitter.com/QJ1PTqkPmq

— Roc Nation Sports (@RocNationSports) February 5, 2020

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, February 5, Gigi’s school, Harbor Day School in Corona del Mar, California, retired her No. 2 basketball jersey. Vanessa Bryant posted an image of the jersey on Instagram with the heartwarming caption,

“My Gigi. I love you! I miss you. You’ve taught us all that no act is ever too small. Mommy is still and will ALWAYS be so proud of you mamacita.”

Jay-Z is regarded as one of the greatest rappers of all time. He has won a total of 22 Grammy Awards, the most by a rapper, and holds the record for the most number-one albums by a solo artist on the Billboard 200, with 14. 

He has been ranked by Billboard and fellow music publication Rolling Stone as one of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.

In 2017, he became the first rapper to be honoured into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and in 2018, received the commemorative “Salute to Industry Icons” award at the 60th Grammy Awards. In June 2019, Jay-Z officially became the first hip hop billionaire, making him the 5th wealthiest African-American and the wealthiest American musician.