GROSS: You know how a lot of hip-hop artists, when they’re on stage they kind of like grab their crotch?

JAY-Z: Yeah. I have a great explanation for that. … When you get up there [on stage] you feel naked, right? So when you feel naked what’s the first thing you do? You cover yourself. So that bravado is an act of I am so nervous right now and I’m scared to death. I’m going to act so tough that I’m going to hide it. And I have to grab, you know, my crotch. That’s just what happens.

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