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Independent research by truerecs. Not affiliated with, endorsed or verified by JAY-Z.Are you JAY-Z? Claim this page
JAY-Z, Photo: NYS Senate Media Services

Photo: NYS Senate Media Services · CC BY 2.0

Independent research by truerecs. Not affiliated with, endorsed or verified by JAY-Z. Every item links to its public source.
28 items · Last checked

What DAW does JAY-Z use?

Young Guru recorded JAY-Z on a Neumann U87 or U67 into an Avalon 737, then into Pro Tools, mixing on an SSL 4000 G+. JAY-Z has been seen using GarageBand to sketch ideas, and seen wearing Patek Philippe Grand Complication, Celestial and Grandmaster Chime watches.

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What studio gear JAY-Z uses: a sourced gear guide

Independent research by truerecs: every item links to the public source it comes from.

Studio

16 items

What I wear

8 items

Daily rituals

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Run This Town session

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Questions

About JAY-Z's gear.

What microphone does JAY-Z use?

Young Guru told Sound On Sound his chain for JAY-Z is normally a Neumann U87 or U67 into an Avalon 737, then a Waves Fairchild 660, an ADL 1500 and Focusrite ISA 110 EQs.

What DAW does JAY-Z record in?

The Blueprint 3 was recorded at 24-bit/44.1kHz into Pro Tools. Sound On Sound notes JAY-Z used GarageBand as a sketchpad for ideas.

What reverb and delay are on JAY-Z's vocals?

A Lexicon 480L reverb and a TC Electronic D-Two quarter-note delay, per Young Guru's Blueprint 3 mix notes in Sound On Sound.

What watch does JAY-Z wear?

He has been seen wearing Patek Philippe watches including a Grand Complication at the 2024 Champions League final, a Celestial at the 2026 Super Bowl, a Grandmaster Chime 6300G and an Annual Calendar Chronograph 5961R, plus a Richard Mille RM 66 at the 2025 Super Bowl.

What champagne does JAY-Z own?

Armand de Brignac; LVMH bought half of the brand in 2021.

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JAY-Z
About this guide · Last checked

JAY-Z is the Brooklyn rapper behind Reasonable Doubt, The Blueprint and 4:44. This guide covers the vocal chain and SSL desk engineer Young Guru used on The Blueprint 3, the Patek Philippe and Richard Mille watches he has been seen wearing, and his champagne brand.

truerecs put this guide together from public videos, interviews and posts. Each item says how we know and links to the source. JAY-Z didn't write it or choose anything on it. How we source gear guides.

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truerecs gear guides are independent research from public sources, not made or approved by the artist. Store buttons on this page may be affiliate links: truerecs may earn a commission when you buy through them, at no extra cost to you. JAY-Z isn't paid for them. Report an error or ask for removal. Full disclosure.