Jay-Z Talked About Arguing with Kanye West Over a MAGA Lyric He Wouldn’t Take Out of Their Song

by · Thought Catalog
Michael Buckner / Getty Images

Gossip

By Chrissy Stockton

Updated 2 minutes ago, October 3, 2026

Jay-Z told Kanye West he could cut his entire verse from “Jail” if he couldn’t accept its criticism of MAGA. Changing the lyric was something Jay-Z wouldn’t agree to.

At New York’s Ziegfeld Theatre on November 4, 2004, Kanye West joined Jay-Z for the world premiere of the concert film Jay-Z: Fade to Black. Photo by Frank Micelotta / Getty Images.

In the Oct. 2 episode of JAŸ-Z in 8, Jay-Z, 56, discussed the dispute with his longtime friend and producer Rick Rubin. His contribution to West’s 2021 album Donda included the line: “Told him, ‘Stop all of that red cap / we goin’ home’” The red cap referred to the “Make America Great Again” hats associated with the political movement West has publicly supported.

“I think we argued about this verse maybe two weeks after,” Jay-Z recalled. He said West, 49, told him, “The red line is not making me comfortable.” Jay-Z’s response was: “Sorry, I’m not gonna change it. That’s how I feel.”

Kanye West and Jay-Z share a laugh onstage while accepting the Best Group Award at the 2012 BET Awards, held at The Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles on July 1, 2012. Photo by Michael Buckner / Getty Images.

Jay-Z said he understood West’s objection and believed West would defend his own artistic choices if their positions were reversed. He also acknowledged that West had the final say over what belonged on his album.

“I said, ‘I understand how you feel; you should probably take the verse off. If you feel strongly enough about it, I’m not gonna change it, but respectfully, you should take it off because this is your project. Everything on it should be the way you want it to be,’” Jay-Z recalled.

At Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on August 28, 2026, a cable-secured Ye — clad in an orange mask and suit — stands atop a massive globe-shaped stage structure during his Ye Live show. Photo by Erika Goldring / Getty Images.

West ultimately kept the verse, including the MAGA lyric. “Jail” appeared as track 2 on Donda when the album was released on Aug. 29, 2021.

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