Entertainment Music Rap & Hip Hop JAY-Z Settles Debate over Whether $500K or Lunch with Him Is Worth More: 'You Gotta Take the Money' "That's a bad deal. I wouldn't tell you to cut a bad deal," the rap icon told 'CBS Mornings,' acknowledging the viral question By Jack Irvin Jack Irvin Jack Irvin has over five years of experience working in digital journalism, and he’s worked at PEOPLE since 2022. Jack started in the industry with internships at Rolling Stone and Entertainment Tonight, and he worked as a freelance writer for publications including Bustle, MTV News, Shondaland, L’Officiel USA, Ladygunn, Flood and PopCrush before joining PEOPLE. In his current role, Jack covers daily music news and has interviewed both up-and-coming and established artists including Dolly Parton, Michelle Branch, Ashanti, Cyndi Lauper, Normani, Carly Rae Jepsen and Coco Jones. People Editorial Guidelines Updated on October 24, 2023 08:40PM EDT Given the choice, would you take $500,000 or have lunch with JAY-Z? The rap icon sat down with Gayle King for an interview on CBS Mornings to discuss the viral question that's been heavily discussed by JAY-Z's fans online, and he settled the debate with solid business advice. "You gotta take the money," said JAY-Z, 53, in a clip premiering exclusively on PEOPLE. "What I'mma say?" Gayle King and JAY-Z. Courtesy CBS Mornings Usher Recalls Phone Call with JAY-Z About 2024 Super Bowl Halftime Show: 'It's Magic Time' JAY-Z. Kevin Mazur/Getty King, 68, spoke about the ethos behind the debate, explaining that many people think the "wisdom" one could receive from the "99 Problems" rapper would help them make more than $500,000 on their own. If JAY-Z had to choose, however, he'd still take the money. "Because you got all that in the music for $10.99. That’s a bad deal. I wouldn’t tell you to cut a bad deal," he advised. "Take the $500,000, go buy some albums and listen to the albums. It’s all there." JAY-Z. Shareif Ziyadat/Getty "If you piece it together and really listen to the music for the words, for what it is, it’s all there. Everything that I said was going to happen, happened. Everything that I said I wanted to do, I’ve done, and there’s the blueprint," he added, referencing the title of his iconic 2001 album. "The blueprint — literally — to me and my life and my journey is there already." It's unclear when the popular online question was first asked, but versions of the query were posted on Instagram at least as early as 2017, with one user writing, "$10,000 in cash or 10minute dinner with Jay-Z?" Beyoncé’s 'Church Girl' Beat Was Originally for JAY-Z: 'Man, Beyoncé Stole My Beat' JAY-Z. Shareif Ziyadat/Getty Last week, a fan approached JAY-Z about the debate at the Dallas Cowboys and Los Angeles Chargers game. According to video of the moment shared to social media, the man said, "I’m taking that $500K. I ain’t taking that dinner. I’m taking that $500K. Do you feel me? It's love, though." At the time, the Grammy winner simply replied, "Be good, man." JAY-Z's full two-part interview with King airs both Thursday and Friday on CBS Mornings.