Jay-Z lyrics 'inspired by tabloids'

Jay-Z has revealed that his lyrics are often inspired by tabloid journalism.

The 'Young Forever' rapper said that he will often derive influence from newspaper and magazine articles and incorporate them in his lyrics.

He told Interview magazine: "It comes from me trying to tell the story in the most clear, concise and truthful way. Taking those everyday words and phrases and capturing them in a way that they become something else."

He continued: "The people who write the headlines at places like the New York Post do something similar. They turn these phrases that you know into hooks. Sometimes they're clever. Sometimes they're stupid, like 'Tiger's Tale'. Actually, that was pretty clever."

This week, Jay-Z and wife Beyoncé were announced as Forbes' highest-earning celebrity couple of 2009.