Jay-Z: 'Beyoncé is the second coming of Michael Jackson'

Jay-Z has compared Beyoncé to Michael Jackson.

The rapper claimed that his wife and 'Best Thing I Never Had' singer has inspired him in the same way Jackson did before his death in 2009.

When asked by radio host 99 Jamz what he has learnt from Beyoncé after seeing her in the studio and live on stage, the 41-year-old said that she is a modern music innovator.

Jay-Z explained: "What I've learnt from her is similar to what I learnt from [Michael Jackson] - and I know that's blasphemy to compare the two because Mike was such an innovator - but I think she's like the second coming."

He added: "Y'know, the hard work and dedication that she puts into her shows. It just makes you want to work harder at your own craft. She's like a machine."

Jay-Z is currently promoting his new album, which is a collaborative project with Kanye West, titled Watch The Throne.

The record reached number three in the UK album chart in its first week of release.

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Watch the music video for Jay-Z and Kanye West's new single 'Otis' below: