I guess you've never watched FOX News, any "non-urban" talk show featuring Jay-z or maybe he's talking about senior acquaintances at Obama fundraisers, Russian billionaires etc gossiping about it behind his back.The sea/see sick line wasn't bad at all.
Howeverat Jay talking about "yeah, you know, this song is about how your past follows you, like I walk into a room and people say 'oh it's that guy from the projects who sold drugs".
Who the fukk, besides Jay, is still talking about this guy selling drugs 30 years ago? shyt isthat he still feels like he has to constantly remind everyone that he used to be a drug dealer.
Fred.
Jay talks about his upbringing whatever it is, as a major positive change in his life (and now and then might brag or joke about it), certain people see it as a negative thing.
If you spent like 15 years of your life doing something, the main thing that formed your thoughts and on.. Would you just exclude it from your music?

That's how I understood it.
It's like people don't even try to understand media anymore, they just watch and draw the quickest possible conclusion.