"It was a very intense and stressful situation. There was playing in the Johnny-pump (an opened fire hydrant) and the ice-cream man coming around and all of these games that we'd play, and suddenly it would turn just violent and there would be shootings at 12 in the afternoon on any given day"

This quote by Jay-Z paints a vibrant image of the environment he grew up in. It was a place of both delight and danger, where children could play outdoors fire hydrant and the ice cream male would happen, however then suddenly it might turn violent with shootings occurring in broad daytime. It was a very intense and difficult situation, and it is not surprising that Jay-Z had the ability to utilize his experiences to end up being an effective rap artist and business owner. The quote highlights the contrast between the enjoyable and video games of youth and the harsh realities of maturing in an unsafe environment. It is a reminder of the significance of providing safe and safe environments for children to mature in, and of the requirement to address the source of violence in our society.