Fans are remembering how gangster-turned-actor Dave Courtney inspired Jay-Z

nme.com:

Jay-Z‘s 2001 album ‘The Blueprint’.Courtney – who claimed to be an associate of ’60s gangland criminals the Krays – was found at his home in Plumstead, south east London last Sunday (October 22) after reportedly dying by suicide.

He was 64 years old.The Metropolitan Police said his death is currently being treated as unexpected and is under investigation.In a statement, Courtney’s family paid tribute to his “incredible, colourful, rock ‘n’ roll life”, and said he had experienced the “pain of both cancer and arthritis in his later years”.

They wrote: “On October 22 2023, Dave made the decision to ‘stop the ride’.”Since Courtney’s passing, some fans online have recalled his connection to Jay-Z – specifically the cover for his iconic sixth studio album, ‘The Blueprint’.The rapper was said to have been inspired by a black-and-white photograph of Courtney delivering a speech at Oxford Union – a debating society at the University of Oxford – for the artwork.Courtney, who called himself the “most feared man in Britain”, subsequently said that the unexpected nod was the “proudest moment” of his life.The original image is also featured in a book titled The Firm by photographer Jocelyn Bain Hogg, which documents the lives of gangsters in south London.During a video on YouTube channel ‘Gangster Tales’ last year, Courtney explained: “In this book, there is a photograph of me – an aerial photograph that was taken from the balcony of me addressing the Oxford Union (via LadBible).“[Jay-Z] actually looked at it like, ‘Wow there is a convicted felon teaching future parliament.

He is the lecturer in the Oxford Union, teaching the next Lord Mayor, Prime Minister [and] Chief of Police’.“He thought that was really funny.