Jay Z had to pull out all the stops when he first began dating his now-wife Beyonce Knowles, working hard and spending lavishly to keep the beauty interested in him. In a recent interview with Vanity Fair, which will appear in it's November issue, the rapper discussed the time he first met Bey and when the two began dating, admitting, it was no easy feat getting her to become Beyonce Knowles-Carter.

Jay Z
Hovva worked hard to make Beyonce 'Crazy In Love' with him

Reminiscing of the time the pair first met properly, at the 2001 cover shoot for Vanity Fair's Music Edition, Hovva remembered how he had to pull out all the stops and assert himself to the 'Crazy In Love' singer. He revealed that he had to "wine and dine" Bey to keep her interested, making sure that he was on her mind all the time.

"We were just beginning to try to date each other. Well, you know, you've got to try first. You got to dazzle ... wine and dine," the rapper recalled in his interview (Entertainmentwise). But clearly this all paid off in the end, with the pair marrying in secret in 2008 and giving birth to their first child, Blue Ivy, four years later. Still, Jay reckons that he would have had a chance with the Destiny's Child singer even if he wasn't famous, so long as he kept his cool.

Beyonce and Jay Z
The two are now the most celebrated celebrity couple around

"If I'm as cool as I am, yes. But she's a charming Southern girl, you know, she's not impressed ... But I would have definitely had to be this cool," he continued. Although this sweet Southern girl may have changed somewhat thanks to his influence, Jay jokingly claimed. He jested that some of his hood leanings have rubbed off on her since they began dating, joking, "she's gangsta now."

The rap mogul went on to discuss his wife further, and how much he appreciates the "charmed life" that the two share. He also discussed his past briefly, bringing up his teens when he sold crack on the streets of Brooklyn, as well as discussing his own personal achievements now. Just don't ask him how much he's worth though, he doesn't like discussing money.

The Vanity Fair issue will hit newsstands later this month.

J-Hovva
Jay doesn't like talking about his personal wealth