Jay-Z thinks hip-hop music has "done more for racial relations than most cultural icons".
The producer and rapper believes that this particular style of music has been able to influence people from all different races and backgrounds.
He said: "I think that hip hop has done more for racial relations than most cultural icons. Save Martin Luther King, because his dream speech we realised when President Obama got elected.
"This music didn't only influence kids from urban areas. People listen to this music all around the world, and [they] took to this music."
The 'Empire State of Mind' hitmaker - who has 2-year-old Blue Ivy with his wife, Beyoncé - believes racism is a learned behaviour that is "difficult" to be taught in a home where hip-hop artists like Snoop Dogg are praised and celebrated.
He shared: "Racism is taught in the home. It's very difficult to teach racism when your kid looks up to Snoop Doggy Dogg."
The 45-year-old entrepreneur also believes that this particular music genre has helped to bring people together.
In a video for the Oprah Winfrey Network as they hold a month-long celebration honouring civil rights legends, Jay-Z explained: "Before, people partied in separate clubs. There were hip-hop clubs and there were techno clubs.
"Now, people party together, and once you have people partying, dancing, and singing along to the same music, then conversations naturally happen after that.
"We all realise that we're more alike than we're separate."