Jay-Z believes the influence that he and his peers have had on society goes beyond simply entertaining and showing people fresh new dances, the fliest clothes or high-priced luxury items.

In the new issue of Best Life magazine, the Brooklyn-born mogul speaks about the powerful effect hip-hop has had on the country.

"[Hip-hop] has changed America immensely," Hov is quoted in the magazine as saying. "Hip-hop has done more than any leader, politician, or anyone to improve race relations."

"Racism is taught in the home ... and it's very hard to teach racism to a teenager who idolizes, say, Snoop Dogg," Jay continued. "It's hard to say, 'That guy is less than you.' The kid is like, 'I like that guy, he's cool. How is he less than me?' "

Jay — who was voted one of the MTV News Brain Trust Greatest MCs of All Time and has appeared on our Hottest MCs in the Game lists — says he sees the tolerance first-hand whenever he hangs out.

"That's why this generation is the least racist generation ever," Jay told the magazine. "You see it all the time. Go to any club. People are intermingling, hanging out, enjoying the same music."

So what new music is Young Hova working on? The long-awaited Blueprint 3, of course. Jay and Kanye West started crafting the project last year. Jay says he still doesn't have a release date.

"I made a bunch of songs," Jay told us last month during NBA All-Star Weekend. He hosted the star-studded Sprite Green "Two Kings" dinner and afterparty with LeBron James. "We're gonna get in the studio and get down to what's supposed to be on the album and when. Right now, Kanye is making a new batch of music that's going to be phenomenal, and at the end of the day, when it's ready for the people, then we'll serve it up."