Young Forever: 'Time travelling' Jay-Z is the spitting image of man in 1939 vintage snap

If anything can spark a rumor that rappers can travel in time, it's the viral power of the internet.

A photo of man bearing a striking resemblance to Jay-Z has surfaced, and if it wasn't for the fact that it was taken in 1939, you'd swear it was the rapper himself.

The image, taken by Sid Grossman, forms part of the New York Public Library's Schomburg Center's collection... and now, the entire internet.

'Encore'? A photo of a man taken in 1939 by Sid Grossman and sitting in the New York Public Library's Schomburg Center bears an uncanny resemblance to our very own present-day Jay-Z... swagger and all

The 1939 image shows a man sitting outside a stone building, dressed in typical though stylish attire for the decade: a news-boy cap and a full suit.

The man is staring down the camera lens with a distinct sense of attitude and intent.

Best of all, the man from the past has exactly the same poise and swagger as our very own present day Jay-Z.
On account of Jay-Z being 43 years old, the man in the photo is of course not him.

Back in the day: Sid Grossman's 1939 photo, part of the New York Public Library's Schomburg Center, went viral on the internet as soon as the resemblance to the rapper was spotted

However, if you really wanted to start a conspiracy theory, you'd only need to look at the titles of Jay-Z's albums and singles.

The rapper's extensive list of titles include: In My Lifetime, The Best of Both Worlds (with R. Kelly), Don't Let Me Die, Young Forever and Encore... mortality and immortality sure do seem to be running themes in the singer's works.

Obviously, it's a case of extreme coincidence rather than time travel.

But it is interesting to note that the photo was taken a decade after The Great Gatsby was written, so the fellow in Harlem may have been familiar with it.

His future doppelganger would later become the executive producer for the classic's 2013 film adaptation as well as the soundtrack.

Young forever? His style has changed, and the man in the 1939 did not have Beyonce by his side, but Jay-Z is pictured here in February of this year in New York