He’d spend his time banging on the kitchen table at his 534 Flushing Avenue apartment, rhyming to the percussion he created. Jay-Z’s adolescence coincided with the Reagan ’80s. His merging of thinking-man street raps with commercial hits paved the way for artists like Kendrick Lamar and J. His catalogue contains some of the most potent imagery and lucid storytelling about poverty and the desperation that it breeds, all while dominating mainstream pop music, in a delicate tightrope act that almost no one else has ever been able to manage for the span of time that Jay has. And now, two decades (and two dozen solo LPs) later, Jay-Z has become one of music’s all-time most important voices. Def Jam, impressed with Roc-A-Fella’s early independent success, agreed to sign a joint venture with the young imprint on one condition: They needed seven albums from Jay. The skinny kid from Brooklyn’s Marcy Projects intended to drop just one album - a musical I was here statement - before partnering with a major label and falling back into a comfy executive role, becoming a vessel to launch hopeful Roc-A-Fella acts like Memphis Bleek and Christión into orbit.īut the industry had different plans. If Jay-Z had his way back in 1996, this list would be too brief to warrant compiling. Wear a wire and a camera? (nope) Ears to the scanner? (yup)īalzen pay play in ways dealing the roses for the old souls glowing like a real deal slowly being broke told u I wasent joking laughed out loud like I must be funny try me out I sold u a line of my own try me can you find me.

Still live in the trap? (nope) You ever go back? (yup) Got some property? (nope), Drive a Maserati? (yup) Was it ripe? (nope), Was her pussy tight? (yup) These bitches is choosin', I'm all in they head I choose to get money, I'm stuck to this bread Never leave the house without my strap (nope)īlowin' cookie, never coughin' like a rookie (yup) Sleep? (nope), Bust moves, hella active in the streets? (yup) Traitor? (nope), Loyal to my soil, not a faker? (yup) Hater? (nope), Wanna see a player get paper? (yup) I give a fuck if you don't like me (no, no, no) If you broke, you ain't like me (no, no, no) I'mma stay gettin' money (yeah, yeah, yeah)Īnd I ain't gotta sell my soul (no, no, no)

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