Jay-Z is the pioneer to this shit.

In a perfect world, this post would've been up on Shawn Carter's birthday, but life. Better late than never, right? 

My love for Jay-Z's discography runs deep. So in this article I want to discuss some of my fav Jay records. One of the first songs that got me into his older material was none other than Imaginary Players or (FUCK I**S). 

Imaginary Players

"I spit that other shit that's a nice motherfucker shit"...that's how you start a bar. 

Can I just say I love when people talk shit on their songs? Like yes! Please hype yourself up, talk your shit! And the entirety of this song is just Jay rapping about how he is better than *you*. It's the kind of bravado everyone should practice every now and again. Not only is Jay-Z rapping over a lavish 90s beat produced by Daven Paul + Vanderpool, he blesses us with an iconic skit at the end of the song. 

"how you think you gon feel, you pull up in your 4.0 with yo bitch, i pull up in the 4.6 with my bitch with the seat back, bumpin some other shit. you probably hop on my dick right there right in front of yo bitch...ask me some stupid shit like "yo dawg what's the difference between a 4.0 and a 4.6?" "like 30 to 40 grand cocksucker beat it!!"

This is really funny because niggas will really be on your dick like that. Like you know how I'm coming, don't even ask me no goofy shit like that. 

Moral of the story is, don't be the weirdo in a 4.0, always get the 4.6.

This song sparked my interest into Jay's older records. I wanted to dig deeper into his older stuff. What else could I find that sounded like this, or gave me the feeling that this did? Little did I know Jay had plenty!

do them shits even got leather?

"like I owe em somethin', like they gave me rocafella start up money"

"niggas kept complaining so I copped more diamonds" 

Politics As Usual

A classic Jigga record. Reasonable Doubt is a cult classic for many hip hop fans, some even declaring it Jay's best album. This particular song is one of my favorites on the album. The record feels smooth, and being that it's the second song on his debut album, it's a great intro into who he is as an artist. The song introduces you to Jay's hustler mentality, illegal lifestyle, and superb rhyming skills.

If you're not very familiar with Jay's older work, I would recommend this entire album (especially this track)

"I wear black a lot in the black Ac' a lot"

"In case Tyson has a major night off, that's clean money"

Girls Girls Girls (Part 2)

Girls Girls Girls could not have come out in 2020. Jay would've been "cancelled" for all the problematic stereotypes he rapped about in the song. Hell, he probably would've gotten cancelled for more than that. But Girls Girls Girls (Part 2) is a little less problematic. It features an incredible The Persuaders sample, and is produced by the incomparable Just Blaze (maybe I could do a fav producers post too?). I tend to listen to this one a bit more than the original, probably due to the sample that seamlessly fits the record. 

One of my fav bars in the song is one where Jay raps, "big ghetto booty, scarf over her dooby, chanel under the louis, gucci over her booty, vicki cover her titties, attitude of the city, pretty, whitty, girly, whirly...". I just feel like he's describing Beyonce and that's hilarious to me.

Never Change

"FUCK YALL I NEEDED MONEY FOR ATARI, WAS SO YOUNG MY BIG SIS STILL PLAYING WITH BARBIE"

I love that bar, because it's like fuck y'all! I had to do what I had to do for my people, and I can relate because I don't play about my people. I love the Ye' production on this, and of course the David Ruffin sample. This record reminds me of who I am, and that there is truly no one like me.

"Who you know like Hov?"

Excuse Me Miss

You gotta puff a jay on this one, can't roll a blunt to this one. 

Whew. This track gives me the same feelings a Rick Ross record would. It makes me feel expensive, wealthy, like THAT bitch. And the video?? With the iconic Paco Rabane dress worn by Jeannete Chavis? Incredible. Plus Pharrell on the chorus? He floated. The Neptunes production on this was next level, and included a Luther Vandross and Biggie sample. During this time Hov was on his grown man tip and I truly appreciated it. The 'Big Pimpin' days were over, and he made it known with this track. 

Some How Some Way

This song is like a time machine, the production on it takes you right back to 2002. I love the sample ("Castles of Sand" by Jermaine Jackson), and the motivational message of making it out of whatever situation you're in. I also love the verses from Jay, Beanie Sigel (especially), and Scarface. Just Blaze's production on this was top tier. He blended the sample so seamlessly, and managed to still keep the soul of the original record on the track. It's one of those songs I'd listen to on a drive, just zoning out and thinking about where I wanna be and how I'm gonna get there.

"I deserve every blessing I receive I'm from the dirt"

December 4th

I couldn't do a birthday post for Shawn Carter and not include THE December 4th. Blasphemous! This record sounds like something that would play after winning a championship, and I think that was the point. Jay had "won" the championship; he achieved major success as an artist, and this was his goodbye. The song was featured on his "retirement" record or The Black Album, and was the perfect closing track. It takes you through Jay's humble beginnings in the Marcy Projects, to becoming a successful artist who is finally getting to reap the benefits of his hard work. The song always makes me emotional, especially hearing his mother's narration throughout the track.

"If you can't respect that your whole perspective is wack!"

Allure

I almost saved this for part two, but it felt disrespectful to leave this off the first list. For one, THE NEPTUNES PRODUCTION. Whew. If Chad and Pharrell know how to do one thing, it's produce masterpieces. This track feels like luxury, and Jay rapping effortlessly over it solidifies it as one of the best in his discography.

"My women friends get tennis bracelets, trips to Venice get their winters replaced with" 

A friend indeed!

Lost One

I feel like Lost One is an underrated record in Jay's catalogue, and I hate that. All three verses on this track were incredible. In the first verse Jay speaks about his relationship with a few of his business partners *cough* (Dame Dash) *cough*, in the following verse he raps about a relationship with a lover that is strained due to her choosing work over him, and the last verse discusses the sudden passing of his nephew. Chrisette Michelle's vocals on the chorus are distinct, and add a certain melancholy to the record. I enjoy the raw honesty on this record. Jay allowed himself to be completely vulnerable for the entirety of the track, and I felt every word. I remember when this record came out, and hearing it in the car on drives with my family. I've loved it so much since then. The last verse holds a special place in my heart, because it's helped me cope with the sudden passing of someone very close to me. Realizing that I can't run from the pain but that I have to go towards it has helped me tremendously. It's why I love music, the healing power it holds is incredible. 

                                                                         He even had the Maybach Exelero concept car in the video!

 

"And honestly at 23, I'd probably love my work more than I did she"

"You been put on this earth to be all you can be like the reserves"

"Can't run from the pain go towards it"

"Hov had to get that shallow shit up off him" is a mood btw.

Say Hello

The American Gangster album has to be one of my favorites by Jay. The entire album was inspired by the film of the same name starring Denzel Washington, so much so that Jay would have the film playing in the studio as he recorded the album. There are so many things that I love about this track, but it's something about that second verse: "I ain't no ordinary nigga, look around this ain't what ordinary gets ya. extraordinary figures, I'm an extra ordinary nigga" PURR Jay. Every time that part comes on I have to stop what I'm doing and rap along. It's like an affirmation for me, I HAVE to say it. 

But the third verse of this track is very important. In it Jay raps about the bad rap poor black communities get when they're just trying to survive. Some people in these communities may resort to crime, but this is to survive. People wouldn't steal if they had the resources, and Jay is trying to get that point across. No one is robbing people for fun (at least not most), people are doing it to survive in a country that was not set up for them to succeed. He also speaks on the hypocrisy of Al Sharpton. During this time, Al Sharpton complained about the offensive language Jay used in his songs, but Jay doesn't understand why this is a matter of concern when public schools don't have the necessary resources, and racial injustice is still heavily prevalent (Jena Six, please read up on this case). His point being, there are bigger issues than a few curse words in my music, nigga.

"Tell him I'll remove the curses/ If you tell me our schools gon' be perfect / when Jena Six don't exist / tell him that's when I'll stop saying bitch, bitchhhhhhhhhhhh" 

now that's how you clear a bitch!!!!

I have so many other favorite Jay tracks, but I never would've been able to publish this if I went through all of them. I also selected the songs for this post by pressing shuffle on my Jay-Z playlist instead of choosing the songs myself. Maybe I'll do a part two? 

*Honorable Mentions: Party Life, I Know, Already Home, Change Clothes, Rock My World Remix, Feelin It, and many many more.

Thanks for reading!