OK, I Understand This Jay-Z Thing Now

are you serious?

Maybe he's one of the rare artists who can become a legend without having to kill, get killed, and without having any major beefs. He does what an artist is supposed to do-he brings hot music to the table and keeps the clubs bouncing. In reality, all that beef (like the stunts 50cent pulls) are not necessary. Unless you're afraid your albums won't sell,then you start drawing attention to yourself, and Jay-z has never really had that problem i guess.

jigga done pulled a stunt. remember when he allegedly cut lance "un" rivera

Let us compare back stories for a moment.

50 cent, well off rich kid turns to the streets because it sounds cool to him. Extremely cocky for no real reason. gets shot. Makes a comeback thanks to Eminem, Dre and Jimmy. Blows up. Still cocky.

Jay-Z is a man who is from the streets and hustled to make his money. At the same time he developed an ill flow and broke into the game.

Not to mention that Jay-Z has been a major figure in hip-hop for a very long time. There is plenty to talk about. Get on your job.

hater ... what are u talkin about ... 50 is from the streets. kat didn't grow up well off. he hustled just like jay to get his paper. 50's mom was killed when he was a kid. there's plenty to talk about ... know the facts first ... get on ur job

That comment was directed towards X-Kalibur not Hater

b-real man you don,t know way jay-z is getting so much media attention? let me school you; man the man flip the game and if you don,t know what i mean get from behind desk talk to the peoples in jail and the real hustlers from the streets not the fake ass peoples that hate because the man is getting money.

but what about 50 stealin sombody elses M.O?? What about all of 50's snitchin..jay is the true hustlas hustla...real recognizes real and u recognize 50??

No beef? Jay-Z was only entangled in one of the most notorious beefs of all time with Nas. The Takeover (Jay-Z) and Ether (Nas) were considered by most to be some of the greatest diss tracks ever recorded. And this was authentic, no made up shit like you would find in today's game. Jay-Z also beefed with Mobb Deep, and recently dropped a freestyle on hot 97 dissing The Game. So yes, Jay-Z does in fact beef.

50 CENT AND JAY-Z, TWO ARTIST THAT CANT'T BE COMPARED...50 DIDN'T HAVE TO TURN TO THE STREETS HE WAS EATIN' EVERY NIGHT FROM MOMMY...HE TURNED TO THE STREETS CAUSE THATS WHAT HE SAW ON TV.

HOVA ON THE OTHER HAND WASN'T GETTING THE ILL SHOES EVERYBODY ELSE HAD, WASN'T EATIN EVERY NIGHT...HOMIE HAD TO HUSTLE TO EAT AND ROC NEW CLOTHES...AND TALK ABOUT YOUR PERSONAL LIFE SO CATS LIKE YOU WITH NO LIFE CAN FEED OFF OF IT...

WHY SO MUCH JAY-Z TALK, WHERE YOU BEEN THE LAST 8 YEARS...CANT BE SERIOUS MAN...

da reason jayz gets so much attention is because when hip hop needed a savior jayz was there after biggie after tupac there was no one makin quality music but jayz think about it if jayz was here only nas who never had the skill to cross over would hav bin holdin it down
jigga held it down for 8 summers n still doin his thing on dear summer and on the new kanye joint

Hov gets the attention bcauz he deserves it...he's prolly one of the 5 greatest mcs of all time...he came from nothin, made it real big...was named this year among the 100 most influential people in the world...dictates the culture (T.I., Wayne, etc)...owns a clothin line, owns a record label, got his own sneaker line, owns a sports bar franchise, partly owns an nba team, is the greatest mc (and i said mc!) alive, is a trend setter wether its musically, in fashion, etc...is rich as hell, has the hottest chick in the game, doesnt behave like an ignorant rapper would(i.e. mike jones performance at the bet awards)...can roll with kings (jordan, denzel, etc) and still keep his common touch (summer jam this year)...donates money and time to help thoz in need, doesnt have to wild out everytime a mic is passed to him (i.e. rappers on tv shows that keep repeatin' "in stores now and we in the buildin and representin', etc), behaves like a civilized man, opened an arts school and finally, went from a stick up brooklyn kid to president of def jam

Nuff Said!

Give the man the props he deserves...

"Nuff Said!" is absolutely right. Couldn't have said it any better Young...

Totally agree with Young. The young generation of hip hop listeners think chingy is the truth, or that 50 and game are on big and pac's level or even that big daddy kane, scarface and them aint some of the greatest to ever touch a mic. y'all really need to educate yourselves. Jay is a lyricist, and on top of that, he's T-A-L-E-N-T-E-D, sumthin most rappers out aint. In the state hip hop is now, and with these fake gangstas-wannabe pacinos-fake hustlas-broke pimps, its always refreshin to hear a jay verse here and there, the flex january freestyle, diamonds remix.cause when u hear him, u still got some hope that hip hop can get back to where it was in 96. just how many so called rappers out know what the rock of gibraltar is?? Or who the bishop loughlin was? look at all the people jay put on the map: kanye, just,9th wonder, t.i. and weezy (they would have never crossed dc's path, ever!).Plus he calm, the way he keeps things cool in interviews when all other niggaz is wildin out. He gota CHARISMA. other niggaz dont, im sorry. Big had it, pac had it, snoop had a lil bit of it. when jay talks, we listen. Even the haters, y'all got some fav. songs that jay did, dont just hate for the sake of it. funniest thing to me tho, is how niggaz stay hatin on him in the game, while most of them is on welfare, while jay gettin his back oiled up (no homo) by arguably the most attractive chick in the bizz, on a yatch, in the mediteranean sea. Just the fact that he brought out the king of pop at summer jam in '01 is enough. And for thoz that wanna bring the nas talk, remember this, nas is a great storyteller, one of the greatest mcs ever, but he not only didnt win the battle (sum most of y'all say), he lost the war like crazy. takeover was a song with real content, true comments and food for thought. it killed prodigys career and got nas off balance. ether was just a "yo mama so fat type joint". It was kindergarden like type diss. And i love both dudes. But c'mon, jay is the closest thing to a Big ever. He in the same league denzel, jordan, ali and them is.

im a man, and i aint ashamed to say that it gon' feel just as weird this november as it was in nov. 2004 to not cop a jay album. oh, well, lets wait for his guest spots on foxys album.

Stop the hate please.

Jay is definitely top 5, dead or alive.

Let these 15 yr olds keep sayin "jay lost", thoz that really know hip hop know the truth!

Long live hip hop!

Jay-z is one of the most influencial artists of our time. why should he concern himself with these petty beefs, there really isnt anyone left to have a legitimate beef with.but the next few months should be quite entertaining consider the game and his big-ass mouth,we are about to witness Jay dismantle the Game's career. The Game just can't shut up about Bleek and the Young gunz. Whats the deal any ways, whatv did these people do or say to the game? can anyone post and answer this for me thanks peace.

They didnt do nothin to game...he just needs attention, like all these new wack artists do...trust me when i was this, and i dont know jay better than y'all, but i can promise u that he wont lower himself to game's level...he might drop a warning here and there on his fresstyles, but he wont engage in a battle or beef like u guys wanna call it cause there aint none to win from it for him...like he told a radio host a couple of months ago, even if a rapper goes at him, he wont un-retire for that, cause what does that prove?...They usin 50s tactic, as in "diss Jay, and get your name heard"...no one, and i really mean it can see jay eye to eye right now, NO ONE!...that diamonds remix verse did it for me...they way he answered all those dame questions with a 16 killed me...and he handlin that situation in a classy manner too, not runnin around bad mouthin people like dame does

Are yall serious you obviously no nothing 50's mom died when he was 8 and he started slangin when he was 13 he always was a hustla dummys talkin bout his mom fed him get the fuck outta here she died stupid and his dad left so he was wit his grandparents he hustled intill he met jam master jay then he started rappin.

Jay z had his mom there his dad was gone and he grew up in Marcy where he began to hustle so 50 had a harder life idiots, Jay beefed wit Prodigy, Nas, Jayo Felony, R.kelly, and Havoc so get the fuck outta here.

Are yall serious you obviously no nothing 50's mom died when he was 8 and he started slangin when he was 13 he always was a hustla dummys talkin bout his mom fed him get the fuck outta here she died stupid and his dad left so he was wit his grandparents he hustled intill he met jam master jay then he started rappin.

Jay z had his mom there his dad was gone and he grew up in Marcy where he began to hustle so 50 had a harder life idiots, Jay beefed wit Prodigy, Nas, Jayo Felony, R.kelly, and Havoc so get the fuck outta here.

A eminem is better then jay z do I have to mention "renagade", listen to it Em's versus out shine j's. And Nas killed him on ether

What is there to write about??

"FROM MARCY TO MADISSON SQUARE".

YOU HAVE THE A-U-D-A-CITY TO ASK?

g's up need to shut up
obviously you didnt listen to eminems song square dance Jayz is in ems top three and of course em was gonna rip renegade he produced it ASS. if you produced a song and someone else ripped it that means you suck and we all know that em does not. and ether like ya boy warrior said "was just a yo mama so fat type joint" hov was spittin facts what facts did Nas spit?

jay exacts a standard.he is what young men should aspire to be,selfishness to achieve greatness,once that level is achieved,open up, come around,show you're not hard to reach.

Jay z is the real hustler all these other rappers just talk about it while Jay z sits back countin his money.

the best rappers out (i mean pure rappers) are common talib kwali kanye ludacris eminem nas and thats real.

Only 15 yrs old kids put 50,game and all those half-ass newcomers in the same category as Jay...real hip hop heads will never do such a thing...And no one ever said that they knew Hov personally, but i'll take my man Warrior's side...takeover has been confirmed(even by involved parties)as bein real(ie. large professor)...if u dont agree, gimme a line that seems fake to u and we'll argue (like civilized people please!!)...ether like warrior said is just "insults that 5 yr. ol kids can come up with" ...dont get it twisted, i still think nas is dope, but not for battle rap..but why even get into that, the point is that jay deserves the attention, like it or not

I think backstories are more important at the beginning. They become peripheral after awhile and often limit an artist. He's had enough of one to establish his legitimacy and that's really all that matters in that regard.

I didn't really get won over by Jay-Z until the end. Watching the DVD of the final Madison Square Gardens show was what really won me over and made me realize how much bigger than life he is. I mean, when he was on stage with Bleek and the rest of his boys, they all looked minor. And he didn't have to try to upstage them, he just had a bigger presence than they did.

And watching him work, putting on that weird face and making rhymes was pretty impressive too.

At some point he became a phenomenon and all the gossip and details became beside the point. In fact, not displaying all the personal stuff may help keep him larger than life, as opposed to, say, Tom Cruise, who's making himself minor at the moment.

Clyde

I have to say this is one of the most interesting topics on here. I think Jay would have a lot to talk about being as though he practically took us through his life through his music. I also think that when you listen to Jay interview you can tell he's from the street by not really articulating his words well and kind of hesitant about what his next words are going to be. Don't get me wrong he's very intelligent when it comes to spitting his verses in detail but face to face he needs some work. Jay said himself that he would never act because he feels uncomfortable in that type of setting. Not every rapper can hold an intelligent conversation with interviewers...just pay attention and you'll see what I'm saying.

Here we go again...X is coming...X, Jay, Nas, Dre, Em, 50, Pac, Big, now Cass.

Somebody please give Young an apple and tell him to go to the head of his class...lol! The dude is telling nothin but the truth in here. I couldn't have said it better myself man...that's real talk for yo ass! Shoutout to my brother from another mother BrothaWize holdin it down for the 25 and older crew...you know how we do! Blaze1Entertainment for lyfe!

Thats the reason with fans...if YOU did dirt and your a real nigga with all eyes on you, would you tell blow by blow all your dirt, or give hints? Why admit it if you never gotten caught, let alone with your voice either admitting or not admitting on CDs sold worldwide? Jay aint rich for nothing...Mad niggas in NYC besides Rich Porter made cream in the 80's-90's outta state...and some are alive to talk about it still. I think jay got his share and made power moves persoanlly, what I can't understand is why some fans want their favorites to be openly stupid and commit dickhead crimes just so they can feel assured they arent supporting a fake?!?
Like all these smack DVDs with the young cats holding AK's and 9's and pointing them at the screen..and showing their faces!!! Maybe im considered old school nowadays but I remember when the Thoro cats would be the quietest, and the herbs ran off at the mouth ONLY, like alot of these niggas nowadays. just like if you bit another niggas style you would get confronted and nobody would buy your shit. there are too many kids in the game dodging the average 9-5 thinking they can be the next nigga, some cats just need to play their position and put their pens away.

Superb"The Technician" in Queens,NYC

Jay-Z is the definition of an Afro-American Idol. Always imitated but never duplicated. Since he 1st stepped on the stage with his 1st LP Reasonable Doubt he's been real and always has been ever since. His entire career was built on the legacy of honesty and reality. He's a rapper in a class of his own. You can't compare him to B.I.G. or Pac because he surpassed both of them after the Best of Both Worlds album. He not only fused hip-hop with R&B on a single track but he did it on an entire album and the album was flawless. No matter the personal problems him and R. Kelly share you cannot argue that album was a classic. It went double platinum with no video, single or real promotions. Thats an accomplishment even 50 Cent wish he could attain. I'm not sayin' this because I'm a Jay-Z groupie but because it's real talk. No rapper has ever acheived what he has achieved and continues to achieve, which is the impossible. From selling crack out of a project apartment to becoming the CEO of the largest hip-hop label in the World he is the embodiment of success. TRUE STORY.

And for the record, nas beat jay by A LAND SLIDE on hot 97 during the either/takeover BS, not a little by I think 17% more NYC votes...Angie martinez acted like she wanted to jump off a building she couldnt understand it...the show was even named takeover, they played the tracks twice dropping bombs etc.
Nas. Either.Jay couldnt get it done with kanye on the track! go figure!
All the outta towners always pop that nas can't this, or nas is this like they know...Jay knows this homie,fuck what alot of you think..he know he cant fuck with esco.never could. Niggas that just stated listening to nas maybe 5 yrs ago or less you already missed his prime, sorry. Luckily jay knows this, and this is why Nas is mentioned on every jay album to some capcity up until the blue print 1 I think. I follow jay just as close...I even picked up can i get open just cause jay before all the rocafella shit...truth is truth, jay can't see escobar even outta his prime, on a wack beat.deal with it.he lost.stop bringing it up.

Their both talented M.C.'s. Jay is a hustler for real. I'm just glad that he didn't go out and promote Porno movies like the rest of these wack artists. He did do a beer commerical which was out of character because you're sending the wrong message to the kids and I thank Nas for not selling out to the White Media. It was sad to see Rakim doing a Hennesy commercial. It's hard to say anything negative about Jay. I'd just wish that every line that he's bitten from another artist.,he should of gave them credit. Can you imagine Jay and Nas doing an album together? That would be like Malcolm and Martin getting together! I wonder what 50 would do if it did happen. He probably diss Jay too!

The fact of the matter is that both Jay and 50 are hustlas as most people put it... I cant remember who it was that said it up top but they put it the best... When Hip Hop needed a savior, JAY-Z (Brooklyns Own) stepped up and severed the plate of food that people were feenin for after our greats were slain. He dropped street dope that alot of dudes could relate to and were hungry for he didnt sugar coat it he came straight at it and still dropped happy singles... He started so many trends that if you werent from NYC you wouldnt know about... And he also made up some of his shit as well, just like everybody in the game... THEY all fabricate their stories just a lil bit.. If every Rapper, or MC claming that they sold kilos and grams and hundreds of drugs was that big of a dealer, shiiiiittt, they would be where John Forte is right now.. Chilling doing time yall think about that.. I mean everybody hustled but dont believe everything you hear.

And as far as 50 goes, it kills me to see the amount of people who actually dont know 50 been around for quite some time not since 2002 like most people think. 50 just like all the other thugs sold drugs, got locked, shot and snitched to keep they black ass out of jail. But back in 99' 50 was hungry and nobody was fucking wit dat nikkuh... he said i got bigger fish to fry talking about Jay, leaving Jah and Sticky behind.. That nikkuh wanted it, and I truly think the game wasnt ready for 50 back then because of his hunger. His lyrics were harder and focus was more apparent. But now honestly i agree he aint the same cuz he rich and he want it even more.. And hip hop is boring straight up.. especially when you got nikkuhs like Fat Joe making songs wit nelly, who is supposed to be down wit KRS-One and DITC... Its time for him to get that paper but come on fam, yall think about that.. I support anything Jay do, and mos definately support my nikkuh 50 Cent for just doing him and saying fuk yall if you dont like me.. thats real...

I didn't buy 50's album and that's real. Why would I when I could listen to Common's BE. Snitching is not cool and like my man Jada said" You Don't Feel Comfortable In Your On Skin!" You could sell his soul for a little change but eventually it will come back to haunt him! How can he criticize Ja when he's doing the same thing! Yes he sings "Just A Lil Bit!"

50 has become the nigga he was dissin a few years ago he turn his back on a bunch of rappers, Jay z wouldnt do that. He would collaborate and try to make mo money.

Forget 50 i think there is a lot of good things goin on in rap. Plus 50 is not the best rapper. Jay z makes 50's raps sound like little nursery rhymes.

Media Chin-Check backs down?

Shout out to BigAffiliation, thank god there's still some people that understand what real skills on the mic are and what should define a true artist...To the nigga bringin up the hot 97 fiasco and the allegedly nas radio win, i'd like to remind you without preachin that commercial radio listeners, just like 106 & park and TRL voters are mostly either females under the age of 18 and e-thugs (online gangstas)...Nobody that i know that got a life has the time to call a radio station or a tv channel to vote...so if u base your judgement on the hot97 verdict, cool, you win...but just know that again, authentic hip hop listeners were there during the g rap days, the daddy kane and the big L days...and to them, these radio and tv verdicts and none but just teenagers' choices...again, your call

iregis@hotmail.com is me Young...guess the pc fucked up on that one

Hov is tha man nobody will be on his level for a long time, He has droped hits non stop, and jus tha fact that he has been out of the game for almost a year and he is still the focus of our conversation says alot.

How can you compare 50 with Jay-Z? Anyone how rhymes 4real will tell you that the hardest part of a song is the hook. All 50 has is melody. He sings his ass off (catchy hooks). Right now, beats are making the music period. 50 wouldn't dare drop an acapella album like Jay...because without the beat, it's like "what is this dude sayin?" I can't respect a man who starts beefin everytime his album's about to drop. Like Super Mario said, "50 wanted to get rid of Ja, so he can be the only nigga singing." Anyways, this is about Jay and his whole thing is charisma. It was the best thing for him to retire or else he'd just be hanging around with these.....

No!

I think Jay life is more dangerous than people really know. I mean anytime a person can just make a phone call, and in your life. That's power! I remember Jay said on The Street Is Watch Soundtrack. It goes (To kill a man is nothing, if you can make a man die breathing then you are saying something). I guess Jay meant i will take your sole. The verse Jay said on the Takeover about Prodigy of Mobb Deep sure let people know what Jay is capable of doing.

is veryI personally don't go that beef on wack, because if it's why would you provide information to the world

People don't understand to die is so easy trying to stay alive is the hard part. Imagine you been a local dude with know money trying to go up against a powerhouse like Jay-Z. If Jay wanted to he can pay, one your friends to push your wig back. Don't think that's not possible, because i know people right now who would put in work for free to get some of that Jay-Z money. These raps going to make Jay-Z come in there house and change the to channel Roc-a-fella T.V.

What i can't believe is that people are so suprise about Suge haven't to do with Pac or Biggie. I can't believe so many people claim to hate Suge, but no one want take him out. It's amazing the so call hardest gangsta in the rap game want is whisper this man name. I thought Treach with Naughty By Nature suppose to be Pac man. I can't remember the name of the show with Treach and Diamond from Players Club movie. Anyway Suge on the show as a guest. I couldn't believe Treach wasn't stomping Suge _azz. That goes to show you the money and power of some people. Suga probably the most hated man in hip hop walk around with no bodyguard and is still alive.

Jay talks about his life on alot of tracks, the difference is he doesn't use selling drugs at one time as a gimmick like 50 does. Thats what rap is based on right now and its bullshit. Nobody listens to lyrics, all you need is a catchy hook and a nice beat and you got a hit. Only good part about that is that the cats who can't afford a good beat can use another persons beat 4 a mixtape.

I don't know how you can say Ether was a yo mama diss. Nas blew up Jays spot about goin to his house. And also gave you a whole lotta shit to think about. Nas won the battle with Ether, but Jay won the war. And don't try to argue that, look at where Nas' career is right now.

Im scratching my head... E'ryone talking about top five emcees... talking about what Jay is doing for Hip-Hop... one name... KRS One... 2 decades strong!!! Still bringing it, still down for the essence of the culture... he's not ashamed to speak on spirit of hip-hop like a prophet, regardless of profit. Far as Jay's concerned... dude HELD it down on the mainstream level after Pac and Big passed... but TOP Five of all Time????? Maybe since 94, and that's still a stretch... Where's GZA, Ras Kass, Ghostface even??? Immortal Technique got way sicker shit than Jay ever rocked... not to knock the man... he does what he does well... but it seems like too many ppl either don't KNOW the history of the culture well enough... or have simply forgotten since BIG and them came out in 94... i mean, CL Smooth got better shit as an Emcee than Jay does. Yet compared to the garbage that's become mainstream hip-hop, yes Jay-Z is a god amongst transvestites, but when compared to the true culture... he's not what everyone seems to think he is... as far as him and nas go... that was too close to call... i tihnk Nas may have gotten it tho after reaching waaaaaaay back into the past when Jay was just linking up with Jaz-O, talking bout Jiggaman being a stan, hitting chicks Nas already had and such... and 50... whoever gave him that drawl with his mouth should've finished the job... he does nothing for the culture and i'm actually shocked that Em would surround himself with such worthless artists (from a lyrical standpoint)... i remeber Jay dropping one line on 50 (i'm about a dollar, what the fuck is 50 cent) and 50 comming at him with numerous songs... but i got waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay off topic... i just wanted to say my peace on the actual relevance of Jay in the entire culture (not just the shit on the record shelves kids...)

Here is lil sumthin to write about the fake ass HOV. Dude has got a tight flow no doubt. He has dropped so many albums, but all of them where the same, just with different names. Dudes is not a lyrist at all, coz none of you can quote a rhyme that you can say much thought was put into it. All he has to say is l`m a hustler, l sold dope, nothing else can be said of Jay Z and he thinks he is one of the greatest. He keeps biting Big, and claims to be not a biter but a writer, nigga please. The kid Game, is one good mufucker, jay so that the kid is gonna get his name taken of from the top and now throws a few warning shots at dude, Game will kill Jay on that lyrical shit, if you wanna exclude the fact that Jay been here for long and his paper is longer. On some real hip hop shit Jay has nothing to say except that he got apartments the kid could put his home in. Dude hates R Kelly coz he was shown by the producers of the show that he is not in the class of the greats, i.e, R Kelly and them. Why was the R gettin more money of the tour of a project they was doing together. Jay sabotaged the show to make himself look bigger than R, coz nigga is still hungry for fame. He knows he is not a legend, and is trying to force it down your throat. On that Kanye joint "diamonds" dude spit nothing special, but all you lame cats think that was a blessing. For sure, even if Jay sneezes, that shit is gonna sell. Jay is one cocky, ignorant ass rapper, l like for coming clean that Bleek is one hit away for the rest of his career. These niggaz no longer sell music, they selling images and you still think they nice. Listen to Joe Budden, thats my nigga.

l wish Joe Budden and Game could do some shit, that would be fire.

That nucca, u on point kid! Budden n Game need to do some shit together. I been also havin that on my mind, I also totally agree witchu that most rappers is sellin images n not music. However, I love Jay's remarkable flows n don't really care if the albums were the same, coz when I want the real hiphop I find it with the underground MC'S N not Jay-z. The reason Jay keeps gettin mad attention is coz like he once sed, he's that nigga!